Thus Spake the Divine - Ambal as Identified by Acharya

Thus Spake the Divine

Ambal as Identified by Acharya

This entire chapter speaks of Acharya’s absolute humility and modesty when he prays to Ambal.

Our Acharya has composed many works in praise of Ambal. Apart from Saundarya Lahari, his compositions include Ananda Lahari, Devi Bujangam, Tripurasundari Veda Padha Sthavam and Tripura Sundari Manasa Pooja Sthothram, which are huge volumes. There are also short Shlokas, like Anna Poornashtakam and Ambashtakam. Even if we just recite these Shlokas, we can ride along the flood of Ambal’s grace. These Shlokas have been composed in fabulous language. Acharya, with least self pride and ego and with most humility, praises Ambal, who is the source and repository of all power. In many instances, Acharya, in his utmost humility, pleads for Her grace claiming that he does not deserve Her grace.

In Saundarya Lahari, in two Shlokas 57 th and 84 th , the way he expresses his humility really melts our hearts. In 57 th Shloka starting with “Dhrusha Dhgeeyasya”, he pleads Ambal for Her grace on him. He does not say, “Amma! Please turn your eyes and pour your grace on me”. Instead, he says, “Amma! Turn your eyes and pour your grace on me too”. In the 84 th Shloka, he pleads for a touch of Her Lotus Feet. Here also, he does not say, “Let your Feet touch my head”. He says, “Let your Feet touch my head too”. In both the Shlokas, he has used the word “Mam Api”, which means “me too”. These clearly indicate his inner thought that he does not deserve to ask for these, but yet asks for them.

Be it in wisdom, in devotion, in intellect, in articulation, in competency, or in compassion, there is no parallel to our Acharya, whether in the past or in times to come. Our Acharya continues to stand as an epitome of humility only to guide us towards being humble in worship of Ambal. His prayers to Ambal in humble words, such as “Mam api” meaning “Me too” (Bless me too; Keep your Feet on me too”) are only to teach us how to be humble while praying to God.

You may ask how one can ever seek something that he does not deserve. In 57 th Shloka, Acharya indicates that there are substances filled with compassion, which do not weigh merits or demerits of the receiver while being good to them. They just keep doing only good. Here, Acharya uses moonlight as metaphor. “Moonlight not only falls on King’s palace but on thorny bushes too with the same benignity. Similarly, can your grace not befall on ‘me too’ amidst the virtuous people who deserve it the most; can your radiance of wisdom and calmness of compassion not submerge ‘me too’?” he pleads.

Similarly, in 87 th Shloka, while worshipping Her Lotus Feet, Acharya pleads, “Amma! May Vedas, which hold your Feet as coronet on their heads, touch my head too”. He further justifies his pleading. He says, “You may think I don’t deserve your grace; But still, justification comes only when validating actions or otherwise. Here, it is to do with traits and attributes. You are a Compassion Persona. Therefore, please keep your Feet on my head too (Dhayaya Dehi Charanau)”.

There is an inner meaning in saying that Ambal’s Feet are on the heads of Vedas. Upanishads are called as “Heads of Vedas”. I already told you the story in Kenopanishad, where Ambal emerged as Jnyanambika to impart knowledge to Devas, who won the battle with Asuras and became boastful. Acharya seems to quote that incident indirectly in this Shloka. When ego is annihilated, wisdom dawns automatically. Keeping this in mind, Acharya, with absolute humility and zero self-pride, pleads to Ambal saying, “Let your Lotus Feet touch my head too”.

With every action of Ambal, there is not only a direct but also some indirect benefit. Such indirect benefits are not by design, they just happen on their own. In Kenopanishad, there is one such indirect benefit, apart from Ambal’s Jnyanopadesha. What I am going to say now may not have relevance to self-wisdom or Philosophy of Ambal. However, this has relevance for modern- day people.

This article is a snippet from the Book Thus Spake the Divine, is available online at www.giri.in and across Giri Trading Agency Private Limited, A chain of Speciality Stores dealing in all kinds of products needed in Indian Culture and Tradition.