III - THE EMPRESS
Literature: Anandalahiri
Artist: Akansha Khanna
During her formative years she has lived in many different parts of India experiencing the varied culture and the exoticism of this mystical land. This experience has left an indelible impression upon her. She owes this magnificent journey to her parents. Her father is an officer in the Indian Navy having won an award for gallantry, for his endeavors at the Antarctica . Her mother has encouraged her to follow her heart. Akansha began her foray into films and is a painter at heart.
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Description:
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!