Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 405: Shri Shiva duti (OM shivadUtyai namaH)

In Namams 381 to 474, the Divine Mother’s Jnana Yoga worship methods are discussed in details. 

The Lord Shiva is the Divine Mother’s messenger; also She is the messenger for Lord Shiva; duti means messenger. 

The senior level persons have acted as messengers like Lord Krishna went as a messenger to Hasthinapuram on Pandavas’ behalf; for Sundaramurthy Nayanar, Lord Shiva went as messenger to Sangilyar. Hanuman went as a messenger for Lord Rama. For Veerbhuha, Lord Shanmugaha went as a messenger. For devotees’ sake the Lords had gone as messengers, taking much pride in doing their services. 

The Divine Mother’s Shakti always acts as moving object which is considered better than non-moving. As an example, we know that Electrons are moving over the non-moving metals like Iron, Aluminum and Gold while melting those items and purifying them. If the river banks are solid then, they are non-moving objects; however if there is looseness in those river banks, there can be movement of particles from those banks. 

The souls which come from the Brahman gradually move up wards to reach the Brahman to get more Shiva divinity. Shiva duti Namam relates to this philosophy of getting more of Shiva divinity for the souls maturing. 

This story is in Devi Mahatmya. This forms as the key reason for this Namam. Demons Sumbha with his ahan-kara and Nisumbha with his superior abilities were getting ready to fight. Kausuki Devi (She came from the Divine Mother) is seated  in Simhavahanam. Kaushiki Devi (Kali or Chamunda) was very angry and ultimately destroyed the demons. But before destroying them, She sent Lord Shiva, as a messenger, to the demons to ask them to surrender to Her. Her objective was to tell the demons about Her strengths and capabilities; seek the celestial world to be returned to Indra and other Devas; or prepare for the battle ready to die. Even though, She could have destroyed the demons without any notice, her sending the Lord Shiva as the messenger shows Her Kindness to the demons.

Lord Shiva with the  Divine Mother (Goddess Parvathi)

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 05 March 2021.

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 Chithbavandar.