శ్రీ లలితా దేవి స్తుతి
మాణిక్యవీణా ముపలాలయంతీం మదాలసాం మంజుల వాగ్విలాసామ్
మహేంద్రనీలద్యుతికోమలాంగీం మాతంగ కన్యాం మనసా స్మరామి
చతుర్భుజే చంద్రకళావతంసే కుచోన్నతే కుంకుమరాగశోణే
పుండ్రేక్షు పాశాంకుశ పుష్పబాణ హస్తే నమస్తే జగదేకమాతః
మాణిక్యవీణా ముపలాలయంతీం మదాలసాం మంజుల వాగ్విలాసామ్
మహేంద్రనీలద్యుతికోమలాంగీం మాతంగ కన్యాం మనసా స్మరామి
చతుర్భుజే చంద్రకళావతంసే కుచోన్నతే కుంకుమరాగశోణే
పుండ్రేక్షు పాశాంకుశ పుష్పబాణ హస్తే నమస్తే జగదేకమాతః
Our Mother God has many Names, Lalitha is another name for our Divine Mother.
Lalitha means She Who Plays. All creation,
manifestation and dissolution is considered to be a play of Devi or the
goddess. Mahatripurasundari is her name as transcendent beauty of the three
cities, a description of the goddess as conqueror of the three cities of the
demons, or as the triple city (Tripura), but really a metaphor for a human
being.
Lalitha means “beautiful, playful and beloved.”
She is beautiful, as there is no other vision to compare with the divinity of existence. She is playful, because everything that is perceivable is part of the divine drama of God. She is beloved because the Love of God is pure, without selfish attachment.
Her name also means She who orders and organizes creation. She orders all the karma of creation. All actions of existence are authored by Her. It is for Her that we do everything, whether we know it or not.
The
worship of Devi in Sri Chakram
The Sri Chakram, Sri Mahameru
platform should always face East flat on ground. You should sit facing North
and to the right of platform. The force of gravity of the northern direction
will help you in your pooja. Likewise in the temple where the deity faces East.
Coconut oil with cotton wick should be used for lighting lamp (Thiruvilakku
Jothi). Ghee and gingerly oil can be mixed and used. Flowers without smell
should not be used. It is not necessary to light incense sticks and camphor for
pooja. You require only mantrams for pooja. Both Sri Chakram and Sri Mahameru
possess same quality. It is the residing power of the great power that directs,
protects, destroys their make and ceaselessly work. This chakram is based on
our body only. The Sri Chakram Yantra was installed by Sri Athi Shankarar in
many temples in Tamilnadu. You can take Sri Adi Sankarar as your Guru or
whoever you think a guru who has the qualities. This form of worship leads our
mind to gradually evolve into Para Psychological levels. Instead fixing our
thought on a picture of image or a concept, our elders thought worshiping Sri
Chakram is better. That is why, they place this chakram beneath the chief idol
in the sanctum sanctorum of the temples. Only those who are endowed with purva
punya will have inclination to worship Sri Chakram.
The worship of Devi in Sri
Chakram is regarded as the highest form of the Devi worship. Originally
Lord Shiva gave 64 Chakrams and their Mantrams to the world, to attain various
spiritual and material benefits. For his consort Devi he gave the Sri Chakram
and the highly coveted and the most powerful Shodashakshari mantram, which is
the equivalent of all the other 64 put together.
Shiva along with Shakti is engaged
in the eternal dissolution and recreation of the universe. The Bindu in the
center of the Sri Chakram is the symbolic representation of the cosmic
spiritual union of Shiva and Shakti. Apart from that the Sri Chakram also
embodies countless number of deities and represents the whole of creation.
Hence by worshipping the Devi in Sri Chakram one is actually worshipping the
highest ultimate force in the Tantrik form.
Meru is a 3D object while SriChakram is a 2D rendering of the Meru!
The Meru is the three dimensions of the Sri Chakram. If we returned to the two dimension Sri Chakram, and imagine that the Bindu in its center is the peak of a mountain. The imagine that the mountain is built up in tiers, each tier being one of the circles of triangles or lotus petals, with the outermost square representing ground level. Now, imagine a vertical spine down the center of the mountain, then at each point that the spine and a tier intersect, there is a chakra. The peak represents Mount Meru, abode of the Gods.
Meru is a 3D object while SriChakram is a 2D rendering of the Meru!
The Meru is the three dimensions of the Sri Chakram. If we returned to the two dimension Sri Chakram, and imagine that the Bindu in its center is the peak of a mountain. The imagine that the mountain is built up in tiers, each tier being one of the circles of triangles or lotus petals, with the outermost square representing ground level. Now, imagine a vertical spine down the center of the mountain, then at each point that the spine and a tier intersect, there is a chakra. The peak represents Mount Meru, abode of the Gods.
The Basics of Sri Yantram:
Before starting the worship it is advisable to know about the way the Sri Yantram is constructed, what all it represents, about the 9 Avaranas, the deities, their gunas and significance, so that your worship is more meaningful. The following are the authentic details as given in various Tantra & Mantra scriptures.
Before starting the worship it is advisable to know about the way the Sri Yantram is constructed, what all it represents, about the 9 Avaranas, the deities, their gunas and significance, so that your worship is more meaningful. The following are the authentic details as given in various Tantra & Mantra scriptures.
Five downward pointing triangles
representing Devi intersect with four upward pointing triangles representing
Siva, forming 43 triangles including the central triangle..
From the five Shakti triangles comes
creation and from the four Shiva triangles comes the dissolution. The union of
five Shaktis and four Fires causes the chakra of creation to evolve.
At the centre of the Bindu of the
Shri Yantram is Kamakala, which has three bindus. One is red, one is white and
one is mixed. The red bindu is Kurukulla the Female form, the white bindu is
Varahi the Male form, and the mixed bindu is the union of Shiva & Shakti –
the individual as the potential Sri Chakram. Varahi, the father-form, gives four
dhatus to the child and Kurukulla, the mother-form, gives five dhatus to the
child. Theses represent the nine dhatus of the human body.
Varahi’s four fires are the 12 (4 x
3) sun Kalas, the 12 Zodiac constellations. Kurukulla’s five triangles are the
15 (5 x 3) Kalas of the moon, 15 lunar Tithis. These nine triangles also
represent the nine stages of growth of the human child in the womb.
Surrounding the 43 triangles formed
by the intersection of the nine triangles is the 16 petals circle. Surrounding
the 16 petal circle is an 8 petal circle. After that the 3 lines and at the
outermost part of the Sri Yantram there are 3 lines called the Bhupura. The 43
triangles constitute the six inner sections called Avaranas, the two circles of
petals are two more avaranas and the Bhupura of 3 lines is the last Avarana.
These 9 Avaranas of the Sri Yantram
have various presiding Devis. They are the Devi’s Parivar (retinue) of total
108. In the Sri Chakram pooja they are systematically worshipped one by one
with their names and mantras. The presiding Deity of Srichakra, Devi, is Known
as Lalita Tripura Sundari. The form of Devi Kamakshi of Kancheepuram is
the closest resemblance of the Devi as described in the scriptures.
The Meru Chakra or Sri Chakra is a
three-dimensional Sri Yantram, the embodiment of Sri Lakshmi (abundance) and
Tripura Sundari (beauty). It is the yantra of Sri Vidya, sacred knowledge of
the Goddess. It can also be seen as the unification of Masculine Divine and
Feminine Divine: Shiva and Shakti, Lakshmi and Narayana, Purusha and Prakriti.
In Hindu devotional practice, three
kinds of external symbols are used for worship of the Supreme Being, who is
actually formless and nameless. The most external is that of divine images cast
in human form, with paraphernalia symbolizing supra-human divinity.
The most subtle is that of the
mantras or divine names with certain sounds. A mantra is divine power clothed
in sound. Between these two come the yantrams or chakranjs , representing the
deity in geometrical diagrams. Worshippers of Shakti consider the Sri Chakram
the holiest and most significant of divine symbols.
The Sri Chakram is conceived as
Shiva-Shakti in the macrocosmic as well as microcosmic aspects, as the cosmos
and as the individual. The diagram consists of a series of nine triangles
superimposed around a small central circle, Bindu, forming 43 konas or
triangular projections. In the centre is the Bindu , representing Shiva-Shakti
in union in the causal state from which all other parts of the diagram representing
the cosmos are evolved.
The Bindu is in a central triangle
with apex downwards – alternatively, it is below the base of the central
triangle with its apex upwards, depending on whether it is a samhara-chakram or
srishti-chakram. Enclosing it and super- imposed on one another are the four
Shiva triangles with apex upwards and five Shakti triangles inclusive of the
central one, with apex downwards. These are surrounded by two circles of
lotuses, one with eight petals and the other, with 16. Outside these, there are
three circles around and a rectangular enclosure of three lines for the whole
figure, with four entrances on the four sides.
In the Bindu, Shakti i s represented
as Maha-Tripura-Sundari, the great mother. The Bindu contains the potentiality
of the universe within itself. It is spoken of as three to indicate the three
stresses when the unified non-dual Shiva- Shakti becomes separated into the two
aspects: prakasa, the aham or I-consciousness, and vimarsa, the idam or
this-consciousness.
These three stresses are technically
called Nada, Kala and Bindu. Bindu is the potential universe ready to separate
into various categories. All these three stresses, mudras of Shiva-Shakti
together, is represented by the central red line with an imaginary line across
it to represent the polarity in that supreme category as Shiva-Shakti.
The Bindu , the creative Shakti , is
the Mahatripurasundari , the ‘pride of Shiva’ or Shiva as prakasa – luminosity
or consciousness – who realises Himself through Her, the vimarsa shakti.
The rest of the Sri Chakram
represents the whole of the cosmos, Brahmananda , as evolved from the Bindu,
standing for Tripurasundari or creative cosmic power… Just as Tripurasundari
the Divine Mother is Shakti , depicted as the consort of Shiva, the Supreme
Being, the Kundalini is the segment of that cosmic power as the Shakti of the
Jiva, which is an amsa or particle of the Supreme Shiva embodied as the
individual (microcosm). It is this Shakti that evolves in the individual the
counterparts of all the 25 cosmic categories…
As the Supreme Will, Shakti is
described as Consciousness-Bliss. The Saundarya Lahiri describes the universe
in its subtle and gross forms as the trans- formation of Shakti. Though
undergoing actual trans- formation into all these elements in their gross
macro-cosmic aspect as the universe and in their subtle micro-cosmic aspect as
the six chakrams in the body, Shakti is not lost in the effects – she retains
her identity as the Supreme Will or Consciousness-Bliss.
Meru and Sri Chakra
There are nine chakras in the Sri Chakram. These nine Chakras have each a distinct form and a distinct name. Proceeding from the outermost to the inner, let us describe the Chakras.
There are nine chakras in the Sri Chakram. These nine Chakras have each a distinct form and a distinct name. Proceeding from the outermost to the inner, let us describe the Chakras.
The outermost is a square Chaturasra
of three lines, the lines one inside the other,
opening out in the middle of each side as four portals. This is known as the Bhupura, the earth-stretch. This is the ground-plane if Sri Chakram is considered as graded elevations, Meru.
Through the portals in the Bhupura one enters the precincts. Immediately inside the square are three concentric circles which serve as three girdles trivalaya.
The space between the sides of the square and the circumference of the outermost circle, between Bhupura and Trivalya, is known as
opening out in the middle of each side as four portals. This is known as the Bhupura, the earth-stretch. This is the ground-plane if Sri Chakram is considered as graded elevations, Meru.
Through the portals in the Bhupura one enters the precincts. Immediately inside the square are three concentric circles which serve as three girdles trivalaya.
The space between the sides of the square and the circumference of the outermost circle, between Bhupura and Trivalya, is known as
1.Trailokya Mohana Chakra, the
Enchanter of the Triple World.
Inside the 3 girdles are:
2. Sarvasa Paripuraka Chakra – 16 Petals – Fulfiller of all Desires;
3. Sarva Sanksobhana Chakra – 8 Petals – Agitator of all;
4. Sarva Saubhagyadayaka Chakra – 14 Triangles [Chaturdasa Kona] – Giver of all Auspiciousness;
5. Sarvartha Sadhaka Chakra – 10 Triangles [Outer Dasara] – Accomplisher of all Purposes;
6. Sarva Raksakara Chakra – 10 Triangles [Inner Dasara] – Giver of all Protection;
7. Sarva Rogahara Chakra – 8 Triangles [Ashta Kona] – Remover of all Diseases;
8. Sarva Siddhiprada Chakra – Inverted Primary Triangle – Giver of all accomplishments and
9. Sarvanandamaya Chakra – Bindu – Full of all Bliss.
Inside the 3 girdles are:
2. Sarvasa Paripuraka Chakra – 16 Petals – Fulfiller of all Desires;
3. Sarva Sanksobhana Chakra – 8 Petals – Agitator of all;
4. Sarva Saubhagyadayaka Chakra – 14 Triangles [Chaturdasa Kona] – Giver of all Auspiciousness;
5. Sarvartha Sadhaka Chakra – 10 Triangles [Outer Dasara] – Accomplisher of all Purposes;
6. Sarva Raksakara Chakra – 10 Triangles [Inner Dasara] – Giver of all Protection;
7. Sarva Rogahara Chakra – 8 Triangles [Ashta Kona] – Remover of all Diseases;
8. Sarva Siddhiprada Chakra – Inverted Primary Triangle – Giver of all accomplishments and
9. Sarvanandamaya Chakra – Bindu – Full of all Bliss.
2D Srichakra Yantra
1st Avarana the outer square with
three lines and 4 gates is brown. The outer line is white (though the colour of
the 10 deities here is like molten gold), the middle line is orange red like
the rising sun and the inner line is yellow like the colour of butter.
2nd Avarana the 16 petal lotus is pink like lotus flower.
3rd Avarana the 8 petallotus is red – the colour of Bandhuka flowers.
4th Avarana the 14 cornered triangle is colour green like the colour of glow worms.
5th Avarana the outer 10 corners triangle is red like Japakusuma flowers.
6th Avarana the inner 10 corners triangle is colour blue (though the deities here have the lusture of 1000 rising suns).
7th Avarana the 8 corners triangle is colour red like Dadini flowers.
8.The innermosst triangle is white.
9.The Bindu the central point is red like Sindoor.
Tripurasundari Maha Mantra: “Om Aim Klim Saum”
2nd Avarana the 16 petal lotus is pink like lotus flower.
3rd Avarana the 8 petallotus is red – the colour of Bandhuka flowers.
4th Avarana the 14 cornered triangle is colour green like the colour of glow worms.
5th Avarana the outer 10 corners triangle is red like Japakusuma flowers.
6th Avarana the inner 10 corners triangle is colour blue (though the deities here have the lusture of 1000 rising suns).
7th Avarana the 8 corners triangle is colour red like Dadini flowers.
8.The innermosst triangle is white.
9.The Bindu the central point is red like Sindoor.
Tripurasundari Maha Mantra: “Om Aim Klim Saum”
Sri Chakram is the most calm,
harmless, genteel and non aggressive of all the yantrams. In fact a Sri Chakram
is helpful where there are fierce elements disturbing the peace or creating bad
effects, in order to reduce the effect.
One should approach the Divine
Mother without any reservations. One need not express one’s want, difficulties,
complaints, problems to her for she knows your needs better and will give you
what you need and at the same time she will also protects you.
