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)