Divine Downloads: January 2010

Shakti is the divine force, manifesting to destroy demonic forces and restore balance. Every God in Hinduism has his Shakti and without that energy they have no power. Lakshmi is the energy of Vishnu. Parvati is energy of Shiva. Shakti is also called Devi or mahadevi, assuming different roles as Sati, Parvati, Durga and Kali.

Goddess Lalita, also known as Lalitha Tripura Sundari devi and the red Goddess, is one of the most powerful manifestations of Goddess Shakti. Goddess Shakti incarnated as Lalita to demolish the demona demon formed from the ashes called Bhandasura. Bhandasura was of Manmadha or Kama deva, the God of Love and seduction.

When Lord Shiva was performing severe Tapas (penance), Manmadha tried to disturb him by aiming the arrows of seduction. Lord Shiva was disturbed greatly and with a deep anger opened his third eye and destroyed Manmadha into ashes. Shiva Gana Sevaks collected the ashes of Kama Deva and drew a portrait of a man. With a single glance of Lord Shiva on that portrait of ashes, it came alive. As we know, Lord Shiva is called as Bhola Shankar, blessed the live form of the ashes, which became demon called Bhandasura.

Blessed by Lord Shiva, Bhandasura started to show his real characteristics of a demon. He harassed Sadhus (saints) and occupied all the lokas including Swarga Loka (the Heaven). To get rid of demon Bhanda, Lord Indra (the King of Gods and Swarga Adhipathi) observed a Yagna (sacrifice) to please the Mother Goddess. Pleased with Indra’s Yagna, Goddess Shakti appeared as Sri Lalitha Devi sitting on Sri Chakra.

Sri Lalitha Devi demolished the demon Bhandasura and his original form of Manmadha or Kama was restored. The whole episode of Lalita and Bhandasura is explained as ‘Bhandasura Vadha’ in Puranas.

Goddess Lalita represents the Panchabhuta (five basic elements) of the Universe. Panchabhutas are – air, water, fire, earth and space (Vayu, Jala, Agni, Bhumi and Akasha). Lalitha Devi is also associated with Sri Chakra, the ultimate Chakra representing the origin and existence of the universe.

Lalita holds five flowery arrows, noose, goad and bow. The noose represents attachment, the goad represents repulsion, the sugarcane bow represents the mind and the flowery arrows are the five sense objects.

Lalita sahasranama is a sacred Hindu text for the worshippers of the Goddess Lalita Devi, i.e. the Divine Mother, in the form of her and the male gods' feminine power, Shakti. Lalita is the Goddess of bliss, an epithet for Parvati. Etymologically, "Lalita" means "She Who Plays". It is supposedly one of the most complete stotras, one need only recite it to gain total salvation.