Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 410: Shri Shiva para (ōṃ śhivaparāyai namaḥ )

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

The Divine Mother is solely devoted to Lord Shiva. 

Lord Shiva is Para showing that He is the Superior to anybody elese in this universe. Similarly, the Divine Mother is Superior than anyone in this universe; in fact without the shakati from the Divine Mother Lord Shiva cannot even move on His own. In the same way without Shiva, shakti's power cannot be felt or exposed. So the Divine Mother is equal to Lord Shiva. This can be explained as: Diamond and its brightness are incomparable to other things. With the brightness, the value of the diamond increases. Similar to that whatever the glories Lord Shiva has are due to unison with the Divine Mother. If Shakti leaves Him, then, Lord Shiva will be like a dead body. 

She does not focus on any other thing other than Lord Shiva. This is another explanation of this Namam. To reach the Divine Mother, the one of the best means will be to pray to Lord Shiva. She is forever truthful to Lord Shiva. This is similar to Rama-Seetha tattvam. On marrying Seetha Devi, Shri Rama’s glories increased multifold. On marrying Shri Rama,  Seetha Devi’s bhakti to Shri Rama exalted. Ravana took away Seetha Devi. As a result Shri Rama’s affection to Seetha Devi was also exalted. Seetha Devi’s jailed periods are the evidence of Her affection to Shri Rama. Similarly, the Divine Mother as a young girl meditated upon Lord Shiva and attained Him. She had no other goal or aim. This explains the Shiva para tattvam.

For the devotees, She shows that the Lord Shiva’s form  which is auspiciousness. KaIi Devi shows a dead man under Her feet to explain this Shiva tattvam. She grants Her devotees to attain Lord Shiva is another explanation of this Namam “Shiva para”. 

Para means elevated ness. She has Lord Shiva as elevated divinity to get married. She is beyond Lord Shiva. Soundarya Lahari verse one by Adi Shankara says, Lord Shiva gets His glories from the Divine Mother. When Shiva joins, “O shakti, He is able to engage in His cosmic tasks; otherwise He cannot even move about on His own without you Shakti.” It is in this sense the Divine Mother transcends Shiva, as in Ardhanarisvara.

    Lord Shiva with the  Divine Mother 

 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 10 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