Sri Sankaracharya's Soundarya Lahari

Description

Prof (Dr) G R Krishnamurthy

I happen to read through “Soundarya Lahari" by SriShankaracharya rendered into English by Dr. L.S.R Prasad. In Sanskrit, the original is an alltime classic. Dr Prasad has translated it, nay transcreated it in English. The transcreation (in English Poetry) is as natural, as-spontaneous as-mystique and as-rhapsodic as original! Hence it comes as an authentic transcreation rather than a translation

"Soundarya Lahari” is a philosophical, spiritual and mystique classic, nay treatise. Sri Shankara summarizes the whole process of “Ananda/Bliss” which is the Sumnum bonum of the Hindu-Life i.e, Moksha, Liberation/ Nirvana/ Kaivalyam.

Shankara describes the awakening of“ Kundalini”, the serpantine power which is latent in the human body and mind. The awakening power starts from Moolathara Chakra and flows through: Swadhistana, Manipura, Anahatha, Vishuddha, and Ajnaa Chakra,- so as to culminate in reaching Sahasrara Chakra, which is the thousand petaled one in Cerebrum/ the penial gland, the third eye. The Sahasrara is the Centre of Divine bliss, unfailing bliss and nothing but all pervading consciousness, in other words, the Moksha or the liberation from the life bondages.

All Chakras are situated on the spine from the bottom tip to the cerebrum. A Chakra is nothing but a whirling vortex of energy at the conjunction point of the mind and the body. However, Mantra is the conglomeration of letters or words that have mystique and magical powers. Same way, Tantra is the procedure of the ritual performed to appease various deities as per the desires and "states of living” of the human beings.

The whole philosophy of life and the essential elements of life bliss (Ananda) and beauty (Soundarya) are described in hundred marvelous poems by Sri Shankara in Soundarya Lahari.

Prof (Dr) G R Krishnamurthy I happen to read through “Soundarya Lahari" by SriShankaracharya rendered into English by Dr. L.S.R Prasad. In Sanskrit, the original is an alltime classic. Dr Prasad has translated it, nay transcreated it in English. The transcreation (in English Poetry) is as natural, as-spontaneous as-mystique and as-rhapsodic as original! Hence it comes as an authentic transcreation rather than a translation "Soundarya Lahari” is a philosophical, spiritual and mystique classic, nay treatise. Sri Shankara summarizes the whole process of “Ananda/Bliss” which is the Sumnum bonum of the Hindu-Life i.e, Moksha, Liberation/ Nirvana/ Kaivalyam. Shankara describes the awakening of“ Kundalini”, the serpantine power which is latent in the human body and mind. The awakening power starts from Moolathara Chakra and flows through: Swadhistana, Manipura, Anahatha, Vishuddha, and Ajnaa Chakra,- so as to culminate in reaching Sahasrara Chakra, which is the thousand petaled one in Cerebrum/ the penial gland, the third eye. The Sahasrara is the Centre of Divine bliss, unfailing bliss and nothing but all pervading consciousness, in other words, the Moksha or the liberation from the life bondages. All Chakras are situated on the spine from the bottom tip to the cerebrum. A Chakra is nothing but a whirling vortex of energy at the conjunction point of the mind and the body. However, Mantra is the conglomeration of letters or words that have mystique and magical powers. Same way, Tantra is the procedure of the ritual performed to appease various deities as per the desires and "states of living” of the human beings. The whole philosophy of life and the essential elements of life bliss (Ananda) and beauty (Soundarya) are described in hundred marvelous poems by Sri Shankara in Soundarya Lahari.