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Expansive Motherly nature

The one who takes pride in being the Mother of All. The large bosom of Devi also symbolically depicts that expansive Motherly nature. She will not move an inch from that nature at all.

The meaning of mantra Om karpūra vīṭikāmoda samākarṣi digantarāyai namaḥ is who is enjoying a camphor laden betel roll, the fragrance of which is attracting people from all directions. This mantra is not used wit its literal meaning alone.

The shakta tradition says the devotee of the Mother should always speak softly that his words should spread fragrance around him. His words should not hurt others and should not utter words that are unpleasant for others. Devi is the biggest role model on how to talk.

There is a saying Purvavibhashi Susheelah Sukamukah, One’s actions and face are beautiful who opens the conversation without waiting for others to open a dialogue. It is said that Lord Sri Rama was a purvavibhashi and purvanamaskari, He opened the conversation and also he is the first to bow down anyone. Mother is also like that. She opens the dialogue, enquire our wellbeing. She talks in the sweetest way possible and even the scoldings won’t hurt us. It is because of the power of Her words that people are attracted to Devi.

Om kāmeśvara prema ratna maṇi pratipaṇa stanyai namaḥ

Who gives Her breasts to Kameshvara in return for the gem of love He bestows on Her says LalitaSahasranama about Devi’s bosom. In Dhyana sloka, Devi si described as āpīna vakṣoruhā. Devi resides with pride that I’m the mother of all. Apīna vakṣoruhā means the mother who is ready to give milk (of knowledge and auspiciousness) to all Her children. Sri Sankara described Mother’s bosom and Her breastmilk.

तव स्तन्यं मन्ये धरणिधरकन्ये हृदयतः पयः पारावारः परिवहति सारस्वतमिव । दयावत्या दत्तं द्रविडशिशु-रास्वाद्य तव यत् कवीनां प्रौढाना मजनि कमनीयः कवयिता Saundarya Lahari 75

I feel in my mind, That the milk that flows from Your breast, Is really the goddess of learning, Saraswathi, In the form of a tidal wave of nectar. For, milk given by you, who is full of mercy, Made the child of Dravida, The king among those great poets, Whose works stole one’s mind. It is not clear who is this child of Dravida.

This is related to many great saints. But the most popular one is associated with the divine saint named Thiru Jnana Sambandhar. When Sambandhar was 3-4 years old, one day went to take bath along with his father (Shivapadahridayar) in the temple pond. Since he was too young to take a dip in the waters, the father made him sit on the banks and wen to take a dip. The child became very hungry and started to cry out for milk. Shiva & Parvathi couldn’t bear even the smallest sorrow of Sambandhar, They appeared immediately in front of the child and Devi gave her breastmilk to Sambandhar. When the father returned after the bath, he could see the milk flowing from the child’s mouth. He asked “Who gave you milk?”, the child gave a reply with a poem!

தோடுடைய செவியன் விடையேறியோர் தூவெண்மதி சூடிக்        காடுடையசுட லைப்பொடிபூசிஎன் உள்ளங்கவர் கள்வன்         ஏடுடையமல ரான்முனைநாட்பணிந் தேத்தஅருள் செய்த          பீடுடையபிர மாபுரம்மேவிய பெம்மானிவ னன்றே.   

The God who wears a ring in his ears, who comes on the holy Bull who wears the flawless white Moon on his head who smears the ash from the cremation ground the thief (God) who stole my heart who blessed Brahma (the one on the Lotus) when Brahma prayed earlier He is none other than the Perumaan (the Lord ) himself of Piramapuram.

The father was very happy to hear this transformation of his son. He took Sambandhar to all the famous shrines of Lord Shiva in Tamil Nadu and everywhere Sambandhar composed Thevaram (hymns praising the Lord). He became the most revered saint poet from South.

There were many similar stories in the life of many great saints. There was a saint named Ramalinga Swami (Vallalar) in Vadathur. He was so compassionate to all the beings that he couldn’t even bear the sight of a small plant wilting. He wrote வாடிய பயிரை கண்டபோதெல்லாம், வாடினேன். I would shed tears on seeing the crops which are withering for want of water.

It is said that he has composed more than 6000 hymns on Lord Shiva. In his life also we could see that as a child when he was hungry Devi came in disguise and gave milk. What all these incidents denote is that all who had the great blessings to get Her Grace have become great poets. These incidents are to expound the greatness of Mother’s Love. This is why we call Devi as āpīna vakṣoruhā, the one who takes pride in being the Mother of All. The large bosom of Devi also symbolically depicts that expansive Motherly nature. She will not move an inch from that nature at all. Let us all remember that Divine Mother.