The Source of Soundarya Lahari !!

Jai Sriman Narayana !!

 

 

 

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sri Sankara visited many sacred shrines of Lord Shiva and sung praising the eternal glories of Lord.   Finally Sankara arrived at Mount Kailash and had the Darshan of Lord Shiva with his consort Goddess Sri Parvati.  Lord Shiva compassionately provided 5 Crystal Lingas to him and Goddess Sri Parvati provided him a bundle of palm leaves as well.  These 5 Crystal Lingas are reverentially mentioned as Lord Sri Chandramouleeswara installed in 5 sacred shrines and they are (1) Sri Kanchi Kamakoti Shankara Mutt – Yoga Lingam (2) Kedar – Mukthi Lingam (3) Sri Neelkanda Kshetram, Nepal – Vara Lingam (4) Sri Sringeri Mutt – Boga Lingam and (5) Chidambaram – Moksha Lingam.  These crystal Lingas are treated as personification of Lord Shiva and the bundle of palm leaves provided were the Manthra Sastras about the glories of Goddess Sri Parvati was eulogized by Lord Shiva.  Sri Sankara left the Abode of Mount Kailash after receiving the treasures of eternal wisdom.  Lord Nandikeshwara observed Sri Sankara leaving the Abode of Lord with a bunch of palm leaves,  instantly he realized that the invaluable possession of the Manthra Sastra was parting the holy Abode of Lord and devastated at the very thought of the same.  Lord Nandikeshwara exasperatingly seized the bunch of palm leaves from Sri Sankara, some of the leaves were vested with him but Sri Sankara was unnoticed the deed of Lord Nandikeshwara and left Mount Kailash. (Markandeya Puranam describes the source of Sri Soundarya Lahari)

 

 

The palm leaves remained with Sri Sankara contained 41 glorious verses about Goddess Sri Parvati praised by Lord Shiva famously known as Ananda Lahari, the quintessence of Manthra Sastras and ideology of Sri Vidya Upasana.  Goddess Sri Parvati realized the action of Lord Nandikeshwara, she appeared before Sri Sankara and instructed him to complete the remaining 59 verses.  Instantaneously, the magnificent verses flew out of Sri Sankara with a quick uninterrupted burst.  Thus, Sri Sankara composed the remaining verses praising the enthralling beauty of the Mother of the Universe were known as Soundarya Lahari existing unparalleled and unquestionable epitome of Vedic hymns. Soundarya means splendor and Lahari is Pravaham/ uninterrupted flow.  This distinctive composition narrates the incomparable exquisiteness of the Mother of the Universe from head to toe.  The initial 41verses were composed by Lord Shiva were known as Ananda Lahari,  praising the glories of Goddess Sri Parvati with an objective to immerse her in a blissful experience.

 

 

Jaya Jaya Sankara Hara Hara Sankara !!

 

Jai Sriman Narayana !!


Courtesy - Sri Varagooran Mama