RE: Paper on Dasa Mahavidya-To Sanjay ji

January 8, 2006

Om Gurave Namah Dear Sanjay ji, Namaste. Thanks for your kind words. You have provided the spark for these wonderful discussions. I was pondering on your questions, which I am sure are meant to challenge and elevate our minds. My reply could be stupid, but I know you’ll correct it. Meaning of Ten Directions: There are many symbolic meanings, but from the point of view of vidya or learning, the directions govern the sense of hearing…so says Bhagavatham. As Sound is an attribute of “Akasha” and hearing is a way of grasping that Sound, the ten directions are Gurus & Guides that can teach us the highest truths, only if we care to listen. The ten

direction are also the 10 outlets/inlets of the body. Nine out them deal with sensory perception and enjoyment, while the 10th is the doorway to dissolution. Yesterday, I was reading a column “Antaryami” in Eenaadu and the article written by Sri Saamavedam Shanmukha Sarma dealt with the topic of Antarshuddhi. He quoted from Skandha purana and said there are 10 qualities, which are “maanasa tirthas” which enable cleanliness of mind and it is as necessary to ensure antarshuddhi (cleanliness of mind/manas) as baahya shuddhi or body cleanliness. As I was turning your questions over in my mind, it suddenly occurred to me (rightly or wrongly), that this could be the import of Dasa Mahavidyas, which as maanasa tirthas, do cleanse the mind. I tried to correlate those 10 qualities with the Dasa mahavidya: Satyam (Truth)-Sun-Matangi Daya (Compassion)- Moon-Bhuvaneshwari Dhairyam (Courage)- Mars-Bagalamukhi Anasuya (Devoid of jealousy)- Mercury-Tripura Sundari Santhusti (Contentment)– Jupiter- Tara Daanam (Charity)- Venus- Kamalatmika Niyamapaalana (Abiding by rules)- Saturn-Kali Pavithra karma (Good deeds)- Lagna-Bhairavi Samatha (Oneness) -Rahu-Chinnamasta Indriya Nigraham (Control of senses)- Ketu- Dhumavati I request you to correct my mistakes. About colours…I feel that this body + mind are a prism, and the Light, essentially Pure/white/Colourless is resolved into a million hues. One who can transcend the prism and see Beyond also knows that

these myriad colours are but manifestations of That ParamJyoti…Tat twam asi. Regards, Lakshmi

Photos Got holiday prints? See all the ways to get quality prints in your hands ASAP.