Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 210: Shri Maha lakshmi (OM mahAlakShmyai namaH)

In Namams 199 to 248, the Divine Mother’s  Saguna or infiniteness power and glory are described. 

The Divine Mother is the great Goddess Maha Lakshmi. Considering the Divine Mother to be both Maha Devi and Maha Lakshmi is customary. Maha Lakshmi has all the divine attributes. All the universal assets are various forms of Maha Lakshmi. 

Knowledge and wisdom can help to reach the Supreme Being. Maha Lakshmi helps the Bhakta to reach the Supreme Being. She is also the Maha Devi, the consort of Lord Mahadeva sitting on his lap. Maha lakshmi is in Maha Visnu’s left chest. So the Divine mother worship includes Maha Lakshmi worship also. 

The very big (Maha) Lakshmi is Mahavishnu’s consort. She has a dedicated temple in Kohlapur in Maharastra State in India. This temple is called a Maha Lakshmi Peetam.The Durga Purana says that  the Durga Devi is in three forms. Maha Kali, Maha Lakshmi and Maha Saraswathi.  Maha Lakshmi with Her 18 hands had destroyed the demon Mahisha. Also the Divine Mother killed the demon “Mahala”. She became known as Mahalasa and Maha Lakshmi. 

13 year old girl is also referred as Mah Lakshmi as mentioned in Dhaumya Smriti. She is specially worshiped on 13^th tithi (Thirayodasi or Prodosham day). 

Lakshma means sign or mark. Maha Lakshmi is great Lakshmi. 

In last namam “Maha devi” Mahavishnu is described as Mahaesvara in sattvic role. So the consort of Mahavisnu becomes Mah Lakshmi. 

The name Lakshmi can also mean Parvathi. The Shiva Purana describes that the beautiful, dark coloured, sakthi who sits on Mahesevara’s lap (Parvathi) is called Maha Lakshmi also. 

Markandeya  Purana states that the Lakshmi is the origin of everything in three gunas.

 

 Mahalakshmi

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 21 August 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 Sahasranama Stostram 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.