Sripura Varnana description
What does Sripura mean? After the annihilation of Bhandasura, Trimurtis called upon the cosmic architect Viswakarma and the architect of demons Maya , and instructed them to construct 16 palaces in 16 kshetras (sacred places) for the residence of Lalita & Shiva Kameswara.
Meru and other gigantic mountains (9) Jalasamudra and other oceans (7) total 16 Kshetras. The palatial buildings of mother Lalita located in these kshetras are called Sripura. Wherever a Sripura is located , its dimensions are like this.
Mount Meru has 4 peaks One on the eastern side, one on north west, one on the south west. Each is 100 yojanas tall and 100 yojanas wide these are trimurtis worlds. In the center of these is the fourth, which is 400 yojanas tall and 400 yojanas wide.
Sripura is on the Middle peak. Sripura has got metallic compound walls 7 in number they are square shaped. Each wall is separated from the next one by one a distance of 7 yojanas.
Kalayasa (iron) wall The perimeter of this wall is 16 thousand yojanas Kansya (bronze) wallBetween these two is the first chamber. Several trees and gardens are located here. Mahakali and Mahakala are the protectors here. Kalachakra is their throne.
Tamra (copper) wall Here is a forest of Kalpavruksha (wish granting tree). This is also called as Kalpavatica. This is the second chamber. Vasanta (spring) is its protector .Madhusri and Madhavasri are his consorts.
Seesa (lead) wall Here is a forest of santana trees (progeny granting). This is the third chamber Grishma (summer) is the ruler . Shukrasri and Shuchisri are his consorts.
5. Aarkuta (brass) wall This is the fourth chamber. Here is a forest of Hari chandanavruksha (yellow fragrant sandal wood). The ruler is varsharutu (rainy season. Nabhasri and Nabhasyasri are his consorts.
Panchaloha (five metal) wallIn this fifth chamber is a garden of mandara trees Sharadrutu is the protector. Ishasri and Urjasri are his consorts.
Raupya (silver) wall Sixth chamber.Parijata tree forest .Hemantarutu is the protector. Sahasri and Sahasyasri are his consorts.
Hema (gold) wall Seventh chamber. Kadamba forest. Sisira (winter) s the protector. Tavasri and Tavasyasri are his consorts.
This is where Mantrini devi resides in a temple. She has one more quarter very close to that of Lalita devi in Mahapadmatavi( forest of lotuses). When she is on duty she stays in that quarter. In this seventh chamber near Mantrini's residence Matanga kanyas are constantly singing and dancing.
Matanga Kanyas
In the olden days a sage named Matanga used to expand the creation byvirtue of the power of his penance. He was a great saint and practitioner of penance. He was the friend of Himavan Once Himavan started boasting saying that he was the father of Gauri devi. With that Matanga felt humiliated and started great penance for Mudrini devi(Mudrinidevi is none other than Mantrini devi who had received a ring from Lalita devi. She is also called Shyamala devi.
She was very happy with his penance and gave boon that she herself would be born as a daughter to him. A few days later Shyamala devi appeared in the dream of Siddhamati devi (wife of Matanga). Shyamala devi gave her a flower from the bunch decorating her ear. Very soon she had a female child who was named Laghushyama as she was born in a very short duration She was also called Matangi, Matanga Kanyaka. With her power she generated crores of virgins, who stay near Mantrini devi's house and keep singing her praises all the time.
The Compounds of precious stones:
Inside the golden compound, there are eleven prakaras (compounds) one inside the other and inside them there are six more compounds described hereunder. All these compounds are perfect squares. Here also, the distance between one compound and the other is Seven yojanas.
Pushyaraga Prakara (The compound of Topaz)
The area between the golden compound and this one is called Pushyaraga area. Here male and female Siddhas reside. Those who were born earlier in the race of Siddha and who obtained attainment (Siddhi) in their spiritual practices worshipping the Divine Mother, stay here as Siddhas and gladly continue to worship Her.
Padmaraga Prakara (The compound of Ruby)
Here celestials of the species called Charanas reside. Those who were born in Charana world and worshipped the Mother are reborn here, after attaining Her grace.
Gomedhika Prakara (The compound of Agate)
In this arena, Kala Sankarshani devi resides. She is worshipped by the Yoginis and Bhairavas.
Vajra Prakara (The compound of diamonds)
Apsaras and Gandharvas (divine dancers and singers) stay in this arena. They are ever engaged in the Japa (repetition) of the Divine Mother's names and stay here happily. The river Vajranadi flows in this place. The Goddess Vajreswari stays here. When the demon Bhanda swallowed the diamond weapon (Vajra Ayudha) of Indra, he could get back his weapon by worshipping the Mother here.
. Vaidurya Prakara (The compound of Vaidhurya gems)
Those of the netherworld, who attained spiritual achievements by worshipping the Mother, stay in this arena. The emperor Bali also resides here.
Indraneela Prakara (The compound of Sapphire)
Those people who were born on the earth stay in this area enjoying pleasures, after their worship of Lalita during their lifetime there. Soon after the effect of their punya (merit) is exhausted, they will be born again as human beings on the earth. By the effect of their previous pious deeds, they again worship the Mother and return once more to this pious place. Due to the blue colour of these precious stones, the dark effect of likes and dislikes persists in them. Hence they are born again and again. Those who can control their senses to merge in the ultimate state of salvation, i.e., in the Divine Mother do not have rebirth.
Mukta Prakara (The compound of pearls)
Several rivers named Tamraparni, Mahaparni, Sadamukta, Sadodaka etc. flow in this area. The celestials who worshipped the Mother and chanted her Mantras stay here. The cities of the rulers of the eight sides exist here. (The eight sides are East, West, North, South, North-East, South-East, North-West and South-West).
. Marakata Prakara (The compound of Emerald)
The abode of the Goddess Dandanatha also called Varahi exists in this area. There is a garden of golden palm-trees here. The Goddess Unmattabhairavi, Svapnesvari, Tiraskarinidevi, Kirapadadevi reside in this area. When Goddess Dandanatha is on duty, she stays in a separate palace in the forest of Mahapadma (Big lotuses).
Vidruma Prakara (The compound of Coral)
In this area, Brahma along with sages like Maricha stays and worship the DivineMother.
Manikya Prakara (The compound of Gem)
This area is also called the hall of gems i.e. Manikya Mantapa. Here Vishnu worships the Mother.
Navaratna Prakara (The compound of nine precious stones)
In this area exists a huge hall with thousands of pillars. Here Siva along with his attendants constantly supervises the activities being done as per the orders of Lalita Devi.
. Manomaya Prakara (The compound of mind)
The entire area is a big well of Amruta (nectar). The Goddess Tara resides here. Along with her attendants, she rows a big boat and takes her devotees inside along with Her.
. Buddhi Prakara (The compound of the intellect)
The entire area is a big well of Bliss. The captain of the ship in this arena is the Goddess Varuni. She is also called as Sudha malini and Amruteswari.
Ahankara Prakara (The compound of Egoism)
The entire area is a big well of criticism and nectar; The water of this well is nothing else than the nectar in the nerve Sushumna (The central nerve between Ida and Pingala nerves of one's backbone). The captain of the ship in this area is the Goddess Kurukulla.
. Suryabimba Prakara (The compound of the Sun)
Here brilliance comparable to the light of the rising Sun exists always. Plenty of flowers called Kuruvinda are abundant here. The Sun performed penance here and obtained brilliance. Martanda Bhairava stays here.
He has a very luminous form. His three wives are Mahaprakasa Sakti, Chakshusmati Sakti and Chayada Sakti (The powers of great brilliance, eyesight and shade).
. Chandrabimba Prakara (The compound of the Moon)
Moonshine ever exists here. The Moon performed penance here and attained illumination. Somanatha, the Lord of the stars is the chief deity of this area.
. Srungara Prakara (The compound of eroticism)
This area is full of waters of eroticism. Here Manmatha, (Cupid-the god of love) does Japa of the Mother's sacred names, rowing in a boat. Only those who are of pure mind by nature can cross this area.
. Cintamani Gruha (The abode of Gems)
This is the great palace of Sri-chakra. It is called Mahapadmatavi also. Around the mansion, hundreds of thousands of lotus like palaces exist. To the east of this place, there is a large vessel with a diameter of one Yojana. This is called Arghya Patra (the vessel used to wash hands) At the south-east corner exists Chidagnikunda (The fire pit of knowledge). At the south-west exists Srichakra Ratha, the vehicle of Srichakra. At the north-west exists the Geya Chakra Ratha of the Goddess Mantrini.
comment:
p_commentcount