Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 277: Shri Bhagamalini (OM bhagamAlinyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed. 

The Divine Mother wears a garland made of six excellences. 

Bhagam means divine garland with six excellent attributes; they are auspiciousness, supremacy, fame, valor, detachment and knowledge. These attributes individually exemplify the Divine Mother’s best qualities, glorifying Her in each one of them. This list of six excellences may differ depending on the information source. For example another list contains the following six attributes: Supremacy, righteousness, fame, prosperity, knowledge and wisdom. Acharya  Adi Shankara says: The science of logic is inclusive; there are differences in vedic opinions; there is no one sage whose word can be taken as an authoritative view. The dharma is hiding in the cave of the heart. Great and matured souls follow the good path by dharma. 

Bhaga has many meanings: Sovereignty, fame, justice, wisdom, greatness, humility, effort, the womb, worldly concerns peace and fulfillment of desire. Bhaga also can mean female re-production organ (yoni).All these qualities are contained within the Divine Mother, like the flowers in a garland. She is the Mother of all creations in this universe.The Shiva’s Lingas convey Shiva’s glory; the yonis convey the Divine Mother’s glory. Lingas installed in a temple or in other place for Shiva’s worship are giving the combination of Shiva’s and the Divine Mother’s worships, due to their unison. All masculine words glorify Lord Shiva and all female words glorify the Divine Mother. 

Bhaga means also word; Bhagamala becomes a garland of words of hymns; the Divine Mother is worshipped with such garlands of praise.

The Divine Mother as Goddess Bhagamalini

in Nitya Gayatri mantra rupa.

 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 28 October 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.