Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 445: Shri Matih (ōṃ matyai namaḥ)

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

The seven Namams from 442 describes the Divine Mother’s Character. 

The Divine Mother manifests as Intelligence. 

The Divine Mother is in intelligence form. To grow one’s intelligence ought to be his life’s goal. The Divine Mother is jnana shakti and Brahman forms. Jnana Sakthi and Brahman are one and the same, so Jnana Sakthi/Brahman is the unison of Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother. The intelligence helps in enjoyment and happiness. The Brahman grants the Liberation from death and birth cycle. Excessive pleasures will destroy the devotees; to understand that the devotees need intelligence. The one who enjoys pleasures within limits usually has good intelligence. The ones who completely avoid the pleasures are attaining higher level of intelligence or wisdom. The ultimate intelligent the Divine Mother provides good intelligence to Her devotees. 

To understand one Self, to gain knowledge is to realize that bodily pleasures enjoyed are all due to the Divine Mother’s intelligence form and grace to the devotee.  Respecting the good, Vedas, auspiciousness, Gods and elders are all due to one’s wisdom and knowledge. The Divine Mother is in such an intelligent form. 

The Divine Mother’s worldly intelligence manifests through Her actions; Spiritual intelligence is the instrument for Self-Realization. Both types of intelligence are the forms of the Divine Mother. 

Matih also means “measurement”. In using this meaning, we see the Divine Mother as the measuring rod for the Vedas. We like Her best who knows (measure) the Vedas, who gives out auspiciousness, who gives out the bliss, who is supreme, who is worshipped by Mahavishnu and others; She is known as Mati (intelligence) derived from expressions as stated in Suta Samlita.

 

The Sarasvti Devi, the provider of intelligence

represents the Divine Mother 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 14 April 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.

The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Chithbavandar