Deivathin Kural Series - 168

Om Namah Sivaya.

Deivathin Kural # 168 of 15 Mar 2007.

1. These e-mails, are chapter wise translations of the lectures given by, Sri Chandra Sekharendra Swamigal, of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam. Every day, after the daily Puja, He used to talk, on various aspects concerning Hinduism. These are published, in Tamil, by Vanady Padippagam, T.Nagar, Chennai, as Deivathin Kural, in seven volumes of a thousand pages each. To-day's talk is titled, 'Karuppum Sivappumana Kamakshi' that is, 'Kamakshi who is Black and Red', in pages 763 to 765, of Deivathin Kural, Volume 1.

2. There are many 'Sthothras' on Kamakshi. Amongst them, the 'Soundarya Lahari' by Adi Sankara and Mooka Kavi's 'Pancha Sathi', are incomparably beautiful. They can bring before our eyes the divine form of Ambal, as though drawn by an expert painter; merge our minds in the very salubrious greatness of Her qualities. Those two poems in praise of Parasakthi, have the power of expression that enables us to enjoy, what is beyond the grasp of the senses and mind. 'Soundarya Lahiri', has all the Might of Royalty, while 'Panch Sathi', has the softness and tenderness of gossamer and flowers.

3. 'Mooka', in Sanskrit means dumb. A great devotee of Kamakshi in Kanchipuram, chanced on Mother's Grace, by eating the 'Thambula' left overs. Immediately, he poured out 500 nectarine poems of superlative literary merit that is called the 'Pancha Sathi'. 'Pancha' means five and 'satha' means hundred.

4. In Pancha Sathi, while describing Kamakshi's complexion, he says in many places that She is very red, crimson red. In some places he says that She is black! He says, 'kashmira sthabaka komalanga latha', meaning, 'red and very tender like a creeper bearing a bunch of saffron flowers'. Elsewhere he says, 'pandu jeeva kanthi musha', meaning, 'of the colour of 'Semparuthi' the red hibiscus'. In another place, he says, 'thapinja sathabaghathvisha', meaning, 'of the colour of 'Kayaam poo', that is blue-black! Why does he say that she is of two different colours, nowhere near each other in the spectrum? Let us see what Adi Sankara says in 'Soundarya Lahiri'.

5. 'Jayathi karuna kasid aruna', says Soundarya Lahiri. The source of everything is 'Sambu', or Parabrhmam that is totally inert. When it takes form of benificence, it is called 'Ambal'. The colourless 'Sambu', becomes 'Aruna varnam' of the early morning sky, out of extreme compassion and love - "jagat thrathum sambhoh jayathi karuna kasid aruna".

6. Black is the colour of destruction, indicative of 'tamo guna'. Sleep, darkness and death, are indicated by black. It is reasonable to think of Kamakshi, who is also known by the names such as, Raja Rajeswari, Lalitha Thripurasundari, Srividya and so on, as a 'red brilliance'. So do the 'mantra sastras' also confirm. In Srividya, the Adishtana Devata, is said to be red. As per science also, this is apt. The colourless Sunray becomes Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange and Red, on diffraction. Red is nearer White. On the other end of the spectrum is Black, beyond Violet. White is pure 'Sathva'. Red is nearest, non irritating colour. That is why while developing the negative in photography, they use the red light.

7. So it is proper to describe Kamakshi, as Red / Crimson / Pink. But Mooka who spontaneously burst out with his effervescence of love and devotion, from dumbness; like going from Zero to Eighty mph in 2 seconds; also calls Kamakshi Black! Why? We will see that in the next e-mail.

Sambhomahadeva.