Lord Ardhanarishwara, epitome of oneness of Lord Shiva and Shridevi (Credit: Missrosen)
Shivah shaktya yukto yadi bhavati shaktah prabhavitum
Na chedevam devo na khalu kushalah spanditumapi |
Atah tvam aradhyam Hari-Hara-Virinchadibhir api
Pranantum stotum vaa katham akrta-punyah prabhavati ||
– Soundarya Lahari 1
Benefits: Successful accomplishment of all objectives; All prosperity; Overcoming all obstacles.
Meaning: Joined with Shakti(thyself), Lord Shiva is capable of creating the Universe.
Otherwise, the Lord is not be able even to stir.
You are worthy of being adored even by Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and Lord Brahma.
Therefore, O Goddess! without acquiring great merits, how can a person be able to salute you?
Exposition: What a great statement of reality! This is the most important opening shloka of Soundarya Lahari. It declares that Shiva and Shakti are one and have to be always together to do anything. They are the parents of the world as prayed in Vagarthaviva Shloka of great poet Kalidasa.
Shridevi is considered as the primordial universal power beyond Hindu Trinity viz., Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva. Since great divine powers worship her, normal human beings like us should have accumulated great merits to pray her. In other words, it is our great fortune to be a devotee of Shridevi. In fact, we are really blessed to discuss the glory of Shridevi.
The first two lines have several different shades of meanings. Some commentaries provide over 14 interpretations for this important verse! The following is a partial list. 
- Oneness of Shiva and Shakti: Only with united with Shakti(Shridevi), Lord Shiva can create the Universe. This means that Shiva and Parvati are the parents of the world and are always together.
- Mystical Diagram, Shrichakra: The mystical diagram Shrichakra represents Shridevi and also the entire universe. Five Shakti triangles and four Shiva triangles together form the crucial part in Shrichakra. So, without Shakti and Shiva triangles, the Shrichakra cannot be constructed!
- Creation Process: Shiva and Shakti represent Purusha and Prakriti which are male and female aspects respectively. According to Samkhya theory, union of Purusha and Prakriti leads to the creation of the universe. So, again it proves that the Lord Shiva and Shridevi are the divine parents of the world.
- World of Words: According to Tantras, vowels and consonants of Sanskrit alphabet represent the powers of Shakti and Shiva respectively. Only by combining these two we can create the word. Without combining vowels and consonants, a word cannot be uttered. So, Lord Shiv and Sridevi are intricately connected with a word. As discussed earlier, the world comes to existence just by words.
- Shakti in word Shiva: The vowel “i” (i is pronounced as in “kit”) is the critical for the word Shiva. It represents Shaki. It gives energy to the word Shiva. Only united with i, the word Shiva represents Lord Shiva and gets his energy(Shakti) to create the world.
- Shiva and Spanda Principle of Tantras: According to our Scriptures Tantras, Lord Shiva is the static part of the Universal Self. Shakti is the dynamic portion who manifests herself as spanda(pulsating energy). This is implied by the word spanditumapi (to even stir). In other words, Lord Shiva is the power holder and Shridevi is his Shakti(power).
- Kundalini Yoga: Shiva means every one of us as Individual Self. Here is the arrangement of words(anvaya): Shivah yadi Shaktya yuktah (syat), tarhi prabhavitum shaktah bhavati. Only by being united with awakened Mother Kundalini Shakti, one will be able to evolve spiritually.
.
Nachet evam devo na khalu kushalah spanditumapi. Otherwise, we cannot even move a bit in the spiritual path. In Kundalini Yoga, awakened Mother Kundalini makes the real yoga happen to the practitioner. This suggests that the Kundalini Yoga to be one of the essential means for spiritual evolution. - Guru’s Grace and Siddha Yoga: Shiva means every one of us as Individual Self. The arrangement of words is same as earlier, as in #7. But, the meaning is different! Only by uniting with Sadguru‘s Shakti(Grace of the Guru), we can evolve spiritually.
.
Otherwise, we cannot even move to make any progress on the spiritual path because of ignorance. The word prabhava is to be interpreted as evolution. The Grace of the Guru eliminates our ignorance to help us identify and realize the Universal Self within ourselves. So, this shloka mandates the necessity of a Guru for spiritual realization.
.
In Siddha Yoga(a form of Kundalini Yoga), a Sadguru(Realized Master) transmits the kind Grace to a worthy disciple via Shaktipat to awaken the divine Mother Kundalini. Awakened Mother Kundalini brings about the real yoga to the disciple. - Sadguru and his power: In this perspective, Shiva means Realized Master(Sadguru). Arrangement of words is same as in meaning #7. Only by uniting with Sridevi’s power, i.e. Shakti, Sadguru is able to become source of Grace to awaken Mother Kundalini. Otherwise, Sadguru will not be able to move Mother Kundalini by Shaktipat. How do we get this meaning? Let us understand it clearly.
.
The word prabhava is to be interpreted as source of Grace. The word spanditumapi has to be taken as Shri Kundalini Deveem spanditumapi which means “to move the Mother Kundalini “ by Shaktipat. The moment Kundalini Devi gets awakened by Shaktipat, she starts moving towards Sahasrara to meet her Lord, Shiva. As we know, by definition, Shaktipat means the descent of Shakti(Shridevi’s power) from Sadguru to the disciple to awaken Mother Kundalini.
OK. Last, but not the least, we have a question!
So, what is the take home from this great verse?
Lord Shiva and Shridevi are One and the same. Shridevi is even prayed by super powers like Hindu Trinity(Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva). As mere mortals, we are very fortunate to pray Shridevi and get her Grace. Thus, here is the action point for all of us:
Tamaadi Shaktim pranatah sma nityam |
Let us pray that primordial power(Shridevi) always (for Her Grace!).
Om Namah Shivaya ||
- Kalidas
