Lalitā Sahasranāmam 85–89: Three Kūṭas
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 2020-05-04

85. Śrīmadvāgbhava-kūṭaika-svarūpa-mukha-paṅkajā श्रीमद्वाग्भव-कूटैक-स्वरूप-मुख-पङ्कजा 
Beginning with this nāma, Her Pañcadaśī-mantra is being explained. Pañcadaśī-mantra has been explicated in detail in the introductory chapter. Now, the description of Her subtle form begins. Her subtle form comprises three divisions: subtle, subtler and the subtlest. Subtle form is Pañcadaśī-mantra. Her subtler form is kāma-kalā, nāma 322, Kāmakalā-rūpā. Her subtlest form is kuṇḍalinī-śakti (nāma 110). In this nāma, Her face is compared to the first kūṭa: vāgbhava-kūṭa of Pañcadaśī-mantra, which gives knowledge and wisdom. The prefix Śrīmad is used here to indicate the power of Pañcadaśī-mantra as a whole. Śrīmad also indicates the respect given to the mantra. Since this kūṭa is described first, the prefix is added to this nāma. 

86. Kaṇṭhādhaḥ kaṭiparyantha-madhyakūṭa-svarūpiṇī कण्ठाधः कटिपर्यन्थ-मध्यकूट-स्वरूपिणी 
Madhya-kūṭa or the middle line of Pañcadaśī-mantra refers to that portion between Her neck and the hip. Previous nāma is jñāna-śakti, this nāma is icchā-śakti and the next nāma is kriyā-śakti.

87. Śakti-kūṭaikatāpanna-kaṭyadhobhāga-dhārinī शक्ति-कूटैकतापन्न-कट्यधोभाग-धारिनी 
Śakti-kūṭa, the last of the three kūṭas is compared to Her hip downwards. 

88. Mūlamantrātmikā मूलमन्त्रात्मिका 
Mūla means root. Mūla-mantra means root mantra. Mantra here means Pañcadaśī-mantra. She is the root of the Pañcadaśī-mantra, which is the root of all other mantras. In fact, Her kāmakalā (īṁ) is the root of Pañcadaśī-mantra, which is discussed in nāma 322, Kāmakalā-rūpā. The Pañcadaśī-mantra is superimposed on Her physical form.

89. Mūlakuṭatraya-kalebarā मूलकुटत्रय-कलेबरा 
Traya means three. The three kūṭas of Pañcadaśī-mantra are mentioned here. Kāmakalā (īṁ) is the root of Pañcadaśī-mantra. Therefore, it implies that both Her physical and subtle forms represent kāmakalā. Out of the three subtle forms, the first subtle form is Pañcadaśī-mantra that we have discussed in nāmas 85–88. The subtler kāmakalā form is discussed here. In a nutshell, kāmakalā is the union of haṁsa and sohaṁ. Haṁsa-mantra refers to the universal and the individual Spirit. Kāmakalā has three bindus and a triangle. This is the symbolic diagram of Lalitāmbikā. The bīja involved is īṁ ईं. īṁ-bīja is extremely powerful and will surely cascade down prosperity if one knows how to use this bīja in ṣodaśī-mantra. However this is to be learnt from one’s guru. With this nāma, the description of Her subtle and subtler forms end. We now proceed to discuss Her subtlest form, kuṇḍalinī in nāmas 90–111.