Saundaryalahari

This is a fabulous book written by an expert. It also contains word-by-word meaning, so that you can make anvaya (prose order) yourself and understand clearly. Excellent book.

Good

Excellent book written by my guruji. Sri Vidya Upasaka.

Saundarya Lahari, also spelled as Soundarya Lahari, is a treatise on the Mother Divine of the Shaktya (Goddess Worship) tradition of India. Literally meant as an ocean of beauty, the book describes the Divine Feminine as the Kundalini Shakti (Energy), HER form in the Shri Chakra/Mandala in the first 41 verses, also termed as Ananda Lahari or waves of pure bliss and the rest 42 to 100 verses, describe HER from Head to Toe. Saundarya Lahari is originally attributed to the saint Adi Shankaracharya, who espoused the cause of the Monistic Philosophy of Advaita, equating the individual soul/consciousness to the universal soul/consciousness/GOD and declaring both as the exact same entity, that can be realized within one's own lifetime. The Shaktyas worship the Saundarya Lahari as a combination of the 1000 titles of the Mother Divine (Lalita Sahasranamam) and the Tantric Sri Vidya worship. As per their tradition, Every verse or poem of the Saundarya Lahari, is bestowed with a Yantra (mystical mandala) and ascribed to provide certain material and spiritual benefits, after a prescribed number of recitations. This book is therefore a manual of tantra, for the Shaktyas. The author's translation of the 100 verses of Saundarya Lahari, is very unique from the perspective, that it blends both the Shaktya and the Advaitic traditions. The explanation rendered for each of the verses/poems, is simply mind blowing and highly liberating in a spiritual sense. Understanding each of the verses leaves us with tremendous spiritual wealth and bliss. There is simply no way, that one would be left unaffected spiritually, after understanding even the first 5 verses! A blind recitation of the verses, without understanding the deeper spiritual meaning, is a true waste of one's pursuit and may add no benefit. This book however, does not mention any yantras for the verses or their mode of worship, as the intention of the Author is focused on Spirituality and the true inner meaning of each of the verses. For those looking for the tantric aspect of Saundarya Lahari, I also recommend the book from Swami Satyasanganada, Which includes the additional 3 verses rendered by the popular 16th century Shaktya commentator Lakshmidhara. As is the case with Tantra, unless one really understands the spiritual aspect of the practice, the material gains may also be limited or fruitless. For the Advaitins, or the followers of Advaita worshipping the divine feminine, this is a must have! Highly recommended for the Kriya Yoga practitioners or Kriyabans, as well! This book is a must read for everyone and especially, for the worshippers of the Divine Mother. I keep it next to my bedside and glance before sleep, every night.

Very nice explanation..

Bought the book expecting to read the true essence of Saundarya Lahari . What I got was a very misunderstood shaiva perspective about Lalitambika Devi. The knowledge is there but very wrongfully explained with a shiva dominated agenda. The Supreme God Para Brahman as intended in this book is the Lalita Parameshwari and not shiva alone as suggested in this book. The Param Shiva is Para shakti. If Para shakti doesn't exist the para shiva doesn't exist. If Para shiva doesn't exist the Para shakti doesn't either. That's because they are actually one. I don't appreciate You saying that shiva created shakti and shiva has a higher status than shakti. That doesn't make any logical sense.