Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 65: Shri Bhandasura Vadhodyukta Sakthi Sena Samanvita (OM bhaNDAsuravadhodyuktashaktisenAsamanvitAyai namaH)

In Namams 64 to 84, we will be seeing the Divine Mother destroying the Bhandasura.

The Divine Mother has an army of Goddesses in battle ready state to defeat Bhandasura.

Lord Kamesavaran (Siva) incinerated Kama or cupid into ashes using the fire from his third eye. One of the Lord Siva’s assistant deities using his power of penance created a powerful being from the ashes. Lord Brahma called him Bhanda. Since he was created from ashes, Bhanda turn out to be a demon (asura).

Bhanda did severe penance and got from Lord Siva all the boons for his own protection. Being a demon, he started attacking others including the celestial beings and Sages. Indra, the chief of the celestial beings started a new Yagam to please the Divine Mother. The Divine Mother rose from the yaga fire. She assembled an army of Goddesses ready to fight the Bhanda.

Bhanda means unashamed. Asu means life. Ra means the one who destroys. Bhandasura destroyed many lives with no shame and no conscience. This was due to his ignorance, which made him to kill others and to cause violence.

Bhandasura is alive in every one of us. The seeker has to destroy his attachments, his body consciousness, his thoughts and emotions in the fire of tapas to remove his ignorance. The Divine Mother’s devotees when they try to gratify their desires needed for living in this materialistic world would not get aggressive. Their demonic qualities such as their mind and senses would be under control. The Divine Mother blesses Her devotees with all the required pleasures in this world. She grants to her devotees both pleasures of this world and liberation.

This Namam can also mean that the Divine Mother destroys the Bhandasura qualities in her devotees and grants them liberation.

Close enough meanings:

Samanvita is the one who surrounded by

Sena is army

Bhandasura is a demon created from ashes Kama the lord of desire.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 29 March 2020.

References:

1.      The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, San Ramon, California, USA, with Commentary by T. V Narayana Menon.

2.      Shri Lalitha Ahasranama Stoistrom published in Tamil by N. Ramaswami Iyer charities’ societies, Trichirapalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3.     The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai,Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar.