Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 452: Shri Tejovati (ōṃ tējōvatyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother is always effulgent; radiant and shining brightly. 

The Namam Tejovati means that the Divine Mother is none other than the Brahman. 

The Divine Mother Herself is effulgent and is supporting all things that are radiant or effulgent. This is clearly mentioned in Kata Upanisad (11...ii.15); “The Sun does not shine there, nor do the moon and the stars, nor does the lightening shine and much less the fire. When He shines everything shines after Him; by His light all these shine.” 

Tejas means prowess. The Divine Mother has the prowess arising from the eight attributes of excellence. Tejas also can mean light, the power to control others, power to oppose the enemies, to face the disgraces created by others as well, strength like fire having heat. The Divine Mother is supporting Sun and Moon in their shinning. 

For the devotees who are matured, the divinity and effulgence is evident; depending upon their way of life such effulgence increases. For those with lower level of actions, such effulgence decreases. The devotee is responsible to increase his effulgence, with good conducts and attributes; it is great to improve one’s effulgence. Even for those whose body effluence is not there initially, tejas can improve them all due to the Divine Mother’s grace.

The effulgent or radiant Divine Mother

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 21 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.