VAK DEVATAS

By

कलावाणिदासन्

SRK IYER

In the Srividya Upasana tradition, performing the ritual of Devi Navavarana puja is considered as an important ritual.

In performing this navavarana puja, the various avarna devatas are worshipped in a systematic manner comprising in nine avarnas.

The subject matter for discussion in this article, is the worship of vak devatas, who are eight in number, and occupy the seventh avarna in  the navavarna puja.

The LalitaSahasranama is one of the important stotra for the Srividya upasaka.  A Srividya Upasaka is expected to recite this Lalita Sahasranama everyday as a nitya karma, a daily ritual. And this Lalita Sahasranama is recited by the Vak Devatas, who are none other than Devi  herself and who has manifested in eight forms for the benefit of mankind.

Devi is  vak sakthi.   In Srividya Geetha, the Goddess Sakthi appeared  as Sabda Rupini in the Akasa in an answer to the propitiation of the conglomeration of rishis and the Devatas, including Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.   From this, it can be seen that Goddess Sakthi is  the Vak Sakthi. 

Speech is one of the essential tool for our socialisation process.  The right usage of words, the right speech, the tone and tenor of our speech will win laurels to us.  Thus speech is essential for everyone’s interaction with others and also for a healthy interpersonal relationship.

The choice of words, the rhythum, the tempo, the intonation of voice, modulation and the delivery of words play an important part in our social as well as personal lives.

A manager uses a persuasive speech so as to make his subordinates to accomplish the target.  A leader uses an inspiring and captivating speech to inspire his subjects.  These are all a few examples. 

Thus, the speech, be it motivating and captivating, or luring and alluring or inspiring and winning, or soothing and relieving, is an essential part of human interaction.

And thus, Vak is important in our everyday lives and thus Devi herself has manifested as Vak Sakthi only for the benefit of her worshippers to bestow them with the beauties of vak which will help them in their socialisation process.

In our interaction with others, at times, we need to employ  a persuasive speech, or captivating speech, or humourous speech, orf inspiring speech, or straight and plain speech, or wisdom speech and so on.  It is said that speech is the fulcrum of our social life.

Goddess Sakthi, as Vak Sakthi, appeared in the form of eight Vak Devatas. They are:

1.  Vasini Vak Devata

2.  Kameswari Vak Devata

3.  Modini Vak Devata

4.  Vimala Vak Devata

5.  Aruna Vak Devata

6.  jayini Vak Devata

7.  Sarveswari Vak Devata

8.  Kaulini Vak Devata.

Thus, it can be understood, that the various forms of speech, i.e., persuasive speech, attractive speech, humorous speech, plain speech, inspiring speech, winning speech , captivative speech and the wisdom speech are all the emobodiments of the eight vak devatas.

All the various speech are very essential in our everyday walk of life and Goddess Sakthi, as Vak Devi, vak sakthi, guides and goads us to fulfill and accomplish our life’s mission.

ॐ श्री वाक् देवतायै नम: