Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 406: Shri Shiva aradhya (OM shivArAdhyAyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother is worshipped by Lord Shiva Himself. 

Shining diamond is a good example of Shivashakti tattva. Like Diamond’s hidden true shine is brought out, the Divine Mother’s brightness adds to Lord Shiva’s glories. In another example, when the positive part of the electric circuit and the negative part of the electric circuit  are connected only the light or power comes about; likewise the merging of the Divine Mother with Lord Shiva only brings out the glories and brightness of Lord Shiva; there by the Brahman is showing its ultimate strength.

When the shakti increases, the person can do or achieve things. Adi Shakara initially avoided the shakti prayers. But when he did prayers to the Divine Mother, he and his Guru found that their blessings from Lord Shiva increased to them, to pull him towards the Shakti prayers.  The one without power is compared to Lord Shiva. As in Soundarya Lahari verse1 as below: 

śivaḥ śaktyā yuktō yadi bhavati śaktaḥ prabhavituṃ
na chēdēvaṃ dēvō na khalu kuśalaḥ spanditumapi ।
atastvāmārādhyāṃ hariharaviriñchādibhirapi
praṇantuṃ stōtuṃ vā kathamakṛtapuṇyaḥ prabhavati ... 1 

 

Lord Shiva to explain the glory within Him, lets the Divine Mother to create and pervade the universe; so the universal creation is due indirectly to Lord Shiva’s hidden glory. By continuously praying to the Divine Mother, the soul can attain Brahman. When Shri Ramakrishna worshipped Sarada Devi, his soul reached fullness. This reflects well on Shivaradhya Namam. 

Lord Shiva is one of key worshippers of the Divine Mother. He worshipped Srividya in Srichakra Bindu. Brahmanda Purana  says that only through worshipping the Divine Mother, Lord Shiva had all the powers and siddhis. The Divine Mother also worshipped Lord Shiva in places like Mayuram (the new name of the town is Mayiladuthurai), Mylapore and Thiruvanakkaval (now it is called as Thiruvanaikovil) in Tamilnadu, India. So She has such worships to Lord Shiva to reach Him, as well. 

Lord Shiva is said to have done this worship to the Divine Mother using the mantra known as “Shivaduti”. Brahmanda Purana  had mentioned this, “By worshipping whom even Shiva, through the power of meditation (using Shivaduti mantra) became half Male God and half Female God as in Ardhanarisvara. This makes the Divine Mother the Shivaradhya.

 

Lord Shiva with the  Divine Mother as in Ardhanareiesvara

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 06 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