Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 450: Shri Nandini (ōṃ nandinyai namaḥ )

In Namams 381 to 474, the Divine Mother’s Jnana Yoga worship methods are discussed in details.                                                                                                                                                                                 The Divine Mother is internally blissful and gives out bliss to Her devotees.

 Nandini is said to be the daughter of Kamadenu, which provides all the desired things. Nandini is the sacred cow in sage Vasistha’s asram, providing the sage with materials for sacrifices and the residents with everything they need for themselves and for the service of the guests. Nandini is considered a form of the Divine Mother.

 Nandini is also a name for the scared river Ganga; who is also a giver of bliss/delight, one who washes away sins and provides new energy for the body and soul. Ganga eliminates the sins of the souls; even the waste water that is mixing with Ganga River gets purified. Here again, the Divine Mother is considered a form of Ganga River. The devotees reaching the Divine Mother get their sins removed and are ready to seek the Brahman. Since She helps in all these, She is termed as Nandini.

 Nandagoplan’s daughter was named Visnumaya. She was said to been in Gokulam ; she was also called as Nandini. Further, Raghu is said to be the son of Nandini; Raghu vamsam is referred by Poet Kalidasa.

 Nandini gives internal happiness. For which ever soul/being in this universe is getting happiness, the reason behind is the Divine Mother.

The Divine Mother as Goddess Nandini

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 19 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.

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