ललितापञ्चरत्नम्
Lalitāpañcaratnam
Lalita Tripursundari is the most potent form of the Divine Mother as She is the direct manifestation of Adi Shakti. She is one of the Das Mahavidyas. Lalita literally means She who plays. All creation, evolution and destruction is Her play. Tripursundari means the most beautiful one in all the three planes of existence. It also implies that She is the Adhishthatri (presiding deity) of the three parts of the Sri Chakra, and of the three Puras of Mantra. Hence, She is especially venerated by disciples in the Sri Vidya tradition. She is variously known as Rajarajeshwari – The Queen, Shodashi – Goddess of sixteen Kalas (arts), of sixteen desires or sixteen year old girl, Kameshwari – consort of Kameshwar etc. Lalita is usually depicted seated on a throne, golden complexioned, wearing red, wielding bow and arrows, noose and goad.
Various saints and sages have written commentaries on the LalitaSahasrnama (Lalita’s thousand names in the Brahmanda Purana), including SaundaryaLahari by Adi Shankaracharya. LalitaSahasrnama mentions the story of Her origin – Demon Bhandasur had terrorized the universe for too long. To defeat him, the gods conducted a yajna, offering themselves in the fire. Shiv and Parvati also stepped in it, and from the fire emerged the primordial Shiva, and Shakti as Lalita Tripursundari (Hence, She is often depicted seated on bodies of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva). She slayed the demon and created the universe all over again.
Goddess Lalita combines boundless compassion with Supra Wisdom and insurmountable power. She is the key to Supreme Consciousness. Lalita cannot be explained, She can only be experienced. Being Mother, She is easily pleased with sincere devotion and practice, and bestows upon her children the highest wisdom, prosperity and salvation. The Lalitapancharatnam composed by Adi Shankaracharya is a five-shloka hymn praising Lalita’s unparalleled beauty. It is said that reading these five Shlokas in early morning pleases Devi Lalita and She bestows upon her devotee knowledge, wealth, prosperity and eternal glory.
प्रातः स्मरामि ललितावदनारविन्दं विम्बाधरं पृथुलमौक्तिकशोभिनासम्। आकर्णदीर्घनयनं मणिकुण्डलाढ्यं मन्दस्मितं मृगमदोज्ज्वलभालदेशम् ॥१॥
Prātahͅ smarāmi Lalitāvadanāravindam Vimbādharam prͅthulamauktikas̒obhināsam । Ākarnͅadīrghanayanam Manͅikunͅdͅalāḍhyam Mandasmitam mrͅgamadojjvalabhāladeśam ॥1॥
At dawn I invoke the memory of the lotus face of Lalita With lips like Bimba (a fruit), large pearl bulak (kind of nose-ring, a flower) adorning the nose Huge eyes spread up to ears graced with gemstone ear-rings Soft smile, brow gilded with musk.
प्रातर्भजामि ललिताभुजकल्पवल्लीं रक्ताङ्गुलीयलसदङ्गुलिपल्लवाढ्याम् । माणिक्यहेमवलयाङ्गदशोभमानां पुण्ड्रेक्षुचापकुसुमेषुसृणीदधानाम् ॥२॥
Prātarbhajāmi Lalitābhujakalpavallīm Raktāṅgulīyalasadaṅgulipallavāḍhyām । Mānͅikyahemavalayāṅgadaśobhamānām Punͅdͅrekśucāpakusumeṣusrͅnͅīdadhānām ॥2॥
I pray at dawn to Lalita whose arms are like Kalpa vine With ruby-ringed fingers for leaves Decorated with gem-studded gold bangles, Angad (kind of bracelet) etc Wielding Pundra-Ikh (type of sugarcane) bow, flowery arrows, and goad.
प्रातर्नमामि ललिताचरणारविन्दं भक्तेष्टदाननिरतं भवसिन्धुपोतम् । पद्मासनादिसुरनायकपूजनीयं पद्माङ्कुशध्वजसुदर्शनलाञ्छनाढ्यम् ॥३॥
Prātarnamāmi Lalitācaranͅāravindam Bhakteṣṭadānaniratam Bhavasindhupotam । Padmāsanādisuranāyakapūjanīyam Padmāṅkuśadhvajasudarśanalāñchanāḍhyam ॥3॥
At dawn, I bow at Lalita’s lotus-feet Which grant the desired to devotees, and are like sturdy ship in the worldly ocean Worshipped by lotus-seated Brahma and other gods Bearing the auspicious marks of lotus, goad, flag, disc, etc.
प्रातः स्तुवे परशिवां ललितां भवानीं त्रय्यन्तवेद्यविभवां करुणानवद्याम् । विश्वस्य सृष्टिविलयस्थितिहेतुभूतां विद्येश्वरीं निगमवाङ्मनसातिदूराम् ॥४॥
Prātahͅ stuve paraśivām Lalitām Bhavānīm Trayyantavedyavibhavām Karunͅānavadyām । Viśvasya Srͅṣṭivilayasthitihetubhūtām Vidyeśvarīm nigamavāṅmanasātidūrām ॥4॥
I respectfully praise ParaShiva (transcendental Shiva’s consort) Lalita Bhavani The Ultimate accumulation of all knowledge, whose kindness flows uninterrupted Who is the reason for origin, maintenance and dissolution of the world The Goddess of knowledge, beyond Vedas, words and mind.
प्रातर्वदामि ललिते तव पुण्यनाम कामेश्वरीति कमलेति महेश्वरीति । श्रीशाम्भवीति जगतां जननी परेति वाग्देवतेति वचसा त्रिपुरेश्वरीति ॥५॥
Prātarvadāmi Lalite Tava punͅyanāma Kāmeśvarīti Kamaleti Maheśvarīti । Śrīśāmbhavīti jagatām jananī pareti Vāgdevateti vacasā Tripureśvarīti ॥5॥ ̄
At dawn I chant your holy names Lalita Kameshwari, Kamala, Maheshwari Shambhavi, Jagajjanani, Para Vagdevi, Tripureshwari.
इति श्रीमच्छंकराचार्यकृतं ललितापञ्चरत्नम् सम्पूर्णम् ।
Iti S̒rīmacchaṅkarācāryakrͅtam Lalitāpañcaratnam sampūrnͅam.