Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 216: Shri Maha sattva (OM mahAsatvAyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother has Maha (great) sattva. 

Sattva is power, existence, intelligence, sattvic qualities, strength, substance and reality. The adjective Maha (great) is applicable to all of these; they are all within the Divine Mother, Herself. 

All universal creatures are the Divine Mother’s various forms. When each creature reaches a higher level, its sattvic qualities show up; such as increases in their mental ability. The mind is linked to the soul; this linkage helps in soul’s quest to reach the Brahman. 

The human intelligence is another sattvic quality needed for the soul to reach the Brahman. The Divine Mother being the Maha sattva, provides such intelligence to the devotee for his advancement. 

The Divine Mother holds all sattvic things within Her as we have listed earlier. The individual creatures get their sattvic things from the Divine Mother. She does not differentiate between the highest souls such as Brahma to small creatures like an ant in generously granting these sattvic qualities. 

Sattva can be defined as existence also. Each creature identifies its existence. The Divine Mother is behind their existence. Their sattvic existence is not permanent. For example the paper is processed from the wood gotten from a tree. The next stage for the paper is not certain. As the soul progress to next higher level, the true sattvic qualities of the soul show up.  Using such sattvic nature, the soul tries to reach the Brahman with the Divine Mother’s help, who is a Maha sattva Herself.

 

 Shri Samayapuram Mariamman, in Trichy District, Tamilnadu is best worshipped by ladies seeking good family life.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 27 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.