LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
गेयचक्र रथारूढ मन्त्रिणी परिसेविता (69)
Geya Chakra Ratharudha Mantriṇi Parisevita (69).
Meaning:
Devi is worshipped by Mantrini Devi who rides the chariot called Geya Chakra. Mantrini is also known by the name Shyamala and Matangi.
Interpretation:
It is generally believed that Lalitha Devi created Shyamala Devi from her intellect. Later, she crowned Shyamala Devi as the prime minister. That is why Shyamala Devi is called Mantrini Devi. The Lalithopakyanam mentions Devi presenting her ring to Mantrini Devi.
Devi created a special chariot and named it Geya Chakra that makes musical sounds while moving
and handed over it to Mantrini.
The word Geya has several meanings in this context should be understood as Vocal Singers deriving from Gaayena. The army of Mantrini Devi are all well trained musicians. What role can musicians play on a battlefield may surprise many - but then that's way it is.
Mantrini Devi is depicted with a grey colour complexion and holding lotus flowers, a couple of parrots, ankusha and is always seen playing the veena.
The Battle with Bhandasura:
Bhandaasura then sent his brothers Vishukra and Vishanga to face the army of Devi. Vishukra, the Yuvaraja and successor of Bhandasura, was so notorious in the battlefield that the three worlds started shivered at one stage.
The two brothers decided to attack Devi together instead of dividing themselves in two directions. Lalitha Devi directed Mantrini and Dandini to take the onslaught of the brothers. All the associate Shaktis of Mantrini were in an inspired disposition and their morales soaring sky-high.
Mantrini released the Shyama Shakti which provoked Vishukra who retaliated by releasing Trisha Astra which made all the Shaktis feel highly thirsty. Dandini then prayed to Sura Samudra who quenched the thirst of the Devis and her soldiers with unlimited supply of Somapana. The Trisha Astra instead of creating thirst of water thus ended up in the thirst of Madhu and the fully intoxicated Devi Sena had a glorious time in killing the demons. Dandanayika attacked Vishanga with a ‘hala’( plough) and Mantrini attacked Vishukra with ‘Musala’(mace). That was a fatal blow Vishukra, annihilated, fell on the ground.
Author's Note:
As we have seen, Mantrini / Shyamala Devi is always depicted playing the musical instrument veena. The great poet Kalidasa in his composition Shyamala Dandakam makes a mention about veena in the opening lines of the sloka - Manikya Veenam Upalalayantim.
According to some scholars, it was Mantrini Devi who incarnated as Goddess Meenakshi. Of the several names of Mantrini, one is Kadambeshi or Kadamba vana vasini. It may be noted that Madurai, where the temple of Meenakshi is located, was once referred to as Kadambavanam. And that explains the connect.
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