Soundarya Lahari, or the Waves of Bliss is a poetic text of worship to the primordial Śakti or Goddess of the power of consciousness. Attributed to Adi Śankara, the towering giant of Advaita Vedanta, the text describes in vivid theological detail the nature of this supreme Goddess.

Contesting authorship aside, how could a proponent of uncompromising non-duality compose a devotional work like this? If reality is not-two, who is to be worshipped? And who is there to worship it?

This is only a question that can be answered from the perspective of the jivanmukta, the free while living. Before enlightenment, duality ensnares us in the mires of suffering.

But after liberation, duality conceived for the sake of love is even more sublime than non-duality.

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