Panchatanmatrasayaka

The eleventh nama in the Lalita Sahasranama, Pañcatanmātraśayakā (Pañca: five, Tanmātra: subtle elements, Śayakā: arrows), reveals the Divine Mother’s profound connection with the five subtle elements of creation: Śabda (sound), Sparśa (touch), Rūpa (sight), Rasa (taste), and Gandha (smell). These arrows, held in her upper right hand, symbolise the sensory forces that shape our perception and experience of the world.

The Five Tanmatras (elements) as Arrows

The term tanmātra refers to the subtle aspects of the five great elements (pañcamahābhūtas). They are not the gross elements themselves but the pure essence from which the elements emerge.

• Śabda (Sound): The tanmātra of Akasha, carrying specific qualities of vibration and meaning.
• Sparśa (Touch): The tanmātra of air, expressing softness, coolness, and texture.
• Rūpa (Sight): The tanmātra of fire, representing light, colour, and form.
• Rasa (Taste): The tanmātra of water, embodying the essence of sweetness, bitterness, and other tastes.
• Gandha (Smell): The tanmātra of earth, capturing the fragrant essence of creation.

These subtle elements are the arrows with which the Divine Mother interacts with the sensory world, making her the orchestrator of perception.

The Symbolism of the Five Arrows

These arrows are depicted as five flowers—Aravinda (lotus), Aśoka, Cūta (mango blossom), Navamāllikā(jasmine), and Nīlotpala (blue lotus). Each flower symbolises sensory allure and the transient pleasures associated with sensory experiences.

When Manmatha (Kāmadeva, the god of desire) wields these arrows, they represent the seductive forces that bind individuals to sensory pleasures. However, these same arrows are transformed into instruments of transcendence in the hands of Lalita Tripura Sundari.

Meditating on these five arrows in her hands reminds us that the tanmātras are ever-present in life, but our craving for indulgence through them can be mastered. While these sensory experiences enrich life, excessive attachment to them leads to bondage.

The Divine Mother’sMother’s Guidance

The tanmātras are neither inherently good nor bad—they are simply the means by which we engage with the material world. They are essential for survival, yet unchecked indulgence in them traps us in cycles of desire and dissatisfaction.

When we see the five arrows in the Divine Mother’s hands:

• We are reminded of the transient nature of sensory pleasures.
• We begin to understand their limitations and the need to move beyond endless craving.
• The craving to indulge through these senses diminishes, even as we continue to experience life through them.

Her grace teaches us to use the sensory world as a stepping stone rather than a trap, guiding us toward liberation.

Esoteric Significance

The arrows also symbolise Kriyā Shakti—the power of action. In her hands, these arrows transform from indulgence tools into spiritual refinement. They signify the shift from sensory slavery to self-mastery.

The Vamakeśvara Tantra describes these arrows as subtle manifestations of divine energy, enabling devotees to transcend the limitations of sensory attachments while continuing to live fully. By contemplating the Divine Mother’s form, holding the bow and arrows, the mind naturally turns inward, revealing the essence of one’s being.

Reflection

The Divine Mother’s five arrows symbolise both the beauty and the bondage of sensory experiences. She does not ask us to reject the senses but to rise above their pull. By contemplating her, we are empowered to navigate the sensory world without becoming enslaved by it, transforming fleeting pleasures into pathways to higher awareness.

As Panchatanmatrasayaka, Lalita Tripura Sundari invites us to balance our sensory experiences with discernment and inner control, showing us that true joy lies in indulgence and transcendence. Through her, we learn to engage with the world fully while remaining free from its bindings, moving closer to the ultimate realisation of divine truth.