VERSE 6

हम्सैरप्यतिलोभनीयगमने हारावलीमुज्ज्वलां
हिन्दोलद्युतिहीरपुरिततरे हेमाङ्गदे कङ्कणे।
मञ्चीरौ मणिकुण्डले मकुटमप्यर्धेन्दुचूडामणिं
नासामोक्तिकमङ्गुलीयकटकौ काञ्चीमपि स्वीकुरु॥

hamsairapyatilobhanīyagamane hārāvalīmujjvalāṁ
hindoladyutihīrapuritatare hemāṅgade kaṅkaṇe|
mañcīrau maṇikuṇḍale makuṭamapyardhenducūḍāmaṇiṁ
nāsāmouktikamaṅgulīyakaṭakau kāñcīmapi svīkuru||

“O! Devi! Even swans learn walking from You. Please accept necklaces, bracelets, bracelets with tiny bells, anklets, ear studs, crown, head ornament, nose stud, finger rings, bangles and waist band”

The aspirant now offers through his mind additional jewelries to Her. His mind is totally fixed on Her. Since the aspirant has developed inexplicable love for Her, he wants to offer Her only the best. Advanced stage of devotion turns into love for Her.

He visualizes that She is moving towards him and Her gait is so beautiful that even swans learn their walk from Her. Both Lalitā Sahasranāma (47) and Saundaryalaharī (91) describe Her gait. Lalitā Sahasranāma says that swans in Her Abode are ashamed of their walking on seeing Her gait. Saundaryalaharī says, ‘O! Goddess of graceful gait! Your household swans, as if intent on practicing to balance their steps with tripping gait, do not abandon Your feet.’ The aspirant is totally engrossed in Her gait.

He now wants to offer Her more ornaments. He always chooses the best as everything happens only in his mind. He offers several shining necklaces. Still the aspirant is not satisfied. He visualises a pair of upper arm bracelets. They are generally worn by goddesses and queens. Even gods and kings do wear them. It is more like a status symbol. These bracelets are made of gold and studded with high quality diamonds. The best diamonds are Kohinoor. Maṇimālā, an ancient treatise on gems say, ‘There is no other jewel in the world which is so much renowned……’ He chooses Kohinoor diamonds and makes upper arm bracelets and offers the pair to Her. He also offers bangles with tiny bells and a pair of anklets to match with Her bracelets. He is still not satisfied.

He offers a pair of ear studs made of best precious stones. From the same type of precious stones, he makes a crown (it is not a crown that covers Her head fully leaving Her gleaming hair uncovered; the reason for this is explained below,) for Her. He offers both of them to Her. He visualizes half-moon and offers the moon as cūḍāmaṇi. Cūḍāmaṇi is gems studded ornament worn by women on the top of their heads. But the aspirant is not happy in offering a gem studded cūḍāmaṇi. Instead he conceives half-moon (possibly thinking about aṣṭamīcandra, 8th phase of moon) and offers it as cūḍāmaṇi. In order to adore Her with cūḍāmaṇi, he has ensured that the crown does not cover Her head fully.

The aspirant does not derive complete satisfaction after offering all these precious jewelry. He offers a nose ring made up of pearl. Lalitā Sahasranāma 19 describes Her nose as resembling like a champaka flower. Nāma 20 describes Her nose stud. It says that Her nose stud outshines the stars. He also offers rings for Her fingers and bangles for Her arms. Not satisfied, finally he offers waist band made in gold and embedded with shining gems.

With this verse, the second the second kūṭā of Pañcadaśī mantra known as kāmarāja kūṭa or madhya kūṭa begins. Including this verse, next six verses deal with the six bījākṣara-s of this kūṭa. The six bījākṣara-s are ha-sa-ka-ha-la-hrīṁ (ह स क ह ल ह्रीं).

{Further reading: The aspirant offers all these precious jewellery only though his mind, where She remains pervaded completely. For him, his mind is Her Abode. Śaṁkarācārya wrote these verses from his personal experience. The interpretation here has been suitably modified from the standpoint of an aspirant, who at any cost wants to have Her darśan in his mind. When She walks like swans, the aspirant is able to listen to the sound rendered by these ornaments, which is so melodious to his ears. This melody causes him a deep trance with tears flowing down his eyes. His love for Her turns more and more intent. He begins his material detachment, as he is making himself ready not only to have Her darśan, but also to become one with Her.}

(to be continued)