Lalitopākhyāna - The Story of the Goddess Lalitā - Day 6 of Lalitā Navarātri

deviupasaka

Manifestation of Lalitā Devī

At the end of the homa, Lalitā Devī came out of the cidagni homa kuṇḍa, seated on a special chariot called "Cakrarāja-rathā". Therefore, we find the descriptions such as Cidagnikuṇḍasambhūtā, Devakāryasamudyatā and Cakrarāja-rathārūḍha-sarvāyudha-pariṣkṛtā in Lalitā Sahasranāma.

The Śri Cakrarāja-rathā has the following dimensions:

Width - 4 Yojanas (1 Yojana is approximately 9 miles)
Height - 10 Yojanas
Parvas (landings) - 9 in number
Cakras (wheels) – the four Vedas
Horses – the four-fold aims (Puruṣārthas)
Flag absolute bliss
The seat at the topmost landing is the Bindu Pīṭha
Form - of the form of Meru Prastara
The material that was used to make this was ‘Tejas'

The Lalitā Parameśvarī so manifested, created a male form from within Herself. His name is Kāmeśvara. By Her power of will, She created 4 different weapons. They were (i) Ikṣu Dhanus (ii) Five Puṣpa Bāṇas, (iii) Pāśa (noose) and (iv) Aṅkuśa (elephant-goad). She held all these weapons in Her hands. We see the description – Caturbāhusamanvitā in the Lalitā Sahasranāma.

Image source - Trayinyas Srividya Foundation

She was shining like the morning sun, with crimson color. (Udyadbhānusahasrābhā is a description found in Lalitā Sahasranāma). Her beauty was full in all aspects.(Sarvāruṇā'navadyāṅgī Sarvābharaṇa-bhūṣitā – Lalitā Sahasranāma).

She always appears as though She is 16 years of age. (Nityā-ṣoḍaśikā-rūpā is a description in Lalitā Sahasranāma). This description has two meanings. One meaning is that She always appears as one who is sixteen years of age. The other meaning is, there are 16 Nitya Devīs. She is of the form of these 16 Nitya Devīs.

Mahā Śambhu praised Her in many ways.

Order of Creation

She extended Herself in both male and female forms and continued the process of creation.

From the left eye, which was of the nature of Soma (moon) came Brahmā and Lakṣmī Devī
From the right eye, which was of the nature of Sūrya (sun) came Viṣṇu and Pārvatī
From the third eye, which was of the nature of Agni (fire), came Śiva and Sarasvatī
Lakṣmī & Viṣṇu, Śiva & Pārvatī and Brahmā & Sarasvatī became couples

Lalitā Devī directed them to continue the process of creation. She Herself continued to create certain things:

From Her long hair She created darkness
From Her eyes, She created the sun, the moon and the fire
From the pendant hanging in front of Her forehead came the stars
From the chain above Her forehead came the nine planets
From the eyebrows, She created the penal code
From Her breath, She created the Vedas
From Her speech, She created poetry and plays
From Her chin She created the Vedāṅgas
From the three lines in Her neck, She created various Śāstras
From Her breasts, She created mountains
From Her mind, She created the power of bliss
From Her fingernails, She created the 10 incarnations of Viṣṇu
From Her palms, She created the Sandhyās
She created other things as narrated in the Puruṣasūkta
From Her heart, She created Bālā Devī
From Her intellect, She created Śyāmalā Devī
From Her ego, She created Vārāhī Devī
From Her smile, She created Vighneśvara
From the Aṅkuśa, She created Sampatkarī Devī
Form the Pāśa, She created Aśvārūḍhā Devī
From Her cheeks, She created Nakulīśvarī Devī
From Her Kuṇḍalinī Śakti, She created Gāyatrī
From the eight wheels of the Cakrarāja-rathā, She created 8 Devatas
In the 9th landing, in the Bindu Pīṭha, She Herself was seated
Afterwards, She created the Devatas who would protect the Cakrarāja-rathā

After having thus completed the great creation, Lalitā Devī requested Her consort, Śiva Kāma Sundara to create the Śiva Cakra. He immediately brought out a big humming sound and from this, the Śiva Cakra Devatas numbering 23 manifested.

Later, Lalitā Devī crowned Śyāmalā Devī as the prime minister. Therefore Śyāmalā Devī is called Mantriṇī Devī. Lalitā Devī handed over the finger ring (ring of royal authority) to Mantriṇī Devī.

She made Vārtāli Devī the chief of Her army. Therefore Vārtāli Devī is also called as Daṇḍanāthā Devī. She is also called as Vārāhī Devī. Lalitā Devī created a mace (a weapon) from Her eye brows and gave it to Daṇḍanāthā Devī. After this, Lalitā Devī created two chariots from Her chariot and gave them to Mantriṇī Devī and Daṇḍanāthā Devī.

Mantriṇī Devī’s chariot is called “Geyacakra rathā”. This chariot makes musical sounds whenever it moved. Daṇḍanāthā Devī’s chariot is called “Kiricakra rathā”.

Later, Lalitā Devī hummed with rage. From this hum, 64000000 Yoginīs were born. Another 64000000 Bhairavas were also born. Innumerable Śakti Senās (armies) were also created by Her hum.

Source: 6th Day (15-10-99) of Sri Devi Navaratri Festivals ’99, Avadhoota Datta Peetham – Mysore