The story of the Goddess Lalita

[soundararajan50]

Lalitopakhyana – V
( 5th Day)

Maha Yaga

187. The great Maha Shambhu smiled and said
A. I am aware why you have all come here.
B. Pralaya (destruction) is of three types. (i) Avaantara Pralaya (ii) Maha
Pralaya and (iii) Kama Pralaya.
C. I am the one who is responsible to rescue the world from Maha Pralaya.
Vishnu is the one who rescues from Aavantara Pralaya. It is Lalita
Parameshwari who rescues from Kama Pralaya.
D. These three kinds of Pralaya take place in a cyclic pattern in every Kalpa.
Now, Kaamika Pralaya has taken place because of the destruction of Kama
and subsequently due to the actions of Bhandasura.
E. Only Lalita Devi can rescue from this situation. Parashakti alone can create
another Lalita Devi. Therefore, take shelter in her. Beg her to help you.
188. Hearing this, the Devatas did not know what to do. They again prayed to Maha
Shambhu to teach them the method of appeasing Parashakti.
189. Maha Shambhu explained :
A. This is called as Maha Yaga. (great fire sacrifice)
B. I am (assuming the form of Vayu) the Hota (the priest who makes the
offerings in a Homa) in this Yaga (fire sacrifice).
C. My Chidagni itself is the fire in this Yaga.
D. The last of the seven seas, i.e., Jala Samudra (Water Sea) has now dried
up. The huge pit so formed itself is the Homa Kunda (fire pit where Homa is
performed)
E. The remaining six great oceans constitute the six drops of ghee which is
used as offering.
F. Srishti (creation) is of five types (i) Manasa Srishti (ii) Jarayavee Srishti
(creation-taking place through the womb. E.g. Human beings), (iii) Anda
Srishti (creation taking place through eggs) (iv) Swedaja Srishti (creation
taking place through sweat) and (v)Udbhijja Srishti (creation taking place
by sprouting). These five Srishtis (creations) are the sacrifice animals in
this Maya Yaga.
G. Bhoomi (land), Parvata (mountains), Jala (water), Vayu (air) and Akasha
(space) these five are the substances used in this fire sacrifice. Agni
element (one of the five elements) being a part of my Chidagni can not be
a substance to be offered.
H. At the end of this great fire sacrifice, all of you (the performers of the Yaga)
should jump in to the Homa Kunda (fire pit). While doing so, you must
possess absolute devotion.
I. Then, Lalita Parameshwari will manifest.
J. She will be seated in a chariot called Chakra Raja Ratha.
K. She will create Parabrahma in the name of Kameshwara and will have Him
as Her consort.
L. This couple will re-create the entire universe, which will turn out to be more
beautiful than the previous creation.
M. Lalita Parameshwari will bring Manmatha back to life.
17
N. She will create four weapons, namely (i) Ikshu Dhanus – a bow of
sugarcane (Mano roopekshu kodanda – is one of the 1000 names of
Goddess Lalita)(ii) five Pushpa Banas – flower arrows (Pancha tanmatra
saayaka is one of the 1000 names), (iii) Paasha – noose (Raaga svaroopa
paashaadhyaa – is one of the 1000 names of Lalita) and (iv) Ankusha (a
hook, especially an elephant driver’s hook) (Krodha akaarankushojjvala is
one of the descriptions of Lalita)
O. With the help of these weapons, she will destroy Bhandasura.
P. She will bring Manmatha back to life.
Q. She will give you fresh bodies.
R. If you all agree, I will begin this great sacrifice myself.
190. The angels became very pleased and begged Maha Shambhu to be the Hota
and carry on the sacrifice. Parashakti and Maha Shambhu disappeared.

191. The angels also returned to their abode.
192. After some time, Maha Shambhunatha, accompanied by Parashakti started
chanting the Lalita Maha Mantra and entered the Universe in the form of the sevenlayered
Vayu (air).
193. Parashakti assumed the form of His Kriya Shakti (energy of action).
194. With the help of Kriya Shakti, Vayu blew the Jala Samudra with all his energy.
The Jala Samudra (water ocean) became totally dry.
195. In the pit thus formed He kindled the Chidagni with the help of fire emanating
from the third eye. This Agni raged from the Patala (a region in the nether-world) to
the Brahma Loka.
196. He decorated the periphery of the Homa Kunda with the stars just as one
decorates a sacrificial fire pit with flowers.
197. After this, he performed the Yaga as ordained by the Vedas. He used the
Pralaya Meghas (clouds appearing during Pralaya), namely Pushkala and Aavartaka
as Srik and Sruva (the two spoons which are used to offer ghee in fire worship).
198. As the Homa progressed, the Chidagni emanating from it spread to vast area.
199. He then offered the first six oceans and then the five-fold creations to this Agni.
200. In the end, the gods too decorated themselves and sat on the Srik and Sruva,
ready to be offered to Agni. Maha Shambhunatha offered them to Agni.
201. After this, Maha Shambhunatha discarded his Vayu form and assumed his real
form. He then chanted 8 special mantras and performed 8 Homas.

Source:Avadhoota Datta Peetham – Mysore

Last edited by soundararajan50; 18-12-14, 17:59.