Topic: Soundarya Lahari – A multidimensional treatise
Speaker:
Mr Keshava Prasad, a native of Bangalore, is a scholar of Samskrita, known for his extensive work on Soundarya Lahari. He received blessings and guidance from spiritual leaders and aims to release a series of books on this sacred text. His first book, containing the first 8 shlokas, is due for publication. Keshava also engages in lectures and workshops on Soundarya Lahari and is involved in the "Nada Bindu Kala" group. Additionally, he holds a Computer Engineering degree and has over 26 years of experience in IT, consulting, and program management, with a notable role at Citibank. Currently, he is a trustee for the Sampoorna Swaraj Foundation, focusing on digital transformation in India's Gram Panchayats and government healthcare centres.
Date and Time: 07 September 2023 and 1:30 PM to 2.30 PM
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Introduction to Soundarya Lahari
Soundarya Lahari is a 100-verse hymn composed by Adi Shankaracharya in praise of the divine feminine, or Shakti. It is one of the most important texts in the Shri Vidya tradition of Tantric Hinduism.
The hymn is divided into two parts: the first 41 verses deal with the nirguna Brahman, or the formless Absolute, and the last 59 verses deal with the saguna Brahman, or the personal God.
The hymn is written in a beautiful and poetic style, and it is full of symbolism and allegory. It is a profound and challenging work, but it is also a source of great spiritual inspiration.
The Features of Soundarya Lahari
Soundarya Lahari is a complex and multi-layered text. It can be interpreted on many different levels, from the literal to the symbolic. Some of the key features of the hymn include:
Its focus on the divine feminine: Soundarya Lahari is one of the few Hindu texts that focuses so explicitly on the divine feminine. It celebrates Shakti as the ultimate reality, and it offers a powerful vision of the divine as both mother and lover.
Its Tantric character: Soundarya Lahari is a Tantric text, and it draws on the symbolism and practices of Tantra. This includes the use of mantras, yantras, and mudras.
Its poetic beauty: Soundarya Lahari is a beautiful and poetic work, and it is full of imagery and symbolism. This makes it a challenging but rewarding text to read and study.
Its spiritual depth: Soundarya Lahari is a profound and challenging text, but it is also a source of great spiritual inspiration. It can help us to deepen our understanding of the divine and to experience the divine presence in our own lives.
September 12th, 2023
