Digital Ebook (PDF) — Two Classic Editions in One: Arthur Avalon's English "Wave of Bliss" & the Hindi "Ānandalaharī"
Author / Tradition: Attributed to Sri Adi Shankaracharya | English translation & commentary by Arthur Avalon (Sir John Woodroffe) — Ganesh & Co., Madras, 1953 | Hindi edition — Kalyan Mandir, Prayag (Sadhanamala Series)
Key Features
The Ananda Lahari, or "Wave of Bliss," is among the most revered and esoteric hymns in the entire Sanskrit devotional tradition. It forms the first forty-one verses of the celebrated Saundarya Lahari attributed to Adi Shankaracharya — the "Ananda Lahari" meaning "waves of bliss," and the remaining verses forming the "Saundarya Lahari," or "waves of beauty," which together are known as the Saundarya Lahari. This ebook bundle brings together two classic editions of this profound work: Arthur Avalon's authoritative English translation and commentary, and the Hindi edition with its lucid commentary and detailed exposition.
While the later verses of the Saundarya Lahari sing of the Goddess's physical beauty, the Ananda Lahari is something altogether deeper and more secret. These first forty-one verses unlock the tantric heart of the hymn — the mysteries of Kundalini, the Sri Yantra, and mantra sadhana, making this section not merely a devotional poem but a complete manual of inner worship.
According to sacred tradition, the origin of these verses is itself divine. Legend holds that the first forty-one verses are the work of Shiva himself, shedding light on the ancient rituals of Tantra, Yantra, and powerful mantras, which Shankaracharya later completed with his own verses in praise of the Goddess. The text is a systematic exposition of the deepest teachings of Sri Vidya. These verses describe the Goddess as the primordial energy, Shakti, without whom even Lord Shiva cannot function, and focus on internal worship, the chakras, and meditation techniques.
At the center of this contemplation stands the Goddess Tripura Sundari. In this text the formless Mother Divine, as Tripurasundari, is described in beautiful metaphors — the most beautiful One who dwells in the three cities of Waking, Dreaming, and Deep Sleep, pure non-dual Consciousness whose Yantra is the Sri Yantra. Meditation on the Sri Yantra becomes an inner pilgrimage that takes the seeker through nine levels toward the center, each representing a more subtle aspect of existence until the bindu is reached, and beyond.
Arthur Avalon — the pen name of Sir John Woodroffe (1865–1936) — was the pioneering British Orientalist who first brought the depth of Tantra and Shakta philosophy to the Western world. His works, including the Introduction to the Tantra Shastra, Shakti and Shakta, and The Serpent Power, significantly influenced the study of Indian spiritual traditions, especially Tantra, Yoga, and Shaktism, blending traditional wisdom with careful scholarship. His rendering of the Ananda Lahari, presented here alongside the original Sanskrit, remains a landmark of accessible tantric study.
This bilingual bundle is a treasure for both the scholar and the sincere seeker — the English edition opening the text to a global readership, and the Hindi edition offering its own clear commentary and elaboration for readers of Devanagari.
Ebook Details
- Format: PDF (digital download)
- Editions Included: English — "Wave of Bliss" (Arthur Avalon, Ganesh & Co., 1953); Hindi — "Ānandalaharī" (Kalyan Mandir, Prayag, Sadhanamala Series)
- Content: Original Sanskrit verses with English translation and commentary, plus the Hindi edition with simple commentary (saral tika) and detailed exposition (vishad vyakhya)
- Quality: Faithful digital reproduction preserving the complete text of these classic editions
- Ideal For: Sri Vidya sadhaks, students of Tantra and Kundalini Yoga, devotees of Devi and Tripura Sundari, scholars of Sanskrit devotional literature, and admirers of Adi Shankaracharya's works
Why You'll Love It
A rare bilingual pairing of two classic editions of one of the most powerful hymns in the Shakta tradition — the tantric "Wave of Bliss," bringing the mysteries of the Sri Yantra, Kundalini, and the worship of Tripura Sundari to both English and Hindi readers in a single download.
Order Now
Bring home the Ananda Lahari (Wave of Bliss), the sublime tantric hymn of Adi Shankaracharya, in this special bilingual English and Hindi ebook edition, available exclusively at The Soma Store. As soon as your payment is complete, you'll receive your ebook instantly — the download will appear on the checkout confirmation page and be sent to your email as well.
