We continue with the description of Devi’s beauty from head to toe, as described in Lalita Sahasranama.
katyadhobhaga dharini
In this section, Devi’s knees, calves, ankles, feet, and toes are praised in order.
The forty-first mantra is:
indra gopa parikṣipta smara tunabha jaṅghikayai namah
whose calves gleam like the jewel-covered quiver of the God of Love.
This mantra describes the exquisite beauty of Devi’s calves, saying they gleam like the jewel-covered quiver of the god of love. Her legs are said to have the color of the Indeevara (blue water lily), with her calves glowing like jewels or fireflies against the backdrop of blue lilies.
In Saundarya Lahari, verse 83, Devi’s calves are described:
parājētuṃ rudraṃ dviguṇaśaragarbhau girisutē
niṣaṅgau jaṅghē tē viṣamaviśikhō bāḍhamakṛta ।
yadagrē dṛśyantē daśaśaraphalāḥ pādayugalī-
nakhāgrachChadmānaḥ suramakuṭaśāṇaikaniśitāḥ ॥
Saundarya Lahari 83
This verse narrates that Manmatha, the god of love, used Devi’s calves as his quiver when approaching Parameshwara to evoke desire. Having been revived by Devi’s grace after being burnt by Shiva’s third eye, Manmatha intended to use Devi’s beauty to arouse longing in Shiva, symbolizing that Devi’s calves possess an irresistible, unmatched beauty.
The great poet Kalidasa describes Devi’s calves similarly:
kōmalasnigdha nīlōtpalōtpādita
anaṅgatūṇīra-śaṅkākarōdāra
jaṅghālatē chārulīlāgatē
Shyamala Dandakam
whose smooth and graceful calves resemble Kama’s quiver made of blue lilies and whose gait is playful.
The forty-second mantra is:
gudha gulpha
whose ankles are hidden.
Gudha implies strength, beauty, and fullness, while gulpha refers to the area around the calf muscles. This phrase highlights the loveliness of Devi’s calf muscles and ankles.
The forty-third mantra is:
kurma prṣṭha jayiṣṇu prapadānvitā
whose feet have arches that rival the back of a tortoise in smoothness and beauty.
The metaphor here compares the high arches of Devi’s feet to the smooth, curving back of a tortoise. Kurma Prishtam means the tortoise shell, and Jayishnu implies that which surpasses all comparison. Sri Shankaracharya in Saundarya Lahari, verse 88, explains that while Devi’s high arches can be likened to a tortoise shell, the beauty of her feet goes far beyond.
padaṃ tē kīrtīnāṃ prapadamapadaṃ dēvi vipadāṃ
kathaṃ nītaṃ sadbhiḥ kaṭhinakamaṭhīkarparatulām ।
kathaṃ vā bāhubhyāmupayamanakālē purabhidā
yadādāya nyastaṃ dṛṣadi dayamānēna manasā ॥
Saundarya Lahari 88
Your feet, Devi, are known for bestowing fame and averting misfortunes. I wonder how poets compared your feet to a tortoise shell. When Siva married you, he lifted your feet tenderly and placed them on a stone, considering the effect they would have on even the hardest of hearts.
Devi’s lotus feet are said to confer fame and prosperity on those who worship them. Worshipping her divine lotus feet purifies the mind, an essential step for attaining the grace of the Divine Mother. In certain wedding ceremonies across India, there is a tradition of placing the bride’s foot on a flat grinding stone, symbolizing stability. It is said that during her wedding, Lord Kameshwara gently placed Devi’s foot on a stone, reflecting that her feet alone have the power to soften even the hardest of hearts. This act signifies that Devi’s feet are a remedy for those with hardened hearts, transforming them through the grace of her divine presence.
To be continued…
#Lalita #LalithaSahasranamam
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