Mantramatruka PushpamalaMANBLUNDER Mantra – mantra and in this context means a sacred song of praise; mātṛkā – it has two meanings. Divine Mother and Sanskrit alphabets; puṣpa – flowers; mālā – garland; stava – hymn in praise. Therefore, Mantamātṛkāpuṣpamālāstavaḥ means a hymn in praise of the Divine Mother in the form of a garland woven with alphabets. This composition consists of seventeen verses, composed by Śaṁkarācārya. The first alphabet of the first fifteen verses form the fifteen bījākṣara-s of pañcadaśākṣarī mantra. The sixteenth verse begins with the exclusive bījākṣara of ṣoḍaśākṣarī mantra. Seventeenth verse is in the form submission of this hymn at Her feet, seeks purification of the world and liberation from transmigration. Śaṁkarācārya composed this hymn for the exclusive benefits of those who are not initiated into pañcadaśākṣarī or ṣoḍaśākṣarī mantras. In Śakti worship, initiation is an important aspect. A guru who has attained perfection in ṣoḍaśākṣarī mantra can initiate disciples into Śakti cult or Śrīvidya upāsana. Generally, a disciple is initiated into Bālā mantra and depending upon the disciple’s progress, he is further initiated into pañcadaśākṣarī and finally ṣoḍaśākṣarī mantras. Nowadays, it is difficult to find a perfect guru who has attained Self-realization. In order to help everyone to enjoy the Bliss of reciting Parāśaktī’s mantras, Śaṁkarācārya has composed these verses. He begins with by invoking Her and completes this with pradakṣiṇa and namaskāra. The hymn is considered as extremely powerful as Śaṁkarācārya unfolds Her worship through our mind. There is no ritual involved. When the last stanza is recited, one should feel the tears rolling down his or her eyes. This is such a powerful hymn. |
