Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 78: Shri Maha Ganesa Nirbhinna Vighna Yantra Praharshita (OM mahAgaNeshanirbhinnavighnayantrapraharShitAyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother is very happy that Lord Ganesvara had cleared/shattered all the obstacles.

During the war with the Divine Mother, Bhanda realized that his army was losing and suffering. Through Visukra he initiated magical powers to overcome the Divine Mother’s forces. This had resulted in Divine Mother’s forces to get dim-witted (stupidity or silliness), sleepy and disinclined to fight. A similar condition can be felt in devotee’s soul trying to achieve Sadhana.

In order to impede or stop the Divine Mother’s forces, Vishukra created an Yantra. Lord  Ganesvara being the remover of obstructions, destroyed the said Yantra created by Vishukra.

In this context, Lord Ganesvara had shattered such obstacles to make the Divine Mother’s forces ready to fight. The Divine Mother is essentially very happy on this.

It is said that there are five birds (the sensing organs) that feast on the five fruits (the sensing objects). These birds are caged in human bodies from where they try to fly around avoiding obstacles. The soul had faced many birth and death cycles. It had lived in different cages. The birds past karma effects have to be broken. Only then the embodiment of light or Self Knowledge will emerge. Demons like Bhanda will try to obstruct such embodiment of the souls. On such occasions, Lord Ganesvara’s help to break the obstruction is sought by the humans.

Further this Namam can be understood as follows: The Lord Ganesvara is the eldest son of the Divine Mother. All other souls in this universe are Her sons and daughters. Those souls reaching the liberation are role modeling Lord Ganesvara. Obstructions and blockages are the way of life. By trying to overcome them, the humans progress towards liberation. For example, hungriness is one obstruction the humans, who use their knowledge to overcome. Every time, we cross over an obstruction, there is happiness to be shared with the Divine Mother. She encourages such progression of Her devotees’ souls.

Close enough meanings:

Nirbhinna is broken; divided; pierced

Vighna is an obstacle; impediment; hindrance; opposition

Yantra is to control; a mystical system; machine; instrument

Praharshita is greatly delighted

C N Nachiappun           

Singapore, 11 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.