Thursday, August 16, 2012

சௌந்தர்யலஹரி-soundarya lahari





Introduction

Sakti-worship has been in existence in India since ancient times.  It was in practice during Indus-Saraswati Valley civilization, which is dated around 2500 BCE even conservatively by the Indologists. 
 Currently (means at least since 1,500 years) Sakti is worshipped as uma  in the Himalayas, as Amba  in Kashmir, as Visalakshi  in Varanasi, as Bhavani  in Maharashtra, as Durga and Kali  in Bengal, as Meenakshi  in Madurai, and as Kamakshi in Kanchipuram. 


'Saundaryalahari' one of the most beautiful devotional hymns in Sanskrit literature is a hymn of intense devotion, despite Tantric concepts contained in it. It is a poetical, devotional, and spiritual genius, a masterpiece. As the name suggests, it is the 'Wave of Divine Beauty', engulfing the reader in the ocean of love, admiration, devotion for the Devi. Beautiful in language and style, beautiful in topic and tone, it is mellifluous and melodious.
Author of Saundaryalahari
 This work was composed by one Sage Pushpadanta and Adi Sankaracharya. The work is divided into two parts -- the first part comprising 41 verses is called 'Anandalahari', and the second part comprising 59 verses is called 'Saundaryalahari'. According to some, it is the second half, titled 'Saundaryalahari' that was composed by Adi Sankara. 

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