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[[File:Raja Ravi Varma - Sankaracharya.jpg|thumb|[[Adi Shankara]] with disciples, drawing by [[Raja Ravivarma]], 1904]] |
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma - Sankaracharya.jpg|thumb|[[Adi Shankara]] with disciples, drawing by [[Raja Ravivarma]], 1904.]] |
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[[File:SriYantra color.svg|thumb|The Sri Chakra, frequently called the [[Sri Yantra]].]] |
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The ''' |
The '''''Saundarya Lahari''''' ({{langx|sa|सौन्दर्यलहरी|lit=the waves of beauty|translit=Saundaryalaharī}}) is a famous literary work in [[Sanskrit]] attributed to [[Shiva Mahimna Stotra#:~:text=Pushpadanta, the chief of the,entered the garden by night.|Pushpadanta]] as well as [[Adi Shankara]] .<ref name="arts">{{cite web |first=Nagaswamy |last=Dr. N. |authorlink= |title=Soundrya Lahari in Tamil |url=http://www.tamilartsacademy.com/journals/volume19/articles/article1.xml |publisher=Tamil Arts Academy |location= |page= |pages= |language= |format= |doi= |date= |year= |access-date=14 August 2012 |quote= }}</ref> Some believe the first part "Ananda Lahari" was etched on mount Meru by [[Ganesha]] himself (or by Pushpadanta).<ref name="Ramachander">{{cite web |first=Ramachander |last=P. R. |authorlink= |title=Soundrya Lahari|url=http://www.sankaracharya.org/soundarya_lahari.php}}</ref> Sage [[Gaudapada]], the teacher of Shankar's teacher [[Govinda Bhagavatpada|Govinda Bhagavadpada]], memorised the writings of Pushpadanta which was carried down to [[Adi Shankara]]. |
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Its hundred and three [[shloka]]s (verses) eulogize the beauty, grace and munificence of Goddess [[Parvati]] / [[Dakshayani]], consort of [[Shiva]]. |
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Its hundred and three [[shloka]]s (verses) praise the beauty, grace and munificence of [[Tripura Sundari]] as a form of [[Parvati]]. [[W. Norman Brown]] translated it to English which was published as volume 43 of the [[Harvard Oriental Series]] in 1958.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Edgerton|first=Franklin|title=''The Saundaryalahari, or Flood of Beauty'' by W. Norman Brown|journal=The Journal of Asian Studies|date=May 1959|volume=18|issue=3|pages=417–419|jstor=2941628|doi=10.2307/2941628}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Tucci|first=Giuseppe|title=''The Saundaryalahari, or Flood of Beauty'' by W. Norman Brown|journal=East and West|date=March 1960|volume=11|issue=1|page=51|jstor=29754221}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Burrow|first=T.|title=''The Saundaryalahari, or Flood of Beauty'' by W. Norman Brown|journal=Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London|date=1959|volume=22|issue=1/3|pages=617–618|jstor=609560|doi=10.1017/s0041977x00066118}}</ref> |
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==History== |
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Scholars{{who?|date=November 2024}} believe that [[Adi Shankara|Ādi Shankaracharya]] composed Soundaryalahari in [[Kashmir Valley|Kashmir]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Raghunāthācārya |first=Es Bi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vKnWAAAAMAAJ |title=Śankarācārya |date=2002 |publisher=Sahitya Akademi |isbn=978-81-260-1575-7 |page=35 |language=en |quote=Śankara visited Kashmir which was one of the greatest centres of learning . Kashmir was the seat of Saivism and Sakta, cult. Buddhism too at that ... Scholars believe that Sankara composed Soundaryalahari in Kashmir}}</ref> |
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==Tantra "textbook"== |
==Tantra "textbook"== |
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The '' |
The ''Saundarya Lahari'' is not only a collection of holy hymns, but also a [[Tantra]] textbook,<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite book|last1=Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri|first1=T.R. Srinivasa Ayyangar|title=Saundarya Lahari (The Ocean of Beauty) of Sri Samkara Bhagavatpada| date=1937|location=Adyar, Madras, India|publisher=The Theosophical Publishing House|isbn=9788170593188|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.21838}}</ref> giving instructions on [[Puja (Hinduism)|puja]], Sri-Yantra, and worshiping methods, 100 different hymns, 100 different yantra, almost one to each shloka; it describes the appropriate tantra method of performing devotion connected to each specific shloka; and details the results ensuring therefrom. There are many interpretations and commentaries but best of these are arguably those that provide word-to-word translations, as also the yantra,<ref name="ReferenceA"/> the devotion to be performed and the results of the devotion. |
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==Description== |
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The Soundarya Lahari is often viewed as being composed of two parts. First 41 verses are called [[Ananda Lahari]] and remaining part |
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containing 59 verses, believed to have been composed by [[Adi Shankara]] is called Soundarya Lahari.<ref name=arts/> |
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=== Legend === |
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Verses 1 - 41 describe the mystical experience of the union of Shiva and Shakti and related phenomena. In fact, it opens with the assertion that '''''Only when Shiva is united with Shakti does he have the power to create'''''. |
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{{Saktism}} |
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| ⚫ | There are several legends about this work. According to one legend, [[Adi Shankara]] visited [[Mount Kailash|Kailash]] to worship [[Shiva]] and [[Parvati]]. There, Shiva gave him a manuscript containing 100 verses which described the many facets of the goddess, as a gift to him. While Adi Shankara was returning after visiting Kailash, [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] stopped him on the way. He snatched the manuscript from him, tore it into two, took one part and gave the other to Adi Shankara. Adi Shankara, desolate, ran to Shiva and narrated the incident to him. Shiva, smilingly, commanded him to retain the 41 verses with him as the initial part of the 100 verses and then, write an extra 59 verses in praise of the goddess himself. Thus, verses 1–41 are the original work of Shiva, shedding great light on the ancient rituals of [[Tantra]], [[Yantra]], and various powerful [[mantra]]s. The remaining verses, that is, 42–100 are composed by Adi Shankara himself, which mainly focuses on the appearance of the goddess.<ref name="ReferenceA" /> Yet another legend says that once when Adi Shankara was visiting Kailash, Shiva was writing about the beauty of goddess Parvati on the walls of their home. Shiva rubbed what he wrote as he didn't want Adi Shankara who was an outsider reading about the beauty of his wife. But Adi Shankara had seen some part of the writings and with his superior mind recollected the rest. Thus, he composed the Saundarya Lahari. |
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This part of the text is often referred to, quite appropriately, as the Ananda Lahari, the wave of bliss. |
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| ⚫ | First 41 verses cover the detailed account of internal worship of the Mother. It consists of systematic exposition of the concept of [[Kundalini energy|kundalini]], [[Sri Chakra]], mantra (verses 32, 33). This depicts the Supreme Reality as non-dual but with a distinction between Shiva and Shakti, the power holder and Power, Being and Will. The Power, that is, the Mother or Maha [[Tripura Sundari]], becomes the dominant factor and the power holder or Shiva becomes a substratum. The first verse itself clearly describes this idea. "United with Shakti, Shiva is endowed with power to create; or otherwise, he is incapable of even a movement." The same idea is brought out in verse 24, "Brahma creates the universe, Vishnu sustains, Rudra destroys, and Maheshwar absorbs every thing and assimilates into Sadashiva. On receiving mandate from thy creeper like brows, Sadasiva restores everything into activity as in the previous cycle." Such prominence of the Mother can be seen in verses 34 and 35 also. |
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Verses 42 100 are more straightforward; they describe the physical beauty of the Goddess and are sometimes referred to as the Soundarya Lahari itself. |
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There are more than 36 commentaries on the Saundarya Lahari in Sanskrit itself.<ref name="Ramachander"/> Among the better known are commentaries by Lakshmidhara, Kameshvarasuri (viz. Arunamodini), Kaivalyashrama (viz. Sowbagyavardhini) and Dindima.<ref>{{cite web|title=Discourses on the Soundaryalahari|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2001/08/21/stories/1321017c.htm|website=[[The Hindu]]|date=2001-08-21|access-date=5 January 2018}}{{dead link|date=April 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> |
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===Translations=== |
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Many scholars, however, refer to the entire text with one name, namely, Soundarya Lahari. |
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The ''Saundarya Lahari'' was translated into [[Tamil language|Tamil]] in the 12th century by [[Virai Kaviraja Pandithar]]. He titled the book ''Abhirami Paadal''.<ref name="Nagaswamy_Vol19">{{cite web |
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| url = http://www.tamilartsacademy.com/journals/volume19/articles/article1.xml |
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| title = Saundarya Lahari in Tamil (Volume 19) |
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| last = Nagaswamy |
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| first = R. |
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| date = n.d. |
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| website = |
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| publisher = Tamil Arts Academy |
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| access-date = 26 September 2020 |
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| quote = }}</ref> |
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* Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri and T.R Srinivasa Ayyangar<ref name="ReferenceA" /> |
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| ⚫ | First 41 verses cover the detailed account of internal worship of the Mother. It consists of systematic exposition of the concept of [[kundalini]], Sri Chakra, |
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* Swami Tapasyananda of Sri Ramakrishna Math<ref>{{cite book|last1=Tapasyananda|first1=Swami|title=Saundarya Lahari of Sri Sankaracharya| date=1987|location=Mylapore, Chennai, India|publisher=Sri Ramakrishna Math|isbn=9788171202447|url=https://istore.chennaimath.org/product/saundarya-lahari-sri-sankaracharya/}}</ref> |
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* Swami Satyasangananda Saraswathi (of Bihar School of Yoga) has authored a modern commentary with Sri Vidya meditations on Devi for each verse<ref>{{Cite book|url=http://www.biharyoga.net/yoga-publications-trust/sri-saundarya-lahari-the-descent/|title=Sri Saundarya Lahari : The Descent|first1=Swami|last1=Satyasangananda Saraswati|date=2008|publisher=Yoga Publications Trust|isbn=9788186336700|location=Munger, Bihar, India}}</ref> |
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* Mani Rao, "Saundarya Lahari" HarperCollins 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Saundarya Lahari |url=https://harpercollins.co.in/product/saundarya-lahari/ |access-date=2022-10-07 |website=HarperCollins Publishers India}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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*[[Adi Shankara bibliography]] |
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| ⚫ | There are several legends about this work. |
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* ''[[Shivananda Lahari]]'' |
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Swami Satyasangananda Saraswathi, Pithadishwari of Rikhiapeeth ([[Satyananda_Saraswati|Swami Satyananda Saraswathi]]'s lineage) has authored a modern commentary<ref>Sri Saundarya Lahari The Descent by Swami Satyasangananda Saraswathi, Published by Yoga Publications Trust, Munger, India</ref> with Sri Vidya meditations on Devi for each verse. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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<references/> |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQFbqEDKT_Y Saundaryalahari] |
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*[http://shankaracharya.org/soundarya_lahari.php Soundaryalahari shloka and its translation] |
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[[Category:Hindu texts]] |
[[Category:Hindu tantric texts]] |
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[[Category:Sanskrit |
[[Category:8th-century Sanskrit literature]] |
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[[Category:8th-century texts]] |
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[[Category:Adi Shankara]] |
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[[Category:Advaita Vedanta texts]] |
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Latest revision as of 19:50, 18 November 2024
The Saundarya Lahari (Sanskrit: सौन्दर्यलहरी, romanized: Saundaryalaharī, lit. 'the waves of beauty') is a famous literary work in Sanskrit attributed to Pushpadanta as well as Adi Shankara .[1] Some believe the first part "Ananda Lahari" was etched on mount Meru by Ganesha himself (or by Pushpadanta).[2] Sage Gaudapada, the teacher of Shankar's teacher Govinda Bhagavadpada, memorised the writings of Pushpadanta which was carried down to Adi Shankara. Its hundred and three shlokas (verses) praise the beauty, grace and munificence of Tripura Sundari as a form of Parvati. W. Norman Brown translated it to English which was published as volume 43 of the Harvard Oriental Series in 1958.[3][4][5]
History
[edit]Scholars[who?] believe that Ādi Shankaracharya composed Soundaryalahari in Kashmir.[6]
Tantra "textbook"
[edit]The Saundarya Lahari is not only a collection of holy hymns, but also a Tantra textbook,[7] giving instructions on puja, Sri-Yantra, and worshiping methods, 100 different hymns, 100 different yantra, almost one to each shloka; it describes the appropriate tantra method of performing devotion connected to each specific shloka; and details the results ensuring therefrom. There are many interpretations and commentaries but best of these are arguably those that provide word-to-word translations, as also the yantra,[7] the devotion to be performed and the results of the devotion.
Description
[edit]Legend
[edit]| Part of a series on |
| Shaktism |
|---|
|
 Hinduism portal |
There are several legends about this work. According to one legend, Adi Shankara visited Kailash to worship Shiva and Parvati. There, Shiva gave him a manuscript containing 100 verses which described the many facets of the goddess, as a gift to him. While Adi Shankara was returning after visiting Kailash, Nandi stopped him on the way. He snatched the manuscript from him, tore it into two, took one part and gave the other to Adi Shankara. Adi Shankara, desolate, ran to Shiva and narrated the incident to him. Shiva, smilingly, commanded him to retain the 41 verses with him as the initial part of the 100 verses and then, write an extra 59 verses in praise of the goddess himself. Thus, verses 1–41 are the original work of Shiva, shedding great light on the ancient rituals of Tantra, Yantra, and various powerful mantras. The remaining verses, that is, 42–100 are composed by Adi Shankara himself, which mainly focuses on the appearance of the goddess.[7] Yet another legend says that once when Adi Shankara was visiting Kailash, Shiva was writing about the beauty of goddess Parvati on the walls of their home. Shiva rubbed what he wrote as he didn't want Adi Shankara who was an outsider reading about the beauty of his wife. But Adi Shankara had seen some part of the writings and with his superior mind recollected the rest. Thus, he composed the Saundarya Lahari.
Concept of Kundalini
[edit]First 41 verses cover the detailed account of internal worship of the Mother. It consists of systematic exposition of the concept of kundalini, Sri Chakra, mantra (verses 32, 33). This depicts the Supreme Reality as non-dual but with a distinction between Shiva and Shakti, the power holder and Power, Being and Will. The Power, that is, the Mother or Maha Tripura Sundari, becomes the dominant factor and the power holder or Shiva becomes a substratum. The first verse itself clearly describes this idea. "United with Shakti, Shiva is endowed with power to create; or otherwise, he is incapable of even a movement." The same idea is brought out in verse 24, "Brahma creates the universe, Vishnu sustains, Rudra destroys, and Maheshwar absorbs every thing and assimilates into Sadashiva. On receiving mandate from thy creeper like brows, Sadasiva restores everything into activity as in the previous cycle." Such prominence of the Mother can be seen in verses 34 and 35 also.
Commentaries
[edit]There are more than 36 commentaries on the Saundarya Lahari in Sanskrit itself.[2] Among the better known are commentaries by Lakshmidhara, Kameshvarasuri (viz. Arunamodini), Kaivalyashrama (viz. Sowbagyavardhini) and Dindima.[8]
Translations
[edit]The Saundarya Lahari was translated into Tamil in the 12th century by Virai Kaviraja Pandithar. He titled the book Abhirami Paadal.[9]
There are many English translations with commentaries on Saundarya Lahari done by various authors.
- Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri and T.R Srinivasa Ayyangar[7]
- Swami Tapasyananda of Sri Ramakrishna Math[10]
- Swami Satyasangananda Saraswathi (of Bihar School of Yoga) has authored a modern commentary with Sri Vidya meditations on Devi for each verse[11]
- Mani Rao, "Saundarya Lahari" HarperCollins 2022.[12]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Dr. N., Nagaswamy. "Soundrya Lahari in Tamil". Tamil Arts Academy. Retrieved 14 August 2012.
- ^ a b P. R., Ramachander. "Soundrya Lahari".
- ^ Edgerton, Franklin (May 1959). "The Saundaryalahari, or Flood of Beauty by W. Norman Brown". The Journal of Asian Studies. 18 (3): 417–419. doi:10.2307/2941628. JSTOR 2941628.
- ^ Tucci, Giuseppe (March 1960). "The Saundaryalahari, or Flood of Beauty by W. Norman Brown". East and West. 11 (1): 51. JSTOR 29754221.
- ^ Burrow, T. (1959). "The Saundaryalahari, or Flood of Beauty by W. Norman Brown". Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. 22 (1/3): 617–618. doi:10.1017/s0041977x00066118. JSTOR 609560.
- ^ Raghunāthācārya, Es Bi (2002). Śankarācārya. Sahitya Akademi. p. 35. ISBN 978-81-260-1575-7.
Śankara visited Kashmir which was one of the greatest centres of learning . Kashmir was the seat of Saivism and Sakta, cult. Buddhism too at that ... Scholars believe that Sankara composed Soundaryalahari in Kashmir
- ^ a b c d Pandit S. Subrahmanya Sastri, T.R. Srinivasa Ayyangar (1937). Saundarya Lahari (The Ocean of Beauty) of Sri Samkara Bhagavatpada. Adyar, Madras, India: The Theosophical Publishing House. ISBN 9788170593188.
- ^ "Discourses on the Soundaryalahari". The Hindu. 21 August 2001. Retrieved 5 January 2018.[dead link]
- ^ Nagaswamy, R. (n.d.). "Saundarya Lahari in Tamil (Volume 19)". Tamil Arts Academy. Retrieved 26 September 2020.
- ^ Tapasyananda, Swami (1987). Saundarya Lahari of Sri Sankaracharya. Mylapore, Chennai, India: Sri Ramakrishna Math. ISBN 9788171202447.
- ^ Satyasangananda Saraswati, Swami (2008). Sri Saundarya Lahari : The Descent. Munger, Bihar, India: Yoga Publications Trust. ISBN 9788186336700.
- ^ "Saundarya Lahari". HarperCollins Publishers India. Retrieved 7 October 2022.