Soundarya Lahari Stotra composed by Sri Shankara Bhagavatpadacharya is unique among all Stotras. It is a Stotra addressed to the Universal Mother who is the personification of Shakthi, Vidya and Lakshmi. In one of the stanzas, Sri Acharya extols “Oh Mother! You are not only Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi but You are the Thuriya, Supreme Bliss and Shakthi of ParaBrahma, transcending all.” She is the formless fundamental source of all deities being worshipped with form. Therefore the worship of the UNIVERSAL MOTHER is the worship of all Gods and Goddesses.
Soundarya Lahari holds the prominent place among all the stotras . Perhaps it is considered equal to Mantras. The common beleif of everyone chanting this stotra is that this would yield all the wishes of the parayana Karta. In this regard, Vedanta Bharati has introduced a unique annual event “Soundarya Lahari Kotyarchane” – a week long parayana saptaha since 2008. Which would happen during the month of Ashwayuja (Oct-Nov) from Ashwayuja Krishna Panchami till Ashwayuja Krishna Ekadashi as per Hindu almanac.
“Soundarya Lahari Kotyarchane” this year would be from 5-11-2020 to 11-11-2020, with 10-11-2020 as the Akanda parayana day.
During the saptaha, every day, in the house, the verse starting from ‘shiva shakti kamab’ of the Soundarya lahari has to be recited in the purascararna mode ten times.
Due to the prevailing pandemic situation, kindly adhere to the norms issued by government.
Maintain social distance, take all precautions needed if you are gathering at a Parayana Kendra. We can also do parayana at our respective homes.
In the kendra, everyone has to commence the saptaha by reciting the Ekaslokl of Sri Shankaracharya with lighting of lamps in front of Devi and Adi Shankaracharya. Request you to follow the below guidelines for the saptaha.
5-11-2020 Thursday: Śaktyupāsane. – The first shloka (Shiva Shaktiya Yukta) should be chanted twenty-eight times, followed by full Soundarya Lahari, Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
6-11-2020 Friday: Jñānadāyinī ārādhane – Chanting the Forty-third shloka (dhunōtu dhvāntaṁ naḥ) twenty-eight times followed by followed by full Soundarya Lahari, Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
7-11-2020 Saturday: Kr̥pādr̥ṣṭiyācane – Chanting of the fifty-seventh shloka (dr̥śā drāghīyasyā) twenty-eight times followed by followed by full Soundarya Lahari, Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
8-11-2020 Sunday: Pāvanavidhāyinī pūje – Chanting of Fifty-fourth shloka (pavitrīkartuṁ naḥ) twenty-eight times followed by followed by full Soundarya Lahari, Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
9-11-2020 Monday: Amr̥tavarṣiṇī dhyāna – chanting of the seventy-second verse (samaṁ dēviskanda) twenty-eight times followed by followed by full Soundarya Lahari, Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
10-11-2020 Tuesday: Soundarya Lahari Akandaparayana – Continuously chant Soudarya Lahari from morning 10 AM to evening 5 PM. While doing the parayana, contemplate the meaning of the shloka Svadēhōdbhūtābhiḥ ‘ as there is non-duality between you and the divine mother (Jaganmatha)’. After parayana, chant Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
11-11-2020 Wednesday : Kṣēmaṅkarī prārthane- chanting of the fourty-fourth shloka (tanōtu kṣēmaṁ naḥ) twenty-eight times followed by followed by full Soundarya Lahari, Dakshinamurthyyasthakam with prostrations (namaskaras).
After parayana perform “SHANKARANAMANAM” (perform Shodashopachara puja to Sri Sankaracharya). Depending on the place of parayana, arrange for a discourse on Sri Shankaracharya (if gathered in a Kendra), read the sukthis and literature sent by Vedanta Bharati, in presence of all the family members ( at home).
