 |
| Akansha Khanna Literatarot III - Imperatrice/Empress Anandalahiri The number Three of the card, The Empress, so clearly defines the 3 Hindu Goddesses – Sarasvati, Lakshmi & Parvati. In the most representative Hindu view, the universe is the manifestation of the creative power (shakti) of Brahman, whose essence is absolute existence, consciousness, and bliss. Since all created forms proceed from the womb of the mother, the creative power shakti of God is recognized by Hindus as the female principle or the motherly aspect of nature. In this sense we are all children of the Divine Mother. The Empress is Mother Nature. She is the life force that gives birth to all creation. She is abundant and fruitful. Everything in life is born through her. She is nature itself and symbolises the ability to connect with the planet on which we dwell. We are contained by Her before our - manifestation and nourished by Her throughout our existence. The Empress also depicts the creative power within us all. The Empress is the womb where it gestates and grows till the idea is ready to be born. Anandalahiri (Waves of Bliss) by Sankaracharya as it is composed of poetry in praise of the Goddess in her varied forms connecting with the universal aspect of Empress which is 'beauty and bliss'. We ever pray to Thee, O Gaurī! Youthful daughter of the Lord of mountains. Beautiful is the betel in Thy mouth And the collyrium on Thy eyes; Beautiful, too, are the saffron on Thy forehead, The necklet of pearls on Thy throat, Thy silken garment and the glittering gold waist-ornament on Thy large hips. May Bhagavatī, Satī, whose lotus eyes sparkle, Spouse of Śambhu, on the slope of whose breasts Rests a beautiful garland of the flowers of the Mandāra tree, Whose earring is the pleasing sound from the vīnā, .....Who stoops (from the weight of her breasts), Whose beautiful swaying gait is that of the female elephant May that Bhagavatī be ever victorious! |