LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
माणिक्य मुकुटाकार जानुद्वय विराजिता (40)
Manikya Mukutakara Janudvaya Virajita (40)
Meaning:
Each of Devi's knees is like a crown made out of a single piece of glittering ruby.
Interpretation:
Here Janu-Dvayam means the pair of knees, Manikyam means Ruby stone, Mukutam stands for Crown and Virajita is to be understood as Shining or glittering.
This namah, again, is secretive in nature, but, unlike the previous Namah, comparison to it has been made to the crown made of ruby. Perhaps to indirectly indicate Devi's fondness for Red colour, the colour of comparison and Devi will shower affection on her devotees with equal amount of fondness.
सुवृत्ताभ्यां पत्युः प्रणतिकठिनाभ्यां गिरिसुते
विधिज्ञे जानुभ्यां विबुध करिकुम्भ द्वयमसि
Adi Shankara adds a very interesting touch when describing the knees of Devi Maa. He compares them to the roundness of the head of an elephant (Airavata) करि कुम्भ द्वयमसि (Kari kumbha dvayamasi).
Now look at the phrase पत्युः प्रणतिकठिनाभ्यां (Pati +yu+Pranathi + katinabhyam). Shankara explains the reason for Devi's knees becoming so hard
(कठि) and says it is due to her repeated kneeling down and praying (प्रणति) before Lord Shiva (पति).
We have been discussing the external beauty of Devi in all these shlokas, but Shankara points out in these lines about the internal beauty of Devi and her devotion towards husband Lord Shiva. After all He is Pati Parameshwara..
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