Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 97: Shri Samayantastha (OM samayAntasthAyai namaH)

In Namams 91 to 111, we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s subtle Mantra- Rupam.

The Divine Mother resides inside Samaya.

Samaya is Manasa Puja, internal worship conducted in the heart chakra. This is said to be highest form of worshipping the Divine Mother.

The Divine Mother through Yogis has stipulated the rules and procedures for Manasa Puja. Samaya follows the path of Vedas. The unison of the Divine Mother and Lord Siva is important for creation, preservation and destruction of the universe. The Divine Mother is latent in Siva in their unison.

The devotee reaches his goal when Kundalini reaches the Sahasrara chakra which is the unison of Lord Siva and the Divine Mother. Sage Daksinamurthi is said to have used Samaya path where the Divine Mother and Lord Kamesvara are the key deities. The teachings of Sages Sanka, Sanatkumara, Sanantana, Suka and Vasistha are in five tantric texts which are called the Samaya worshipping methods. Samayantastha means that the Divine Mother is the subject of five Samaya texts.

Samaya is equality; ya is attaining self realization; antah is the end or ultimate aim.

The Namam means that the Divine Mother resides within those devotees who have strong conviction of equality of Lord Siva and the Divine Mother in their unison. The equality between them can be seen in five different instances namely 1. In the ocean of nectar in the Bindu in the Sahasrara chakra which is her residence 2.In action where the Divine Mother‘s capabilities are equal to those of Lord Siva 3.In dance where Lord Siva and the Divine Mother engage in Tandava and Lasya dances 4.In name meaning one in Siva and other is also in Siva in their unison 5.In form for example both are red in complexion. Both Lord Siva and the Divine Mother provide salvation and Knowledge to their devotees.

Each worshipping path in this world is to raise the devotee to a higher level. Each devotee may need different food, shape and growth aspects etc. The Divine Mother provides such needs for the devotees. The Divine Mother’s presence is there in every religious path to salvation.

The Namam may be interpreted as that the Divine Mother is residing within the devotees, awakens their understanding of the heart chakra and Samaya texts composed by the five sages.

C N Nachiappun           

Singapore, 30 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 Sahasranamam Stostrom 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.