131 Santhimathi – She who is peace personified SHe is peace personified or we can say she is peace itself.The other day I was reading Indrakshi Sthothram in which i derived a sense of peace and serenity.as I write this I was thinking of it and my conclusion was she is peace and not peace personified.Here is how i came to the conclusion.
Sage Narada during one of his visits to Vaikunta asked Lord Narayana for the reason why whiles Devas and Asuras are healthy by nature, human beings suffer these numerous diseases. Then lord Narayana taught him the Indrakshi sthothra. He told Narada that by reciting this Sthothra, one can lead a disease free happy life. Sage narada taught it to Indra, who in turn taught it to Sage Purandara. It was Sage Purandara who popularized it among human beings.
Asya Indrakshi Sthothra Maha Mandrasya,
Sasi purandara rishi.
Anushtup Chanda.
Indrakshi Durga devatha,
Lakshmi Beejam.
Bhuvaneswari Sshakthi,
Bhavani Keelagam,
Mama Indrakshi prasad sidhyarthe Jape Viniyoga.
Sasi purandara rishi.
Anushtup Chanda.
Indrakshi Durga devatha,
Lakshmi Beejam.
Bhuvaneswari Sshakthi,
Bhavani Keelagam,
Mama Indrakshi prasad sidhyarthe Jape Viniyoga.
This Indrakshi sthothra was made known to the world by Purandara Rishi,has been written in Anushtup meter.The presiding deity for the sthothra is Indrakshi Durga.The kernel of the chant is Lakshmi,the strength behing the Manthra is Bhuvaneswari and its axis is Bhavani.I am chanting this manthra to get the blessings of Indrakshi.
Nethraanam dasapi sathai Parivrutham,
Athyugra sarmaambharam,
Hemaabham mahathim
vilambhitha sikam,
Ammuktha kesanwitham,
Kanda manditha pada padma yugalam,
Nagendra kumbha sthaneem.
Indrakshim parichindayami,
Manasa kalbhoktha siddhi pradham.
I salute that Indrakshi,Who has thousand eyes,Who has a strong skin,Who is golden in colour,Who has long open and black hair,Who walks with the soft sound made by her anklets,Who has pair of busts like the pot held by the king of snakes.
Devi protects her people and protects them from evil in her form as Bhuvaneswari.Athyugra sarmaambharam,
Hemaabham mahathim
vilambhitha sikam,
Ammuktha kesanwitham,
Kanda manditha pada padma yugalam,
Nagendra kumbha sthaneem.
Indrakshim parichindayami,
Manasa kalbhoktha siddhi pradham.
I salute that Indrakshi,Who has thousand eyes,Who has a strong skin,Who is golden in colour,Who has long open and black hair,Who walks with the soft sound made by her anklets,Who has pair of busts like the pot held by the king of snakes.
Mythology tells us that in the beginning, Surya, the sun, appeared in the heavens. In order to create the world, the sages offered soma (a sacred plant) to the sun. The sun was pleased and through the power of Shakti, He created the three worlds (Bhuvanas). Having created the worlds, the goddess assumed the form of Bhuvaneswari and ruled and protected them.
We also find the name of Bhuvaneswari mentioned in the part of Hindu philosophy called Tantra, the religious literature expounding the worship of the Divine Mother. The tantric works describe ten aspects of Shakti (Mahavidya), the universal energy.Bhuvaneswari stands for the concept of space. Space has many levels of manifestation: The space of the physical Universe and the space of the mind. Just as there are many layers of space in the Universe, there are many layers in the higher levels of the mind. In our body, the heart is where the infinite space of the Universe resides, and this is the seat of the Divine Mother, Bhuvaneswari, who represents this Space. By creating space, we release ourselves from stress and tension. Those seeking the supreme peace should invoke and worship the Goddess Bhuvaneswari, who is the power of infinite expansion, peace and equanimity. Her sound-body is Hreem, which is as powerful as Aum. Hreem connects the space within the heart with the infinite, vast space of Consciousness. Like most of the aspects of the Divine Mother, Bhuvaneswari is associated with Maya. Maya comes from the Sanskrit root, “ma”, to measure. Maya is also a synonym for illusion. Thus, Bhuvaneswari symbolizes the dynamic power of God, which manifests itself in a multitude of visible and impermanent forms. In Hindu philosophy, the manifestation is ultimately considered as unreal because of its inconstancy and impermanence. But at the same time, the devotional scriptures say that Bhuvaneswari is also distinct from the illusion She creates because She controls it. But She is not caught in it. This quality of mastery over the worldly illusion gives Her the power to help human beings not to be involved in Maya and not to be bound by it but instead to go beyond it.
We also find the name of Bhuvaneswari mentioned in the part of Hindu philosophy called Tantra, the religious literature expounding the worship of the Divine Mother. The tantric works describe ten aspects of Shakti (Mahavidya), the universal energy.Bhuvaneswari stands for the concept of space. Space has many levels of manifestation: The space of the physical Universe and the space of the mind. Just as there are many layers of space in the Universe, there are many layers in the higher levels of the mind. In our body, the heart is where the infinite space of the Universe resides, and this is the seat of the Divine Mother, Bhuvaneswari, who represents this Space. By creating space, we release ourselves from stress and tension. Those seeking the supreme peace should invoke and worship the Goddess Bhuvaneswari, who is the power of infinite expansion, peace and equanimity. Her sound-body is Hreem, which is as powerful as Aum. Hreem connects the space within the heart with the infinite, vast space of Consciousness. Like most of the aspects of the Divine Mother, Bhuvaneswari is associated with Maya. Maya comes from the Sanskrit root, “ma”, to measure. Maya is also a synonym for illusion. Thus, Bhuvaneswari symbolizes the dynamic power of God, which manifests itself in a multitude of visible and impermanent forms. In Hindu philosophy, the manifestation is ultimately considered as unreal because of its inconstancy and impermanence. But at the same time, the devotional scriptures say that Bhuvaneswari is also distinct from the illusion She creates because She controls it. But She is not caught in it. This quality of mastery over the worldly illusion gives Her the power to help human beings not to be involved in Maya and not to be bound by it but instead to go beyond it.
Bhuvaneshvari’s beauty is mentioned often. Her dhyana describes her as having a radiant vermilion complexion resembling the sunrise and a beautiful face, framed with flowing hair the color of black bees. Her eyes are broad, her lips full and red, her nose delicate. Her firm breasts are smeared with sandal paste and saffron. Her waist is thin, and her thighs and navel are lovely. Her beautiful throat is decorated with ornaments, and her arms are made for embracing. She is seated on a throne, adorned with a flower garland and anklets, bracelets of fine gems. She is also found seated on lions, also group of lions sit around her throne. A crescent moon adorns her forehead, resting atop a jeweled crown. She has three eyes and a pleasant, nurturing smile. She has four arms, in two of which she holds a noose and a goad. With her lower left hand, she makes the gesture (varada-mudra) of offering a boon, and with the lower right she signals fearlessness (abhaya mudra). She is a shakti present everywhere but not seen anywhere.Sometimes she is represented with a lotus and a jewel bowl in tow of her hands, and in other cases her left foot is placed on a jewel bowl.The Great Cosmic Power Bhuvaneswari is sitting on a bed resembling a throne, which consists in representing the five forms of manifestation of the God Shiva, as we described them in the article about the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Sundari.
From this throne, the Great Cosmic Power Bhuvaneswari controls and organizes the movement of the entire universe. Different gods and goddesses who serve her and immediately obey her orders surround the Great Cosmic Power Bhuvaneswari.
Meditating with great perseverance on this beautiful goddess’s form, the sincere practitioner may obtain her infinite grace, become even enlightened, and reveal his or her supreme Self.
From this throne, the Great Cosmic Power Bhuvaneswari controls and organizes the movement of the entire universe. Different gods and goddesses who serve her and immediately obey her orders surround the Great Cosmic Power Bhuvaneswari.
Meditating with great perseverance on this beautiful goddess’s form, the sincere practitioner may obtain her infinite grace, become even enlightened, and reveal his or her supreme Self.
This beauty and attractiveness may be understood as an affirmation of the physical world. Tantric thought does not denigrate the world or consider it illusory or delusory, as do some other abstract aspects of Indian thought. This is made amply clear in the belief that the physical world, the rhythms of creation, maintenance, and destruction, even the hankerings and sufferings of the human condition is nothing but Bhuvaneshvari’s play, her exhilarating, joyous sport.
She is also known as Om Shakthi or Adi Shakthi q.e one of the earliest forms of shakthi. She is capable of turning situations according to her wish. It is considered that even the navagrahas cannot stop her from doing anything.
Both Bhuvaneswari and Kali are intimately connected as representing time and space, which made creation possible. Kali arranges the timing of the cosmic dance while Bhuvaneshwari stands for the original space before creation in which Kali’s cosmic dance takes place. Devotional songs say that Bhuvaneswari is like Saraswathi, the goddess of learning, wisdom and knowledge. She is described as “Jnana Swaroopa,” the highest form of wisdom. It is also said that Bhuvaneswari has so much power that a mere glance from Her gives boons to the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi. She confers confidence, sympathy, beauty and wisdom on them because all these qualities are within Her.so can there be any doubt in our minds that is peace erself because by giving us all the good things she ensures peace and prosperity in our lives.
She is also known as Om Shakthi or Adi Shakthi q.e one of the earliest forms of shakthi. She is capable of turning situations according to her wish. It is considered that even the navagrahas cannot stop her from doing anything.
Both Bhuvaneswari and Kali are intimately connected as representing time and space, which made creation possible. Kali arranges the timing of the cosmic dance while Bhuvaneshwari stands for the original space before creation in which Kali’s cosmic dance takes place. Devotional songs say that Bhuvaneswari is like Saraswathi, the goddess of learning, wisdom and knowledge. She is described as “Jnana Swaroopa,” the highest form of wisdom. It is also said that Bhuvaneswari has so much power that a mere glance from Her gives boons to the goddesses Lakshmi, Parvathi and Saraswathi. She confers confidence, sympathy, beauty and wisdom on them because all these qualities are within Her.so can there be any doubt in our minds that is peace erself because by giving us all the good things she ensures peace and prosperity in our lives.
