Devi Padukas

The Soundarya Lahiri vividly describes different parts of Devi Lalita Tripurasundari, with many verses dedicated to Her feet. While chanting yesterday, I was captivated by these descriptions and felt inspired to paint.

One such description, Verse 83, compares Her toenails to crescent-shaped arrowheads, sharpened by the crowns of gods like Vishnu, and Brahma each time they bow down at Her feet. Another verse invokes:

“O Mother! Place Thy feet, which the Upanishads wear as a crest jewel, upon my head. The River Ganga offers water in worship, and the red dye brightens Vishnu’s crown.”

Here, Shankara praises Shakti as the source of sacred knowledge. In another verse, he highlights the brilliance of Her red feet, with Shiva himself desiring to be kicked by them. There’s even a playful moment where Shiva is kicked after calling Her by another woman’s name, symbolizing the union of Shiva and Shakti, where nothing else exists but their oneness.

Verse 89:

nakhair-naakastreenaam kara-kamala-sankocha-shashibhih taroonaam divyaanaam hasata iva te chandi charanau; phalaani sahsthebhyah kisalaya-kara-agrena dadataam daridrebhyo bhadraam shriyam-anisham-ahnaaya dadatau. (89)

“O Chandi! Thy feet, with moon-like toenails that put to shame the lotus palms of heavenly damsels, showering abundant wealth on the humble devotees, mocking the Kalpavriksha trees that grant gifts only to the devas.”