LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
कामाक्षी (62)
Kamakshi (62)
Meaning
Devi has lovely eyes. Her eyes are full of grace, compassion and mercy for the universe. She fulfills all the desires of Her devotees by Her mere look.
According to few other scholars, the word Kamakshi has a different meaning. They explain that Ka (का) is a beej-aksharam and it stands for Sarasvathi, similarly the beej-aksharsm Ma (मा) stands for Lakshmi and Akshi (अक्षि) means eyes. Therefore, it should be construed that Lakshmi and Saraswati are the eyes of Devi Lalithambika.
Interpretation:
Parvati Devi Herself describes the meaning of the word Kamakshi in a book called Arunachala Mahatmyam.
The book says that Goddess Parvati once playfully closed the eyes of Lord Shiva and as a result of it, the entire world went dark creating chaos everywhere. Parvati Devi felt bad for Her immature act and went to Kanchipuram and did tapasya by establishing a Lingam and naming it Ekambareswarara. She Herself manifested as Kamakshi which means who fulfills all their desires.
I am called Kamakshi on account of my bestowing everything desired says the Devi.
Readers might recall this Author mentioning about Adi Shankara making a reference to the word Kanchi in the Kamakshi Stotram Stotram in the write up about Namah # 38 Ratna kinkinika Ramya Rashana Dama Bhushita.
काञ्ची नूपुर हार दाम सुभगां काञ्ची पुरी नायिकां
Kanchi Noopura Haara Dama Subhagam Kanchipuri Nayikaam
Kamakshi Devi who rules the City of Kanchi Puri, is adorned with beautiful girdles (waist belt ornament- Oddiyanam), anklets, garlands and wreaths that bring good fortune to all her devotees - says the Jagatguru.
As far as the eyes of Devi Kamakshi are concerned, Adi Shankara calls them कान्तां कञ्ज दलेक्षणां ( Kantam Kancha Dalekshanam) which mean
the one who has beautiful eyes which look like the Lotus Petals.
Author's Remarks:
Three of the names of Devi Parvati contain the word Akshi which stands for her Eyes. Three different Shakti Peeth temples located at Kanchipuram, Madurai and Kasi (Benares) have their presiding deity named as Kamakshi, Meenakshi and Visalakshi respectively.
Kamakshi means the one who fulfills all desires and whose eyes are like lotus petals, Meenakshi means the one whose eyes are like fishes and Visalakshi means the one with large, wide eyes. The three forms of Devi represent the three gunas - Satvam, Rajas and Tamo.
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