Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara (Study)

by Seetha N. | 1985 | 67,146 words

Hinduism Shaktism

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Summary: The essay studies in English the Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara, focusing on its philosophical and devotional aspects. The Saundaryalahari represents an epitome of Shaktism (worship of the divine Goddess) by expounding the ultimate goal of liberation (moksha) through the non-dual knowledge of Nirguna Brahman, as taught by the Advaita philosophy. The study also examines the Tantric and worship elements of the text, by exploring Goddess Parvati’s macrocosmic and microcosmic aspects.

Original titles: Saundaryalaharī (सौन्दर्यलहरी), Saundarya-laharī (सौन्दर्य-लहरी), Soundaryalahari, Soundarya-lahari, Saundaryalahari, Saundarya-lahari, etc.

Source 1: exoticindiaart.com
Source 2: shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in

Contents of this online book ( + / - )

The full text of the Soundarya Lahari of Shri Shankara (Study) in English is available here and publically accesible (free to read online). Of course, I would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. You can see all this book’s content by visiting the pages in the below index:

Warning! This document has not been proofread. However, for each page you can (and should) verify the text with the original source PDF file.

+ Chapter 1 - Introduction

. Role of Stotrakavyas

. Origin and development of Stotrakavyas

. Concept of Bhakti (Devotion)

. Bhakti (Devotion), according to philosophers

. Bhakti (Devotion) as a sentiment

. A General Survey of Stotra-kavyas

. Kerala’s contribution to Stotra Literature

+ The author, his life, date and contributions

. Regarding the date and life time of Shri Shankara

. Date of Shri Shankara

. Authorship of Saundaryalahari

. Shri Shankara’s works

Chapter 3 - Contents of the Saundaryalahari (Summary)

Chapter 4 - Poetic beauty in Saundaryalahari

+ Chapter 5 - Shakta-Tantras—Saundaryalahari as an epitome of Shaktism

. Treatment of Shakti according to various texts

. Origin and development of Shakta Tantras

. Shaktism as a cult

. The various deities of Saktism

. The Shakta Schools

. The Shakta Pithas

. The Shakta Tantras

. The Shakta concept of Upasaka

. The Shakta concept of Diksa (Initiation)

. The Shakta concept of Guru (Spiritual guide or preceptor)

. The Shakta concept of Shishya (Disciple or student)

. The Shakta concept of Japa (muttering of prayers)

. The Shakta concept of Mantra (chanting)

. The Shakta concept of Bija (mystical syllables)

. The Shakta concept of Nada, Bindu and Kala

. The Shakta concept of Para, Pasyanti and Vaikhari

. The Shakta concept of Nyasa (mental appropriation)

. The Shakta concept of Yantra (mystical diagram)

. The Shakta concept of Mudra (position of the fingers)

. The Shakta concept of the Yoga-nadis

. Saundaryalahari as an epitome of Saktism

+ Chapter 6 - Saundaryalahari—External modes of Worship practised

. The Yantra method of Tantric worship

. The Home method of Tantric worship

+ Chapter 7 - Philosophical aspects in Saundaryalahari

. Introduction (the philosophy behind Shiva and Shakti)

. The process of creation

. The concept of Karma and Avidya (internal darkness)

. The concept of Yoganga

. The concept of Sarasvata-prayoga

. The concept of Garuda-prayoga

. The dwelling of the Goddess

. The concept of Avarana-cakras

. The drawing of Srichakra

. The form of the Goddess in Sricakra

. The creation of the world

. The respect of Gods

. The Sixty-four Tantras and Sixty-four Arts

. The concepts of Kadividya and Hadividya

. The concept of Brahmanda (Universe)

. The Kaula, Mishra and Samaya modes of worship

+ Chapter 8 - Comparative study with other works

. The Shri Dattalahari and the Saundaryalahari

. The Subhagodaya and the Saundaryalahari

. The Lalita-sahasranama and the Saundaryalahari

. The Tripura-mahimna-stotra and the Saundaryalahari

Chapter 9 - Conclusion

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Last Updated: 16 January, 2025

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