Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 220: Shri Mahaisvarya (OM mahaishvaryAyai namaH)

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

 

The Divine Mother is the Supreme power or authority or sovereignty. She is the posser of all forms of wealth. She has the ability to control and use them.

 

The Divine Mother is said to hold the seat for all Godly qualities (aisvarya) which are, lordliness (aisvarya), valor (virya), fame (kirti), auspiciousness (sri), wisdom (jnana)  and dispassion (vairagya).

 

Aisvarya also means the ability to rule. She is controlling the smooth functioning of the whole universe.

Also wherever, the Divine Mother’s presence is felt, it is part of spreading her blessings. These two are part of Her key aisvarya qualities.

 

There are other eight superhuman abilities (Astama Siddhis) which are also considered as aisvarya. We will soon discuss further in Namam 224 “Maha Siddhih”. She is unequal to anybody in all these richly aisvarya qualities.

 

Astama or eight classical Siddhis are:

·         Aṇimā: the ability to become smaller than the smallest, reducing one's body to the size of an atom or even become invisible.

·         Mahimā: the ability to become infinitely large, expanding one's body to an infinitely large size.

·         Laghimā: the ability to become weightless or lighter than air.

·         Prāpti: the ability to instantaneously travel or be anywhere at will.

·         Prākāmya: the ability to achieve or realize whatever one desires.

·         Īśiṭva: the ability to control nature, individuals, organisms, etc. Supremacy over nature and ability to force influence upon anyone.

·         Vaśiṭva: the ability to control all material elements or natural forces.

The eighth is given as either:

·         Kāma-avasayitva (per Kṣemarāja and Vyasa): satisfaction, suppression of desire or (as Yatrakāmāvasāyitva) wishes coming true.

·                Garimā (per the Rāmānanda Sampradāya): the ability to become infinitely heavy and be immovable by   anyone or anything. 

She is Mahaisvarya.

 

Goddess Mahalaksmi with all Her aisvarya ready to give out to Her devotees. 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 31 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.