The next mantra is
“Om hrīṁkāra dugdhābdhi sudhāyai namaḥ”
(Devi who is the ambrosial nectar in the ocean of milk called Hrim)
Dugdham means milk. Abdhi means ocean. Sudha means – Ambrosia. Devi is the ambrosial nectar in the ocean of milk. We all know the popular legend of the churning of the ocean of milk. There lay a lot of precious things at the bottom of the ocean. With the help of the mountain Manthara, Devas tried to churn the ocean to retrieve the treasures.
When they realized that this was a difficult feat, they sought the help of Asuras, on the condition that the treasures would be shared. Thus, began the churning of the ocean of milk. While churning, many treasures surfaced. Among them, the most prized thing was Amritam (Ambrosia).
Those who drank Amritam could become immortal. This made them Devas. Devas have no Birth and Death. The most precious things began coming out from the churning of the ocean like Iravatha (The Celestial Elephant), Uchaisravas (The Celestial Horse) etc, among that Amritam being the most precious.
Hreemkara Sadhana (or) Mantra Upasana means churning the ocean of milk. Like the churning, if we can churn out our mental impurities like Kama, Krodha, Lobha, Moha, Madha, & Matsarya, we can get the purity needed to pave the way to Moksha. Amrita is compared to Moksha here.
Amrita makes one immortal, in a similar way Moksha takes us beyond the circle of birth and death. This can be experienced in this life itself, it is called Jivan Mukthi. This is the ultimate goal of life – This is Parameshwari. Realizing Devi is the goal of life, as explained in this Mantra.
hrīm kāri-hrīmati-hṛdyā is the section from Lalitha Sahasranama that we are discussing now. In Lalitha Trishati, 60 mantras explain more about ‘Hreemkara’. We have been discussing many of these mantras from Lalita Trishati. The mantras that we are going to discuss now is
Om hrīṁkāra kamalēndirāyai namaḥ
(… who is Goddess Mahalakshmi sitting on the lotus called Hrim)
Om hrīṁkāramaṇi dīpār-cciṣē namaḥ
(… who is the light of the ornamental lamp called Hrim)
“hrīṁkāra kamalēndirā” refers to Goddess Mahalakshmi who resides in a divine lotus. Lotus symbolizes prosperity and Mahalakshmi represents eight kinds of prosperity. Mahalakshmi, residing in the lotus, indicates completeness. Without Mahalakshmi, the lotus loses its completeness. Like Lakshmi to the Lotus, Devi’s Grace completes the sadhana.
hrīṁkāramaṇi dīpār-cciṣi is the next mantra which refers to the glowing light of lamp as Devi. This lamp is a special lamp made of rare and precious gems. The radiance of these jewels brighten the light of the lamp. It is not merely a light from the lamp alone, it is also the luster of the precious stones in the lamp.
Devi is ever shining with the light of the blissful state of Brahman. The effulgence of Devi’s divine light cannot be compared to the ordinary festival lights or glowing celebrities. The glowing countenance of celebrities depends on good food, luxury, makeup, and attire.
These celebrities have people attending to each of the aspects of grooming. This glow is perceived on coming near the person but the radiance of great Masters and Devi knows no distance. Devi’s effulgence is a manifestation of the light of the blissful state of Brahman. These two shlokas explain Devi’s ultimate form.
Om hrīṁkāra taruśārikāyai namaḥ
(who is the ladybird sitting on the tree called Hrim)
is the next mantra. It says that Devi is the parrot living in a fruit-bearing tree. Taranath Tharuhu is the Sanskrit Lakshana meaning the name taru is given to trees because it protects. To get the fruits of the tree, we have to climb and atop is the parrot representing Devi.
nigama-kalpa-taror galitaṁ phalaṁ
śuka-mukhād amṛta-drava-saṁyutam
pibata bhāgavataṁ rasam ālayaṁ
muhur aho rasikā bhuvi bhāvukāḥ – Srimad Bhagatam 1.1.3
O expert and thoughtful men, relish Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, the mature fruit of the desire tree of Vedic literature. It emanated from the lips of Śrī Śukadeva. Therefore this fruit has become even more tasteful, although its nectar was already relishable for all, including liberated souls.
Usually, the fruits that are pecked by birds are considered more apt for consumption as birds won’t bite those fruits that are poisonous or has gone bad. Here the fruit has fallen from the wish-fulfilling tree of Vedas and Upanishads. It is the fruit of Bhagavata. Sri Sukadeva is compared to a parrot who has tasted this fruit of Bhagavata.
This mantra says to drink the essence of this fruit as much as possible. The bliss that one derives is not like the happiness one gets from materialistic objects. We will not relish the sixth dosa the same way we had enjoyed the first one. This fruit of Bhagavata is entering into the very core of our being. Anybody of any age can consume it. Blessed are those people who enjoy this fruit.
Here himkara is an example. If we could compare any mantras as a tree, Devi is the bird residing in that tree depicted by the mantra hrīṁkāra taruśārikā.