LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
भक्त सौभाग्य-दायिनी (117)
Bhakta Saubhagya Dayini (117)
Meaning:
Devi confers prosperity (soubhagyam) on her devotees.
Interpretation:
In this namah, Bhakta refers to devotees or worshipers of Devi, Sowbhagyam means all kinds of prosperity and Dayini is the giver.
Thus, it means Devi showers all sorts of prosperities upon her devotees.
What is sowbhagyam? We get an answer to this question from a Sanskrit verse (source : Vishnu Purana) which lists out six varieties of prosperous things that are collectively referred to as Sowbhagyam:
Aiswaryasya Samagrasya Viryasya Yashaha Sriyah Jnana Vairagyayos chaiva sannam soubhagya itingana
The six items are Aiswarya (wealth), Veera (bravery / strength), Yash (fame), Sriyah (beauty), Jnana (knowledge) and Vairagya (state of no desires - renunciation).
Soubhagya Panchami:
There is a practice which is very popular in North India and specifically in Gujarat to observe the fifth day after Diwali as Soubhagya Panchami Vrat. Married women observe fast on this day, worship of Devi seeking wealth and Prosperity.
Quote by Adi Shankara:
In Soundarya Lahari we find mentions about Soubhagya in not one but two different slokas, Sloka # 5 and sloka # 51 and in both the instances, Adi Shankara refers to Devi as Soubhagya Janani (the mother) and not as Dayini (the giver).
Sloka # 5
हरिस्त्वमाराध्य प्रणतजन सौभाग्य जननीं
Haristvam Aradhya Pranatajana Saubhagya Jananim
You are the conferrer of prosperity to those who worship You. Vishnu, only after having worshiped you, attained the form of Mohini avatar.
Sloka # 51
हरा हिभ्यो भीता सरसिरुह सौभाग्य जननी
Hara Hibhyo Bheeta Sarasiruha Saubhagya Janani
In this sloka, Shankara describes eight different emotions expressed by Devi's beautiful eyes and one of them is fear. Says the holy sage : when Devi looks at the snakes worn by Lord Shiva, her eyes wear a frightened look.
Author's Notes:
We have seen above what is meant by Sowbhagyam as per Vishnu Purana. The Agni Purana lists out eight totally different things that are mentioned as Soubhagya Ashtakam. They are sugarcane, peepal tree, sprouted jeera seeds, coriander, cow’s milk, everything that is yellow in colour, flowers and salt. All these indicate auspiciousness and prosperity and are collectively referred to as Soubhagya.
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