Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 453: Shri Trinayana (ōṃ trinayanāyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother has the Sun, Moon and Fire as Her three eyes. 

Nayana means the one who leads.  Trinayana means that the Divine Mother uses three ways to lead the devotees to Brahman. She is the one who leads to real knowledge through the three (tri) pathways. These three pathways, according to the Manusmriti are: perception, inference and word (scriptures). Alternatively, She is the one who leads us to the Truth, the Brahman through three paths of hearing, contemption and deep mediation. The three paths may be also being those of north, south and the path of Brahman. She leads the souls through these paths according to what each soul deserves; hence She is Trinayana. 

The three pathways result from the divine grace from the Divine Mother. When the devotee understands his relationship with the Divine Mother and Her graces, his doubts get cleared. He joins the risis list. 

Listening, thinking and clarifying are the three attributes which the Divine Mother considers for the devotees to reach the Brahman. Listening to the divine materials is the first step. Thinking about those divine materials is the second step and understanding about them is the third and final step. These three steps help the devotee to reach the Brahman. The Divine Mother helps the devotee in all these actions. 

The Divine Mother as we mentioned earlier has three eyes similar to Lord Shiva. Sun, Moon and Fire are the three which help in eye sight for souls. Of these Moon and Fire can disappear; they supposedly represent the distorted or spoiled eyes, which can be used to see sometimes and unable to sight other times. Self-lighted Sun does not disappear from its position, although we see day and night due to earth’s movement. So the Sun represents the Jnana eye for the souls. These three are also eyes to Lord Shiva as we have stated earlier and to the Divine Mother due to their unison. 

Those who follow the veda specified principles will surely reach the Brahman. The devotee has to use his knowledge and wisdom properly on his own also to reach the Brahman. Those who cannot use their wisdom well, have to wait longer to reach the Brahman. 

The Divine Mother is the mantra rupa or form of tri-nayana, leading us through listening, thinking and understanding the Brahman. She has three means for the devotees to reach her or Brahman. She is leading the devotees for attaining the Brahman.

The Divine Mother as Trinayana 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 22 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.