Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 491: Shri Kala ratryadi saktyaughavrta (ōṃ kālarātryādiśaktyaughvṛtāyai namaḥ)

In Namams 475 to 534 represents the Divine Mother’s Yogini forms. 

The Divine Mother as Rakini Devi is residing in the Anahata chakra in twelve-petaled lotus is surrounded by Kalaratri and other eleven shaktis. The heart chakra (Anahata) has twelve-petals as we have mentioned earlier and there are twelve shaktis in each petal. In the pericarp in the centre is two faced Rakini Devi seated. 

The twelve Shaktis surrounding the Rakini Devi are: 

KAlarAtri, KaNDitA, GAyatri, KaNDAkArshiNi, GnArNA, ChanDA, ChAyA, JayA, JhankAriNi, JnAnaroopA, TankahastA and TankAriNi. 

There are twelve petals representing twelve, K to L syllables. The first Kalaratri Devi is important. For a human before dying, in his last night is called kalaratri. For those who worship Kalaratri Devi, the life and death become same. So, they overcome death. Even a minute is not wasted for him worrying about death. 

Kalaratri is Lord Shiva, Rudra’s shakti with tamo guna. She has the Samhara shakti. Last night prior to death, the dream will be coming to indicate to the devotees that their life is ending soon, as the saying goes.

Rakini Devi is surrounded by Kalaratri and eleven other shaktis.

 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 30 May 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.