Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 71: Shri JvAIA mAlinIKa kshipta Vahni Prakara Madhyaga (OM jvAlAmAlinikAkShiptavahniprAkAramadhyagAyai namaH)

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

The Goddess JvAlA mAlini created a fortress of fire as a cover from the enemies. The Divine Mother takes the centre place in this fortress (a military stronghold, especially a fortified town).

The Goddess JvAlA mAlini throws flames, all around. This fortress is the entirety (the whole of something) of creation. Sparks of flame (which are transient in nature) make up the fortress.

The fire itself is eternal (lasting or existing forever, without end). Jnani or enlightened soul is like a fire. Sparks of flame are the sensing objects. Jnani remains unaffected at the centre of transitory sensing object.

Tantra Sastra describes the Goddesses JvAlA mAlinis are five triangles of the Divine Mother. The fortress of fire is the four Siva triangles covering all four directions. When this one the Divine Mother’s triangle and four Siva triangles merge Sri cakara is formed. The Divine Mother resides in Bindu, the centre of the Sri cakara.

In earlier Namam 4 “Cid Agni Kunda Sambhuta” the Divine Mother is said to be in the centre of fortress of fire. Bhandasura, the darkness due to ignorance cannot even cast glimpse of the Divine Mother at the centre of the bright fire.

On Bindu triangle, there are five Goddesses per side, a total of 15 Nitya Goddesses are seated. Like the Divine Mother they do not have any end or death.

15 Nitya Goddesses are listed as: Kameshvari, Bhagamalini, Nityaklinna, Bherunda, Vahnivasini, Mahavajreshvari, Duti (Siva thuti), Tvarita, Kulasundari, Nitya,Nilapataka, Vijaya, Sarvamangala, Jvalamalini and Chitra. They are the deities of the day and follow the ththi or day of the moon’s growing phase from Kameshvari the first day and Chitra for fifteen’s day. On Moon’s waning phase first day belongs to Chitra and fifteen’s day belongs to Kameshvari, basically in reverse order. From above sequence, Goddess JvAlA mAlini will have fourteenth day in growing phase and second day in waning phase of the Moon.

In essence, Goddess JvAlA mAlini’s fortress of fire shields from enemies the Divine Mother being seated at the centre of the fortress. ‘

Close enough meanings:

Goddess JvAlA mAlini is garlanded with flames. She has six faces and twelve arms.

Samsara is the cycle of birth and death to which the life in this materialistic world is bound.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 04 April 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.