Agastya Maharshi requested Hayagriva Deva to enlighten him about the grandeurs of Shri Lakshmi Kamakshi and Hayagriva replied:

The Top Five

 

Mahaa Tripura Sundaryaa Maahaatmyam samupaadishat,

Tatprabhaavaanaham vedyi kinhitadvakshey na chaanyathaa/

Rahasya Mantra tadvakshey shrunu tatvam samaahtah,

Na Brahmaa nacha Vishnurvaa na Rudrascha Trayopyami/

Mahitaa maayayaa yasyastureeyascha Maheshwarah,

Sadaa shivo vaa jaanaati kimuta Prakrutaamaraah/

Sadaa Shivastu Dharmaatmaa Sacchidaananda Vigrahah,

Akartyumanyathaa Kartaa Yasyastwanugrahaat/

Sa kadaachitta Devaaham Maanya maano Maheshwarah,

Tanmayaa mohito bhutwaa twavashas –shavataatagaat/

Kinchidatra Viseshosti Vaktavyassopi tatkshunu/

Brahmaa deenaam trayaanaam cha Tureeyasteeshwarah Prabhuh/

Chaturnaamapi Sarveshaamaadi Kartaa Sadaa Shivah,

Saiva Kaaranameteshaam Srishtisthitilayeshwapi/

Maadrahasyam kathitam tasmaascharatimadbhutam,

Punareva prayakshaami Saavadhaanaah shrunu/

Atra sthitaapi Sarveshaam hridayasthaa Ghatod –bhava,

Tattatkarmaanurupam saa pradattey dehinaam phalam/

Yatkinchidvartatey Lokey Sarvamasya vicheshtimam,

Yatkinchittchantayatey kaschistwacchaanda vididhaatyasou/

Asyaa yevaavataarastu Tripuraadyascha Shaktyayah/

(Brahma-Vishnu-Rudraas as also Maheshwara and further Superior Sada Shiva too did not realise my Magnificence and after all how about Devas! Only the Superior Sada Shiva was free to act or react to do or undo as he enjoyed Devi’s confidence. Maheshwara once felt that he was the Para Deva then he had to to be turned out as a Corpse! However  Maheshwara was no doubt senior to Tri Murtis but could not arrogate Superiority beyond that stage. Basically the five of them were answerable to the Deeds of Srishthi-Sthiti-Samhaaraas. But above all was myself  being present in the hearts and Souls of every person or Devas or their manifestations. The Top Five were thus answerable to Devi and the rest was my own Vilaasa!

Hayagriva continued his narration to Agastya as follows: At the beginning Devi Kamakshi materialised three eggs; these three created Tri Purushas and Tri Shaktis: The First Egg manifested Gauri and Narayana; then the Second couple were Lakshmi and Brahma and the third in the series of were Vani and Shiva. Then Maha Devi made the arrangement herself and made the combination of Brahma and Vani; Vishnu and Lakshmi and finally Shiva and Parvati. Maha Devi also made three Abodes of Satya Loka to Brahma, Vaikuntha to Vishnu and Shiva to Kailasa and firmed up their duties as well of Creation-Preservation and Destruction.  

Parvati’s sin, Kamakshi’s pardon and Gauri-Shiva’s Kalyana: Devi Parvati closed Shiva’s three eyes playfully once and the representations of Surya-Chandra-Agnis of the eyes were put off when the Universe was drowned in darkness and there was Pralaya. Shiva advised Parvati to atone for her sin by performing severe Tapasya by assuming the Form of ‘Baala’  keeping Tulasi before her for long spells of time on the banks of Ganga at Varanasi and later at Kanchipuri near Kampa Nadi. Tripura Sundari Kamakshi was pleased by her Tapasya and pardoned her sin and infused her Shakti into Parvati. Kamakshi also instructed Shiva as the latter was in Tapasya too to accept Manmatha whom Shiva destroyed in the past with his Third Eye since Manmatha disturbed Shiva’s concentration. Initially Shiva resisted Kamakshi’s instruction but being overpowered by her Superiority succumbed to her magnificence. Then Kamakshi Devi as Tripura Sundari blessed both Gauri and Shiva to get remarried again.

Brahma’s Seniority claim, Shiva beheads Brahma, atones and Kamakshi’s pardon: In Brahma Sabha once when Tri Murtis, Dikpalakas, Devas and Maharshis were present, there was some confusion about the identity of Brahma and Shiva as both had Five Heads. Brahma claimed his seniority but Narayana stated that after all Brahma was generated from the lotus top that sprouted from his navel and thus was his son. Brahma retaliated that he was the Srithti Karta and that he created Rudras too. An argument developed resulting in confrontation when a ‘Jyoti Stambha’ or a huge Pillar of Light appeared. Narayana realised that the Pillar was Maheshwara but the quarrelsome Brahma attempted to reach its top and failed and Narayana sought to slide down to ascertain the foot of the Pillar and failed too. The arrogant Brahma disregarded Maheshwara too and the latter grew angry and out of the rage was materialised Bhairava who snipped one of Brahma’s Five heads and there was pandemonium all around. Bhairava tried to get rid of the Kapaala of the detached head of Brahma but it got stuck to him as the sin of ‘Brahma Hatya’. Bhairava visited several Kshetras from Kashi onward and finally reached Pancha Tirtha at Kanchipura; He found Vasudeva was engrossed in the meditation of Kamakshi seated south of her and Lakshmi was  immersed in the Dhyana of Kamakshi as seated to the latter’s north. Bhairava realised that Vishnu and Lakshmi were in the dhyana of Kamakshi and went into a rapturous Yoga Samadhi. Sometime around mid night, Devi Kamashi appeared before Bhairava who pleaded her to be freed from the sin of Brahma Hatya as followed by the Brahma Kapala. She replied that he was indeed of her own Swaupa, blessed him and asked him to dip in  the Pancha Tirtha next morning. Miraculously Bhairava got freed from the Kapala and simultaneously Shiva got rid of the begging bowl being the Brahma Kapala at Varanasi!

Kamakshi blesses King Dasharatha with Excellent Progeny

Maharshi Vasishtha instructed the childless King Dasharatha to worship Tri Pura Sundari who manifested at Five Maha Punya Kshetras of Ayodhya, Madhura, Maya, Kashi, Kanchi and Avanti. The King along his three wives worshipped the Devi at Ayodhya for three days and nights. On the third mid-night, as the King was asleep Devi appeared and assured that he would no doubt beget illustrious sons but he had some possible impact on the longevity of the progeny due to blemishes in his previous births; she therefore directed him to visit Kanchipura, take Sacred bath in Pancha Tirtha, secure her Darshan at Kanchi and perform Shri Chakra Puja. She further instructed the King to enter Kama Koshta and the Maha Bila which was worshipped by Tri Mutris and Maharshis; She was present as seated with ‘Praangmukha’or facing East  as Invisible ‘Maha Raagjni’, that Maha Gouri manifested from Kamakshi’s forehead would be seated towards the Southern Side; that Maha Lakshmi would be seated to Kamakshi’s left as Bimbaakaara; that her mere view would destroy all sins and flaws and then the King should perform ‘Shodasopachaara Puja’ as prescribed. The excited King visited Kanchi at once along with his queens under the direction of Guru Vasishtha Maharshi, performed the Shri Chakra Worship as instructed by Tripura Sundari, prostrated before her, did Pradakshinas most reverentially, gave away charities liberally, arranged Brahmana Puja with respects and arranged Anna daanas. At the conclusion of the Worship, the King made Devi Stuti as follows:

Paadaagra lamba Paramaabhi rama Manjeera Ratna Ruchi Manjula Paada Padmey, Peetaambarasphuratapeyshala Hema Kaanti Keyura Kankana Parishkruta Baahu Valli/

Pundrekshu chaapa Vilasanmridu vaama paaney, RatnormikaaSuma shaaraahatadaksha hastey/ Vakshoja mandala vivalga Vaksha haarey, Pashaangushaanghadalasad bhuja shobhitaangi/ Vaktashriyaa Vijita shaarada Chandra bimbey,Taataanka ratna karamandita bhaagey/ Mandasmitasphurana shaalini manjunaasey, Netra triya Vijita neela saroja patrey/

Subhrulatey Suvadaney Sulalaata chitrey, Graiveyaka sphurita kambu manojna kanthey/ Ratnaanuvidbhutaneeya Mahaakireetey Sarvaanga sundari Samasta Surendra Vandye/ Kaankshaanurupa varadey Karunaardra chittey, Saamraajya sdampadabhimaanini Chakra naathey/ Yogeendra maanasaSaroja nivaasa hamsi, Simhaasaneshwari Parey Mahi Saannidhehi/

( Devi! You are ornamented with ‘Diyaabharanas’emitting splendours of anklet chains adding the illuminations of your soft feet; you are possessive of hands with ‘Suvarna Kankanas’ on your wrists as your left hand with gem studded finger rings has a sugar cane bow with flower arrows and the right with ‘Paashaankushaas’; you wear silk dresses doubling the radiance of your body shine of gold; your long neck laces made of Nava Ratnas touching ‘Vakshojaas’ make fun of Chandra bimba; your shapely nose heckles moon shine; enticing eyes are like Neela Sarojas; you are of Su Vadana or of charming face; Su Lalaata or  charismatic forehead; Kanthaabharanaas are exquisitely bedecked; and your ‘Nava Ratna Kireeta’ enriches ‘Sarvaanga Soundarya’. Para Devata! Sakala Suraasura Vandaniya or worshippable by Devas and Asuraas; Yoga Maanasa Hamsi! Vanchita Varapradaa! Karunaalayaa! Samraajya Daayini! Shri Chakreshwari! Simhasanshwari! Tri Pura Sundari!)

As the King prayed to her, Kamakshi Devi blessed him with four sons with Devaamsha. Bhakta Ganaas do get  their desires fulfilled as in the case of Dasharatha. Indeed Shri Devi’s Mahatmya is unparalleled and inexpressible to Brahma- Vishnu- Maheshwaras!

[ The above Annexures were extracts from the Hayagriva-Agastya Samvada of Kamakshi Mahima as quoted by Markandeya Maharshi to King Surata].    

                 OM SHRI LAKSHMI KAMAKSHYAI NAMAH