Book Title: World of Philosophy
Author(s): Christopher Key Chapple, Intaj Malek, Dilip Charan, Sunanda Shastri, Prashant Dave
Publisher: Shanti Prakashan
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The Śakti-worship as Depicted in the Saundaryalaharī
- Prof. Dr. M .L. Wadekar
The text ascribed to Sankarācārya :
Adi Sankarācārya, generally believed to have flourished in the 8th Century has written commentaries on the Prasthānatrayī the ten Upanisads, the Bhagavadgītā and the Brahmasutras. He is also believed to have composed several Stotras and the Prakarana granthas of the Vedanta. The Stotra Saundaryalaharī is also ascribed to Śankarācārya and is traditionally handed down in his name. The Saunadaryalaharī is really a unique piece of poetic composition, though having only 100 verses in praise of the goddess. It is the most popular not only among the devotees and worshippers of the Sakti-cult, but also among general devotees as an excellent Stotra in praise of the Goddess. It is no doubt interspersed with numerous details of Tantric worship, still for a general admirer/ relisher of a poetry, it is a poetic work par excellence. It is a Stotra of Sakti or Goddess, which is ascribed to Sankarācārya, a great devotee of the goddess, who describes himself to be a draviḍaśisu (Dravida child ) दयावत्वा दत्तं द्रविडशिशुरास्वाद्य तव यत्, कवीनां प्रौढानामजनि कमनीयः कवयिता ।
4. On some evidences, like Näsävaṁśa, nine Rasas, mention of Dhārānagari etc., Researchers opine it to be of Some later Sankarācārya, but not of Adya Sankarācārya, as supposed by the tradition and probably composed after 1000 A.D. No more deliberation is necessary here about the poet Sankarācārya and his date. There are more than 60 -commentaries on the text, of them nearly 13 are published and many others are still in manuscript form. This reflects upon the popularity and the importance of the text in the Sakta worship.
Description of the Goddess :
The Stotra begins with specific declaration about exclusive power of Sakti as the Highest Principle. Śiva is not able even to stir without
Her.
शिवः शक्त्या युक्तो यदि भवति शक्तः प्रभवितुं
न चेदेवं देवो न खलु कुशल: स्पन्दितुमपि ।
अतस्त्वामाराध्यां हरिहरविरव्यादिभिरपि
प्रणन्तुं स्तोतुं वा कथमकृतपुण्यः प्रभवति १ ॥
With the atomic particle of Her feet, Brahma creates the entire world, Visnu protects it on his Sahasraphaṇā Śesa and Śiva destroys it and applies
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