[Advaita-l] Bhagavati Uma in Advaita : a brief study by Sri Natraj Maneshinde

[V Subrahmanian]

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Bhagavati Uma in Advaita : a brief study
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The upasana of Bhagavati has always had a revered place in the Advaita
sampradaya. This is evidenced in the importance given to the worship of
Shri Chakra in the matha-s of Advaita tradition. Acharya Bhagavatpada
himself was a devout Devi-upasaka. His love for the form of Devi can be
seen in his Kenopanishad bhashya on the akhyayika of Uma-haimavati. The
subsequent Advaitian Acharyas have also expressed their fondness for
Bhagavati Uma’s form in their works.

A humble attempt has been made here to collect evidences on Bhagavati Uma
in the commentarial literature of Advaita sampradaya. From this brief
study, we will understand how Bhagavati Uma is understood in our sampradaya
from a tattvik point of view. There are certain claims which aim at
segregating Bhagavatpada from Devi-upasana. On going through the said
evidences, the futility of such claims will also be realized.

Here is a brief outline on the contents of the document:

1) Identity of Yaksha and Bhagavati Uma based on the Kena Pada and Vakya
bhashya of Bhagavatpada

2) An insight into the tattvik nature of Uma as described in the tika of
Acharya Anandagiri

3) References from Kenopanishad Deepika and Atma-purana of Shri
Shankaranada Saraswati ji

4) ‘Shiva himself manifests as Uma’ says Shri Vidyaranya Mahaswamiji in his
Anubhuti-prakasha

5) Reference from Lalita trishati bhashya

6) Reference from Shri Sayanacharya’s bhashya on Taittiriya Aranyaka

7) Uma tattva in Advaita - a summary with corroboration from Shrimad Devi
Bhagavata.

The document can be accessed from the following link :
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1al0GRbL36B8hzU2NJuY-YFvxzz1FAJ83/view?usp=drivesdk