३९ एकोनचत्वार िं शदशकः - मणिद्वीपणनवाणिनी 39 ekonachatvaarimshadashakah' - manidveepanivaasinee She who resides in Mani dweepa

 ३९ एकोनचत्वार िं शदशकः -           मणिद्वीपणनवाणिनी

39 ekonachatvaarimshadashakah' - manidveepanivaasinee  She who resides in Mani dweepa

(In this chapter, Mani Dweeepa, the ocean of nectar, where the goddess

resides is described. These are contained in chapter 10, 11 and 12 of Book 12

of the Devi Bhagawatham.)

सुधासमुद्रो जगताां त्रयाणाां

छत्रीभवन् मञ्जुतरङ्गफेनः ।

सवालुकाशङ् खवववित्ररत्नः

सतारकव्योमसमो ववभावत ॥ ३९-१॥

sudhaasamudro jagataam trayaanaam

chhatreebhavan manjutarangaphenah' .

savaalukaashankhavichitraratnah'

sataarakavyomasamo vibhaati .. 39-1..

1.Beautiful waves and foams, sandy spreads covered with shells and

several different type of gems, that ocean of nectar, lights up the 3

worlds like a star studded sky and covers them like an umbrella.

Above earth is Indra’s swargloka, above that brahma’s satyaloka,

above that shiva’s kailasha, above that vishnu’s vaikuntham, above

that is amrit samudram. There are crores of universe. Each of the

universe have their own brahma, Vishnu, shiva along with their

worlds. Above all this is amrit samudram(ocean of nectar). That is

why it is called the umbrella of the universe-the 3 worlds. When you

see this ocean of nectar it looks like a sky filled with stars. That is why

the infinite sky is equal to the ocean of nectar. There are stars in the

sky. In place of the stars, the ocean of nectar has several precious

stone, and shells in its sandy spread. It is not easy to rech the sky

and the ocean of nectar-both are same.

What is known in the Śrutis, in the Subāla Upaniṣada, as the

Sarvaloka over the Brahmaloka, that is Maṇidvīpa. Here the Devī

resides. This region is superior to all the other regions. Hence it is

named “Sarvaloka.” The Devī built this place of yore according to Her

will. In the very beginning, the Devī Mūla Prakriti Bhagavatī built this

place for Her residence, superior to Kailāśa, Vaikuṇṭha and Goloka.

Verily no other place in this universe can stand before it. Hence it is

called Maṇidvīpa or Sarvaloka as superior to all the Lokas. This

Maṇidvīpa is situated at the top of all the regions, and resembles an

umbrella. Its shadow falls on the Brahmāṇḍa and destroys the pains

and sufferings of this world. Surrounding this Maṇidvīpa exists an

ocean called the Sudhā Samudra, many yojanas wide and many

yojanas deep. Many waves arise in it due to winds. Various fishes and

conches and other aquatic animals play and here the beach is full of

clear sand like gems. The sea-shores are kept always cool by the

splashes of the waves of water striking the beach. Various ships

decked with various nice flags are plying to and fro. Various trees

bearing gems are adorning the beach.

तन्मध्यदे शे ववमलां मवणद्वीप्

आख्ाां पदां दे वव ववराजते ते ।

यदु च्यते सांसृवतनाशकारर

सवोत्तरां पावनपावनां ि ॥ ३९-२॥

tanmadhyadeshe vimalam manidveep

aakhyaam padam devi viraajate te .

yaduchyate samsri'tinaashakaari

sarvottaram paavanapaavanam cha .. 39-2..

2.Oh Goddess! In the middle of that ocean, is the very white and

saintly Manidweepa, your prestigious shining residence. It is said

that it destroys all sorrows, is the best among all and purest amongst

the pure.

In the centre of the ocean of nectar is the manidweepam. This is that

place of bhuvaneshwari. It is to this place that the trimurthis reached.

This is where the trimurtis got their powers to create, maintain and

destroy-(refer chapter 9). As soon as one reaches here, his worldly

sorrows finishes. Amongst many pure places, manidweepa is the

purest. Sri krishna and radha played the raasa leela in golokam.

Manidweepa is finer than this goloka.

तत्रास्त्ययोधातुमयो मनोज्ञः

सालो महासारमयस्ततश्च ।

एवां ि ताम्रावदमयाः वकलाष्टा-

दशावतवित्रा वरणा लसन्ति ॥ ३९-३॥

tatraastyayodhaatumayo manojnyah'

saalo mahaasaaramayastatashcha .

evam cha taamraadimayaah' kilaasht'aa-

dashaatichitraa varanaa lasanti .. 39-3..

3.In that there is an exquisite fort made of Iron. Within that there is a

fort made of brass. Like this there are eighteen other forts made of

copper and other metals that shines.

The manidweepa that is situated in the middle of the ocean of nectar

includes the 18 forts. The outermost is made of iron. On crossing this

and moving inwards we will find a fort made of brass. In this way in

order, copper, lead, brass+copper, 5-metal

(iron,tin,copper,gold,silver), silver, gold, topaz, ruby, onyx, diamond,

turquoise, sapphire, pearl, emerald, coral, 9-gems[The nine jewels are

:-- (1) Muktā, (2) Māṇikya, (3) Vaidūrya, (4) Gomeda, (5) Vajra, (6)

Vidruma, (7) Padmarāga(mix of orange and pink-ruby and yellow

sapphire), (8) Marakata, and (9) Nīla.]

on crossing these 16 forts, made of different materials, one enters

the manidweepam. Each of these forts by itself are very strange. A

person who comes inwards from outside get to see many sights

when he crosses each of these fort regions. In some places beautiful

palaces, in another gardens, in another place clear waters, powerful

armed castles, in another beautiful apsaras, in another place the

vehicles of the people who have come to see devi, it is like a

crowded city. The view resembles a modern town in all aspects.

तैरावृतां ते पदमवद्वतीयां

ववभावत वििामवणसद्म दे वव ।

सन्त्यत्र सत्स्तम्भसहस्ररम्य-

शृङ्गारमुक्त्यावदकमण्डपाश्च ॥ ३९-४॥

tairaavri'tam te padamadviteeyam

vibhaati chintaamanisadma devi .

santyatra satstambhasahasraramya-

shri'ngaaramuktyaadikamand'apaashcha .. 39-4..

4. Oh Goddess! Your incomparable place, chinthamani graham,

masked by them, gets particularly illuminated. Here there are

beautifully decorated halls having 1000’s (i.e., innumerable) of

beautiful pillars.

One can reach devi’s incomparable place, Chintamani graham, by

crossing the 18 forts. Here there are 4 halls. These are the Śriṅgāra

Maṇḍapa, Mukti Maṇḍapa, Jñāna Maṇḍapa and Ekānta Maṇḍapa.

Each of them have 1000’s (innumerable) beautiful pillars. The

brilliance of each of these is like that of one Koṭi Suns. All the halls

smell like the sweet scent of fresh flowers.

The halls are built of one thousand (i.e., innumerable) pillars. These are

the Śriṅgāra Maṇḍapa, Mukti Maṇḍapa, Jñāna Maṇḍapa and Ekānta

Maṇḍapa; on the top there are canopies of various colours; within are

many scented articles scented by the Dhūpas, etc. The brilliance of

each of these is like that of one Koṭi Suns. On all sides of these four

Maṇḍapas there are nice groups of gardens of Kaśmīra, Mallikā, and

Kuṇḍa flowers. Various scents, and scented articles, for example, of

musk, etc., are fully arranged in due order. There is a very big lotus

tank here; the steps leading to it are built of jewels. Its water is nectar,

on it are innumerable full-blown lotuses and the bees are humming

always over them. Many birds, swans, Kāraṇḍavas, etc., are swimming

to and fro. The sweet scents of lotuses are playing all round. In fact,

the whole Maṇidvīpa is perfumed with various scented things. Within

the Śriṅgāra Maṇḍapa, the Devī Bhagavatī is situated in the centre on

an Āsana (seat) and She hears the songs sung in tune by the other

Devīs along with the other Devas. Similarly sitting on the Mukti

Maṇḍapa, She frees the Jīvas from the bondages of the world. Sitting

on the Jñāna Maṇḍapa, She gives instructions on Jñāna, and sitting on

the fourth Ekānta Maṇḍapa, She consults with Her ministers, the

Sakhīs, Ananga Kusuma, etc., on the creation, preservation, etc., of the

universe.

ब्रह्माण्डकोटीः सुखमावसि

उपासकास्ते मनुजाः सुराश्च ।

दै त्याश्च वसद्धाश्च तथेतरे ि

यदितो यान्ति पदां तदे तत् ॥ ३९-५॥

brahmaand'akot'eeh' sukhamaavasanta

upaasakaaste manujaah' suraashcha .

daityaashcha siddhaashcha tathetare cha

yadantato yaanti padam tadetat .. 39-5..

5.This Chinthamani griha is the place where men, devas, asuras, the

saints and rishis, and similar people who worship you and eventually

reach.

Human beings stay on earth, the devas stay in heaven. In this way

each and every living thing operates in a specific place. Like this all

those who operate from specific places and worship devi, eventually

attain which lotus feet, that is this. There is nothing that is more

greater than this.

त्वां मण्डपस्था बहुशन्तियुिा

शृणोवि दे वीकलगीतकावन ।

ज्ञानां ववमुन्तिां ि ददावस लोक-

रक्षामजस्रां कुरुिे ि दे वव ॥ ३९-६॥

tvam mand'apasthaa bahushaktiyuktaa

shri'noshi deveekalageetakaani .

jnyaanam vimuktim cha dadaasi loka-

rakshaamajasram kurushe cha devi .. 39-6..

6. Oh devi! In that hall, along with your other various shakthis, are

sitting and hearing sweet music of other Devis. You are granting

wisdom as well as salvation. You are also always protecting all the

worlds.

Devi’s presence is always felt in all the 4 halls mentioned above. In

the shringara-mandap a lot of beautiful apsaras are sitting and

singing songs. In that auditorium devi jagadambika is present. Devi

who sits in the mukti-mandapam, gives salvation to the deserving.

Devi who sits in the jnana mandapam gives knowledge to the people

who are curious. In the 4th hall the ekaanth-mandapam, devi shines

bright with all her lady ministers and holds discussions on world

protection-for devi everything is very easy, everything is a divine

play.

मञ्चोऽन्तस्त वििामवणगेहतस्ते

ब्रह्मा हरी रुद्र इहे श्वरश्च ।

खुरा भवन्त्यस्य सदावशवस्तु

ववराजते सत्फलकत्वमाप्तः ॥ ३९-७॥

mancho'sti chintaamanigehataste

brahmaa haree rudra iheshvarashcha .

khuraa bhavantyasya sadaashivastu

viraajate satphalakatvamaaptah' .. 39-7..

7.In Your Chinthamani Griha, there is a cot, with Brahma, Vishnu,

Rudra and Easwara as its 4 legs. Sadashiva shines as the plank of that

cot.

There is a very nice cot in Chintamani griha. A plank that holds the 4

legs is also there-this is the shape of a cot, right. The cot has brahma,

Vishnu. Rudra and eeshwara as its 4 legs. The plank that connects

them is sadashiva. Create, sustain, annihilate, the hidden cause and

to bless are the duties of brahma, Vishnu, shiva, eeshwara and

sadashiva respectively. According to Shaivite assumptions these

forms of eeshwara are the limbs of a cot.

तस्योपरर श्रीभुवनेश्वरर त्वां

सवेशवामाङ्कतले वनिण्णा ।

ितुभुजा भूिणभूविताङ्गी

वनव्याु जकारुण्यवती ववभावस ॥ ३९-८॥

tasyopari shreebhuvaneshvari tvam

sarveshavaamaankatale nishannaa .

chaturbhujaa bhooshanabhooshitaangee

nirvyaajakaarunyavatee vibhaasi .. 39-8..

8.Oh! Goddess of universe(bhuvaneswari) on top of that cot, You

who is full of compassion, is sitting on the left thigh of the great god,

along with your four hands that are decorated with different types of

ornaments and shining very bright.

It was mentioned earlier that the devi was sitting in each of the 4

halls and performing all her duties. But actually her seat is this cot

that was mentioned. It can be said that the devi’s form is the

combination of the essence of all the beauties present in the

thousands of universe. Each of the universe have their own trimurti’s.

but there is only 1 manidweepam for all the universes. Bhuvaneswari

also is only 1. Anything small that takes place in mannidweepa is

manifested many times more in the universe. Whatever is there in

large numbers is present in small numbers also. Mannidweepa is a

collection of the several universes. The rains in each of the universe

is a shadow of manidweepa.

The palace of the Devī Bhagavatī is named Śrī Cintāmaṇi Griha. Within

this is placed the raised platform, the dais and sofa whereon the Devī

taketh Her honourable seat. The ten Śakti-tattvas form the staircases.

The four legs are (1) Brahmā, (2) Viṣṇu, (3) Rudra, and (4) Maheśvara.

Sadāśiva forms the upper covering plank. Over this Śrī Bhuvaneśvara

Mahā Deva or the Supreme Architect of the Universe is reigning. Now

hear something about this Bhuvaneśvara. Before creation while

intending to sport, the Devī Bhagavatī divided Her Body into two parts

and from the right part created Bhuvaneśvara. He has five faces and

each face has three eyes. He has four hands and He is holding in each

hand speer, signs indicating do not fear, axe, and signs granting

boons. He looks sixteen years old. The lustre of of His Body is more

beautiful then Koṭi Kandarpas and more fiery than thousand Suns; and

at the same time cool like Koṭi Suns. His colour is crystal white, and on

His left lap Śrī Bhuvaneśvarī Devī is always sitting.

प्रवतक्षणां कारयवस त्ववमच्छा-

ज्ञानवियाशन्तिसमन्तिताऽत्र ।

वत्रमूवतुवभः शन्तिसहस्रयुिा

ब्रह्माण्डसगुन्तस्थवतसांहृतीश्च ॥ ३९-९॥

pratikshanam kaarayasi tvamichchhaa-

jnyaanakriyaashaktisamanvitaa'tra .

trimoortibhih' shaktisahasrayuktaa

brahmaand'asargasthitisamhri'teeshcha .. 39-9..

9. Along with the power of desire, wisdom and action and along with

one thousand Shakthis sitting there, with help of the trimurti’s, you

get creation, sustainence and destruction done of the universes.

No work can be done without the powers of desire, knowledge and

work. Hence, all these 3 powers(embodiments) are always present

along with devi. not just these 3, there are also other thousands of

powers(embodiment) with devi. In each and every universe, to each

of them, devi provides the powers to see, touch etc. at the

appropriate time. Without getting the powers from devi nobody can

get the ability to see, feel etc. With her power of authority, devi gets

the activity of creation, sustenance and annihilation of the universe

done by the trimurthi’s. The creation, sustainment and destruction of

the thousands of universes is taking place every second. The devi

who resides in manidweepa , appears as the divine chieftan for

everything

Remember she was described ‘like a queen’ in the 1st chapter. When

devi opens her eyes she creates, when she closes her eyes she

destroys.

It is said in Lalitha sahasranama

281-namavalli;(66-stotram).Unmesha nimishotpanna vipanna

bhuvanavali-She who creates and destroys the universe by opening

and closing of her eye lids

सा त्वां वह वािाां मनसोऽप्यगम्या

वववित्ररूपाऽवस सदाऽप्यरूपा ।

पुरः सताां सविवहता कृपाद्राु

सदा मवणद्वीपवनवावसनी ि ॥ ३९-१०॥

saa tvam hi vaachaam manaso'pyagamyaa

vichitraroopaa'si sadaa'pyaroopaa .

purah' sataam sannihitaa kri'paardraa

sadaa manidveepanivaasinee cha .. 39-10..

10. Your unspoken words is unreachable to the mind also(as she is formless).

Always anyone without any form, but, assuming many different forms, is seen

in form overflowing with mercy in front of the devotees. At the same time, you

are residing in manidweepa.

There are no words in any languages, to describe the ruler. of the crores of

universes. Then, does the brain have the ability to imagine?-that too is not

there. Devi is nirgunna-no form. At the same time she is saguna also-has many

forms. When the devotees call she reaches there-she might be reaching in

different forms. That devi, who is always in front of her devotees at all times, is

always present in manidweepa also-how can one describe a devi who is so

superior and full of compassion, in words?

The vision of the devi in chintamanigriha, that can reached by crossing the 18

fortresses, awakens our mind. What are these 18 fortresses? The scriptures

say, that other than the body that comprises of the 5 elements, there is a

subtle body(sukshama shareeram) within that. The 5 pranas, 10 sense organs,

mind and intelligence-the subtle body is made up of these 17 principle forms.

Along with this a body that is ignorant, lustful and materialistic, also exists.

Including this it becomes 18. Beyond this 18 devi sits. On crossing the pranas,

sense organs and the conscience-‘I am not any of them’ kind of ignore them

and deny the existence of each of them-a yogi will be able to be reach the

level of self-awareness. The body is manidweepam; devi is our soul. As we age

we get possessed by our body, sense-organs etc. hence the stage of self-

awareness becomes impossible for them. Meditating for a long time can help

one remove that possessiveness towards one’s body and sense organs, and

move towards self awareness. That pleasure is the ocean of nectar(amrit

samudram). The famous shloka mentioned in soundaryalahiri, “Sudha sindhur

madhye” can be read along with this. The description of manidweepa in

detail is given in chapters 10, 11, 12 of skanda 12 of devi bhagavatham.

Prana has many levels of meaning from the breath to the energy of

consciousness itself. Prana is not only the basic life-force, it is the

master form of all energy working on the level of mind, life and body.

Indeed the entire universe is a manifestation of Prana, which is the

original creative power. Even Kundalini Shakti, the serpent power or

inner power that transforms consciousness, develops from the

awakened Prana.

The human being consists of five koshas or sheaths from the physical

to subtle and causal principles:

Annamaya kosha – food – physical – the five elements

Pranamaya kosha – breath – vital – the five pranas, subtle body

energies

Manomaya kosha – impressions – outer mind – the five kinds of

sensory impressions, deeper imagination, astral

Vijnanamaya kosha – ideas – intelligence – directed mental activity,

deeper wisdom

Anandamaya kosha – experiences – memory, subliminal and

superconscious mind, repository of karmas, causal

मातमुदिः करणे वनिण्णा

ववद्यामयां माां कुरु बन्धमुिम् ।

बन्धां ि मोक्षां ि ददास्यसिा

दासोऽन्ति ते दे वव नमो नमस्ते ॥ ३९-११॥

maatarmadantah'karane nishannaa

vidyaamayam maam kuru bandhamuktam .

bandham cha moksham cha dadaasyasaktaa

daaso'smi te devi namo namaste .. 39-11..

11.Oh! mother you please sit in my inner-conscience and make me absorbed

in knowledge, detached from everything. You who do not have any likes or

dislikes, attachments as well as salvation. I being your slave, again and again

salute you.

The poet requests devi to reside in his inner-conscious the same way that she

resides in Chintamani graham. Chintamani graham is free from rajo and tamo

guna-it is pure sattva guna. Similarly, the poet desires that his inner conscious

becomes free from rajo and tamo guna. Only then will devi be able to reside

there. Devi has no love or enimity towards anybody-devi is indifferent. The

poet prays to devi to nremove the ignorance that is present in him and replace

it with knowledge and thus make him knowledgeable. Devi should hear his

prayers-for that the poet repeatedly salutes devi and thus ends the chapter

tamas (darkness & chaos), rajas (activity & passion), and sattva

(beingness & harmony).

Thus ends chapter 39

Manidweepa the Abode of Devi Bhagavati

Being far superior to Kailasa, Vaikuntha and Goloka, the Sarvaloka or

Manidweepa is the residence of Devi Bhagavati in whom the entire

Creation rests! Indeed She resides everywhere and anywhere but

notionally at Manidweepa and the description is transcripted in detail

by Maharshi Veda Vyasa apparenly for the consumption of mortals to

carry conviction into their consciousness. Surrounded by ‘Sudha

Sagara’ ( The Ocean of Nectar), Manidweepa has a strong iron

enclosure of several Yojanas far and wide with four gates well guarded

by Devas and Devis.

Within the First Enclosure, there is an Enlosure of white metal made of

an amalgam of zinc and tin/copper which touches Heavens and is

hundred times higher than the walls of the outer Enclosure.This

Enclosure is interspersed with gardens and forests with a wide range

of trees and plants, flowers with intoxicating fragrances, luscious fruits

along with streams of fruit juices and gregarious animals and birds of

staggering variety.

The third Enclosure is made of copper with a height of seven yojanas

comprising several ‘Kalpavrikshas’, with golden leaves/ flowers and

fruits yielding gems, fulfilling desires of any imagination.The King of

the Gardens along with the wives Madhu Sri and Madhava Sri

maintains an excellent Spring Season, where Gandharvas reside,

rendering divinely songs and music.

The Fourth Enclosure made of lead with its wall height is again seven

yojanas and within the Enclosure are the Sanatanaka trees with flowers

whose fragrance reaches as far as ten yojanas and fresh fruits

providing sweet juices of great quality and its King with the two

queens Sukra Sri and Sudha Sri always maintains enjoyble mild

summer where Siddhas and Devas reside here.

The Fifth Enclosure made of brass with a spread of ten yojanas is

maintained by its Chief as a perennial Rainy Season accompanied by

twelve of his wives,viz. Nabha Sri, Nabhyasya Sri, Sravasya, Rasyasalini,

Amba, Dula, Niranti, Varidhara, Abhramanti, Megha Yantika,

Varshayanti, and Chivunika. The Trees grown in the Gardens of this

Enclosure are Hari Chandana.

The Sixth Enclosure is made of walls with five-fold irons and its

Gardens grow Mandara Trees and creepers; the wives of its Chief are

Isalakshmi and Urjalakshmi maintaining the Season of Autumn. Here

again Siddhas reside with their wives.

The Seventh Enclosure of seven Yojanas of length is made of Silver, its

Chief maintaining Hemanta (dewy) Season with his two wives Saha

Sri and Sahasya Sri with Parijata as its main tree and flowers.

The Eighth Enclosure is made of molten gold with Kadamba garden

in the center with Tapas Sri and Tapasya Sri as the wives of the King

and the fruits of the trees yield honey that is consumed aplenty by

Siddhas and wives who are the inhabitants and the season again is

dewy.

The ‘Navavarana’ or the Ninth Enclosure is made of Pushparaga gems

of Kumkum (saffron) colour which is abundant all over inside the

Enclosure like forests, trees, rivers, flowers, lotuses, ‘Mandapas’ (Halls),

pillars and so on. All the ‘Dikpalakas’ of High Regency reside in the

Eight Directions of the Enclosure, with the thousand eye bodied Indra

in the East in Amaravati on Airavata with Sachi Devi, ‘Vajra Ayudha’ or

thunderbolt, the Celestial Apsarasas and the rest; Agni Deva in South

East with his two wives Svaha and Svadha , his Vahana and other

belongings; Yama Dharmaraja in the South with his ‘Yama danda’ (

his Symbol the Celestial Rod) along with Chitragupta; Nirruti in the

South West with his axe and wife representing Rakshasas’; Varuna

Deva in the West with his wife Varuni and ‘Pasa’ ( the noose), drinking

Varuni honey and with the King of Fishes as his Vahana (Vehicle) and

surrounded by aquatic animals; Vayu Deva in the North West with his

wife, forty nine members of his Vayu family along with groups of Yogis

adept in Pranayama and other practices along with his Deer Vahana;

the King of Yakshas and Unparallelled Possessor of Gems and Jewels

Kubera in the North along with his two Shaktis Viriddhi and Riddhi

and his Generals Manibhadra, Purnabhadra, Maniman, Manikandhara,

Manisvargi, Manibhushana and Manikar Muktadhari; Rudra Deva in

the North East with other Rudras who are angry and red eyed, armed

and mighty, frightful and revolting, fiery mouthed and detestably

distorted, some times ten handed or thousand handed, odd number

footed and odd number mouthed; in the company of Bhadrakalis and

Matriganas, Rudranis and Pramadhaganas making ‘Attahasas’ or

reverberating screeches and so on.

Tenth Enclosure made of Padmaraga Mani inside which are the Sixty

four ‘Kalas’ like Pingalakshi, Visalakshi, Vriddhi, Samriddhi, Svaha,

Svadha and so on each of these having hundreds of akshouhini strong

armies and individually each of these ‘Kalas’ have the unimaginable

Power of destroying a lakh of ‘Brahmandas’(Universes)!

The Eleventh Enclosure is made of Gomeda Mani and within this are

the sin-destroying and beneficent Maha Shaktis viz. Vidya, Hri, Pushti,

Prajna, Sinivali, Kuhu, Rudra, Virya, Prabha, Nanda, Poshani, Riddhida,

Subha, Kalaratri, Maharatri, Bhadra Kali, Kapardini, Vikriti, Dandi,

Mundini, Sendhu Kanda, Sikhandini, Nisumbha Sumbha Madini,

Mahishasura Mardini, Rudrani, Sankarardha Saririni, Nari, Nirayani,

Trisulini, Palini, Ambika and Hladini.

The Twelfth Enclosure made of Diamonds and is the dwelling place of

Bhuvaneswari, and is surrounded by Eight Shakties viz. Anangarupa,

Ananaga Madana, Madanantara, Bhuvana Vega, Bhuvana Palika,

Sarvasisira, Ananga Vedana and Ananda Madana; each of these Main

Atteandants of Bhuvaneswari has a lakh of Attendants.

The Thirteenth Enclosure is made of Vaiduryas and the Residences of

Eight Matrikas viz. Brahmi, Mahesvari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi, Varahi,

Indrani, Chamunda and Mahalakshmi.

The Fourteenth Enclosure made of Indranilamani, which is the Most

Auspicious Place of the Sixteen Petalled Holy Lotus with Sixteen Maha

Shaktis resident viz. Karali, Vikarali, Uma, Sarasvati, Sri, Durga, Ushas,

Lakshmi, Sruti, Smriti, Dhriti, Sraddha, Medha, Mati, Kanti and Arya.

The Fifteenth Enclosure made of ‘Mukta’ or Pearls inside which reside

Eight Shaktis Ananga Kusuma, Ananga Kusuma Tura, Ananga Madana,

Ananga Madanatura, Bhuvanapala, Ganganavega, Sasirekha, and

Gangana Vegarekha.

The Sixteenth Enclosure which is made of Marakatha (Vaidurya) is

hexagonal of Yantra Shape, and on the eastern corner of the Center

is the Brahma with Devi Gayatri with Vedas, Sastras and Puranas as

well as their Expansions; on the Western corner is Maha Vishnu and

Savitri along with ther own Expansions; on the North Western corner

is Maha Rudra and Sarasvati with Rudra and Parvati Expansions and

Sixty four Agamas and all Tantras; on the South Eastern side is the

abodes of Kubera and Maha Lakshmi; on the Western corner side are

the Couple of Madana and Rati Devi and on the North Eastern side

are Ganesha and Pushti Devi.

The Seventeenth one is made of Prabala (Red like Saffron) Devi

Bhagavati’s five Elements viz. Hrillekha, Gagana, Raktha, Karailika, and

Mahochuchusma;

Finally, the Eighteenth Enclosure is built with Navaratnas ( Nine Jewels)

with Bhagavati in the Center with ‘Pancha Amnayas’ (Eastern Amnaya

is Creation by Mantra Yoga, Southern is Maintenance by Bhakti,

Western is Pralay by Karma Yoga, Northern is Grace by Jnana Yoga

and Urdhva Amnaya is Liberation); ten Maha Vidyas (Kali,Tara,

Chhinnamasta, Bhuvaneswari, Bagala, Dhumavati, Matangi, Shodasi

and Bhairavi) and Avataras viz. Bhuvanesvaris Pasamkusavari, Bhairavi,

Kapala, Amkusa, Paramada, Sri Krodha , Triptavasarudha, Nityaklinna,

Annapurnesvari and Tvarita .

Ratnagriha or the Crown Palace of Mula Prakriti or Maha Devi

Bhagavati is beyond the Eighteenth Enclosure, built of Chintamani

Gems with thousands of pillars built by Suryamani Gems or

Vidyutkantamani Gems. Four huge ‘Mandapas’ or halls each with

thousand pillars in the Palace are made of kaleidoscopic and artistic

mix of ‘Navaratnas’ ( The Nine Gems) viz. Mukta, Manikya, Vaidurya,

Gomeda, Vajra, Vidruma, Padmaraga, Nila and Marakatas with

dazzling lights and exhilarating perfumes suited to the Themes of the

Halls designated as Shringara, Mukti, Jnana and Ekanta.

In the Central place of each of the Halls, there is a Very Special

Chintamani Griha or the Sanctum Sanctorum on a raised platform with

a plank supported by the four legs of Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and

Mahesvara and the plank is Sadasiva Himself!

The Maha Tatvas are the stair cases leading to the Upper Chambers.

Mula Prakriti and Maha Purusha constitute two halves of the Physical

Formation of Maha Devi cum Maha Deva with Five Faces of Each Half,

with corresponding three Eyes and four arms and armoury , one hand

reserved exclusively for providing boons. The Attending Sakhies are

those surrounding the ‘Ardhanarisara’ are Icchaa Sakti, Jnaana Sakti

and Kriya Sakti who are always present with the Maha Bhagavati along

with Lajja, Tushti, Pushti, Kirti, Kanti, Kshama, Daya, Buddhi, Medha,

Smriti and Lakshmi in their physical Forms. The Nine Pitha Shaktis Jaya,

Vijaya, Ajita, Aparajita, Nitya, Vilasini, Dogdhri, Aghora and Mangala

are at the constant Service. Devi Bhagavati is simultaneously present

in all the Mandapas; enjoying Vedas, Hymns of Praise, and Music in

Shringara Hall; freeing Jivas from bondages in Mukti Hall; rendering

advice and instructions in Jnana Hall and conducting consultations in

Ekanta Mandapa with Ministers like Ananga Kusuma etc.on matters of

vital significance related to Creation, Preservation and Destruction of

Evil.Indeed the inhabitants of Manidweepa are all those who have

attained Samipya, Salokya, Sarupya and Sarvasti. They have no

Arishdvargas to overcome, no tatvas to gain, no gunas to regulate, no

Yogas to perform, no ambitions or desires to fulfil. They have no

concepts of time, death, age, distance, body, mind, light, season or the

‘Tapatriyas’. Human beings normally tend to describe the negativity

of life always but the Eternal State of Perfect Equilibrium is some thing

utterly unimaginable!

Maharshi Veda Vyas assured that reading, listening or imagining

about Manidweepa and of the Glories of Devi Bhagavati would

provide peace of mind, contentment and fresh springs of hope,

purpose and direction of life especially when new projects or actions

are launched as also when apprehensions, obstacles, diseases,

tragedies or even death are envisaged! ( Source : Devi Bhagavata)