LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
शातोदरी (130)
Shatodari (130)
Meaning:
In simple terms the name refers to Devi as the one with a slim waist.
Interpretation:
For easy understanding, the namah needs to be split as Shata + Udari, in which the word Shata stands for delicate, tender or slim and Udara / Udari refers to the abdominal portion or in this case, the waist. Thus, it means Devi has a slim waist.
Interestingly, few scholars offer a totally different interpretation. According to them, the word Satodari may mean Devi is the daughter of Himalaya who has hundreds of caves (satodara). Satodarasya Apyatyam Stri - like Haimavati form Himavan, they quote.
Adi Shankara & Soundarya Lahari.
The poet in him drives Adi Shankara to the height of imagination when he speaks about the waist of Jaganmata. The sage compares the thin waist to the fragile tree standing on the banks of a tree. (Thatini Theera Taruna)
निसर्ग-क्षीणस्य स्तनतट-भरेण क्लमजुषो
नमन्मूर्ते र्नारीतिलक शनकै-स्त्रुट्यत इव ।
चिरं ते मध्यस्य त्रुटित तटिनी-तीर-तरुणा
समावस्था-स्थेम्नो भवतु कुशलं शैलतनये
Nisarga Kshinasya Stana Thata Bharena Klamajuso // Naman murter nari tilaka sanakais trutyata iva //
Chiram te maddhyasya Trutita Tatini Theera Taruna // Samavastha Stemno Bhavatu kusalam saila tanaye
For Your waist, naturally slim, fatigued by weight of bust form,
Bending by form and on the point of breaking, Equal in state to a tree on a collapsing brook bank; O mountain-born one, let there be security forever.
Author's Notes:
It is a wonder as to why both LSN and SL are very specific about describing the waist portion of Devi to be extremely thin. What inference do we draw from this?
Samudrika Lakshan sets the dimensions of an ideal waist of a woman. Says the text that if the circumference of the waist of a woman measures the width of 24 fingers, it would indicate extreme happiness.
Another text Brihatparashara mentions thin waist indicates compassion. Perhaps Vaag-Devi-s have deliberately used thinness to indicate the nature of Devi, the storehouse of kindness and compassion.
For academic interest, it may be noted that the great Carnatic music exponent, Shyama Sastri has also mentioned about Satodari in one of keerthis, Syamakrshna Vaibhavam
Syamakrshna sodari; Shyamalee; Satodari; Sama-gana-lole;
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