LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
सर्वारुणा (49)
Sarvaruna (49)
Meaning:
Sarvam + Arunam = Sarvaruna Everything associated with Devi Lalithambika is red in colour.
Interpretation:
The word Aruna is to be understood as the reddish colour of the sky at pre dawn time - just before the sunrise. Arunodhayam happens before Suryodhayam. (Aruna is the charioteer of Surya Bhagwan). Sri Rudram mentions the colour of Aruna to be Copper reddish - असौ यस्ताम्रो अरुण उत बभ्रुः सुमंगलः //Asau yastamro aruna uta babhru sumangalah // Aruna is specified here as to be सुमंगलम् (Sumangalam) a very auspicious colour.
Devi's complexion is red. Not because she rose from the Chidagni Kunda but it is her natural colour. In addition, the dress she wears is red, most of the ornaments she adores are studded with red colour gems, the flowers that decorate her are also red in colour and so on. Red represents compassion and Devi Maa is compassion personified. That's why everything associated with her is red in colour.
Adi Shankara clearly explains where from Devi obtained this auspicious redness in her and the reason for her getting it. (Soundarya Lahari Sloka 93).
जगत्त्रातुं शम्भोर्जयति करुणा काचिद अरुणा॥
Jagat Tratum Shambho Jayati Karuna Kachida Aruna ||
Shambho Jayati Karuna means the Supreme compassion of Shambhu (Lord Shiva); Kachida Aruna means the incomparable Red colour and Jagat Tratum means to sustain the entire universe.
Shankara says it was Lord Shiva who provided the Red colour to Devi to enable her to sustain the universe. Readers will now understand the reason behind quoting the line by me from Sri Rudram initially.
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