Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 58: Shri Panca Brhamasana Sithita (OM pa ~ nchabrahmAsanasthitAyai namaH)

From namam 52, we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description up to Namam 63.

The Divine Mother is comfortably seated in Her Cintamani palace/mansion. Her seat is made of five Brahmas namely Bramhan, Vishnu, Rudran, Isvaran and Sadasivan.

The first four are Her Simhasan posts while Sadasivan is Her Simhasan. She is sitting on Kamesvaran’s left lap. South east Simhasan Simhasant is held by Brahma; Southwest Simhasan post is held by Vishnu; North east Simhasan post is held by Isvaran: Northwest Simhasan post is held by Rudran.

According to Adi Sankar in Soundaraya Lagari 24 th slokam Brahma is doing the creation function; Vishnu is doing the saving function; Rudran is doing destruction function; Isvaran is doing the resolution or giving mukthi function for the devotees.

They meditate up on the Divine Mother, eyes closed, thinking only the Divine Mother’s figure or rupam while standing motionless as Simhasan posts. Unsteady objects or people cannot stand as Simhasan posts. The fact that they are shown as Simhasan posts of the Divine Mother’s Simhasan is sign that they are under Her control. They get their power/sakthi from the Divine Mother. The four Brahmas shown supporting the Divine Mother is a sublime image. That is to mean that those devotees who attain such motionless stillness can only reach and hold Her within themselves.

For example: electric light, electric audio speaker, electric fan, electric cooker and electric mixer are doing different functions. Their source of power/strength is from Electricity supply. Similarly all these five Brahmas do different functions, yet all their strength comes from the Divine Mother only.

Indran is the best symbol of prosperity and comfort. Yet the Indran‘s comfortableness is compared to the spittoon used by the Divine Mother. All the universal (worldly and heavenly) riches held by Indran are only the spittoon for the Divine Mother. Then why someone should chase such Indran’s comforts and prosperity instead of seeking the Divine Mother’s blessings?

The symbolism of the Divine Mother sitting on Pancha (five) Brahma seat or aasana is that the entire universal creation is made by these five Brahmas energized by the Divine Mother only.

Certain times, the Divine Mother can take away the power from these five Brahmas to keep within Her. They may look like five dead people. This namam can in a remote sense lead us to understand that Pancha Brahasana is relating to five dead people.

There are links this present namam to other namams 249 and 947 in this Sahasranamam.

As She is sitting in Pancha Brahmam, I am praying for the Divine Mother to see me to bless me and to eliminate my ignorance and to give me knowledge.

Additional meanings:
Spittoon is a metal or earth ware pot typically having a funnel shaped top used for spitting into.

Tantric texts: Scared texts usually associated with a particular tradition and deity; here it is the Divine Mother.

Trinity is a group of three related deities. Here called Trimurthi namely Brahma, Vishnu and Siva doing creation, preserving and destroying/transforming functions respectively.

Tanmatra is subtle element. There are five sense perceptions namely hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. There are corresponding five tanmatras for such sense perceptions.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 21/22 March 2020.