1. I intend to end धर्म जिज्ञासा chapter 57 dealing with DEVI MAHAATMYAM which detailed Lalithopaakyaanam with appropriate benediction to Devi and have selected Sri Muthuswamy Dhikshitar's NavaavarNam as part of this chapter of धर्म जिज्ञासा. @akhivis

2. However I felt that there is a need to explain this to the readers and therefore I have decided to separately tweet them and write it as a new article for permanent access by the readers.

3. I am going to tweet one AvaraNa every day till it is completed. So let me start it off now.

4. The First AvaraNa is called Bhupura. It starts with the lyrics कमलाम्बा संरक्षतु मां (May Kamalamba protect me). It is in raaga Ananda Bhairavi.

5. The Chakra associated with this AvaraNa is Trailokyamohana chakra - ‘enchants the three worlds’. The yogini is Prakata; Mudra is Sarva SomkshibhNi; Siddhi is Anima; and the mental state of the aspirant is Jagrata (waking). The presiding deity is Tripura.

6. Her Vidya is अं अं सौः.The gem is topaz. The time is 24 minutes and the Shaktis are 28 that include the ten starting with Anima, the eight Matruka Devis starting with Brahmya and Maheshwari; and the ten Mudra Shaktis. 28 is the dominant number.

7. This avarana corresponds to the feet of the mother goddess.

8. त्रिपुरादि चक्रेश्वरी अणिमादि सिद्धीश्वरी
नित्य कामेश्वरी
क्षिति पुर त्रैलोक्य मोहन चक्रवर्तिनी
प्रकट योगिनी
सुर रिपु महिषासुरादि मर्दिनी
निगम पुराणादि संवेदिनी

9. त्रिपुरेशी गुरु गुह जननी
त्रिपुर भञ्जन रञ्जनी
मधु रिपु सहोदरी तलोदरी
त्रिपुर सुन्दरी महेश्वरी

10. Entering the first chakra Dikshitar salutates Mother Goddess Kamalamba and prays for her protection. He address her as the magnificent transcendental beauty without a parallel in three worlds (Tripura Sundari);

11. Tripura Sundari is the conqueror of three levels of existence (waking, dream and deep sleep); the presiding deity of Tripura & other chakras (Tripuraadi Chakreshvari); Kameshwari; the empress of Trailokyamohana Chakra (Trailokyamohana Chakravartini) of Bhupura (Kshithipura).

12. She is the presiding deity of the chakra (Tripureshi); mother of Guruguha; and the enchanting beauty of all the three worlds (tripura Sundari).

13. Dikshitar also salutates Anima and other Siddhi deities of the Avarana (Animaadi-Siddhishvari); the Nitya Devis; the Yogini of the Avarana (PrakataYogini); and Maheshwari and other Matruka Devis.

14. The Eight Siddhis (Asta-siddhi) are: 1.ANimaa: reducing one’s body to the size of an atom; 2.Mahimaa: expanding one’s body to an infinitely large size; 3.Laghimaa: becoming almost weightless; 4. Garima – power to become inordinately heavy;

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5. Praapti: ability to be anywhere at will; 6. Praakaamya: realizing whatever one desires; 7.Eashithva: supremacy over nature; and,8. Vashithva: control of natural forces.

16. The Nityas are the primary Devatas of the first Chakra. The Nitya Kameshwari is at the center. They are sixteen in number, 1. Kameshwari; 2.Bhagamalini; 3.Nityaklinna; 4.Bherunda; 5.Vanhivasini; 6. Maha-vajreswari; 7.Shivadooti (Roudri); 8.Twarita; 9.Kulasundari;

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10. Nitya; 11. Neelapataka; 12.Vijaya; 13 .Sarvamangala; 14.Jwalamalini; 15.Chidroopa (Chitra); and 16.Maha-nitya.

18. Thus, along with the prayers, Dikshitar brings out the salient features of the Bhupura Chakra, the Earth principle.

19. The name of Raga Anandabhiravi is suggested by the phrase Kamalaja-ananda Bodhasukhi. His signature also appears in Guruguha janani.

20. I will take up the second AavarNa tomorrow.