Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 493: Shri Maha Virendra varada (ōṃ mahāvīrēndravaradāyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother as Rakini Devi is residing in the Anahata cakra in twelve-petaled lotus bestows boons on great warriors. 

Rakini Devi grants the boons to Maha Virendras. A strong human using his skills to establish dharma and destroy adharma is called a warrior. Whenever possible, he ought to seriously work to establish dharma and destroy the adhrama seriously. The worldly people in approval of his good deed will follow his actions and take him as their leader; he becomes Mahavira; he gets indirect help from the Divine Mother for his activities, which is the boon for him from the Divine Mother. Likewise, the Divine Mother grants such boons to Her devotees also. 

Era means words spoken. Viera is multiform of speech. Mahaviras are good speakers and great warriors. Indra is their leader.  The Divine Mother provides for all their desires whoever praises Her glories. She also grants boons. 

Mahaviram is the cup containing the soma drink.  Those who hold such cups in their hands are Mahaviras. So,during rites, when these warriors hold such Mahavira cup, the Divine Mother grants boons to them. 

Mahavira Prahalathan and Devendran got their boon from the Divine Mother. In Devi Bhagavatham, it is mentioned that both Prahalathan and Devendran fought for hundreds of years, the Divine Mother appeared and mediated them and gave them their desired boons. 

Indra knows Brahman directly. “He perceived; hence he is known as Indra.” According to the sruti Maha Virendras are those who are continuously enjoying the nectar from Brahman. 

Mahavira is also a vessel in which offering to Gods are placed during a sacrificial ceremony. Indra and other Gods partake of these offerings. 

The Divine Mother, here as Rakini Devi, grants boons to Mahaviras, Indra and others. It is mentioned in Devi Bhagavata that Indra did penance and pleased the Divine Mother to get such boons from Her. 

The great yogis who have reached the fourth state of turiya are also called Mahaviras. They are the great warriors who have fought and vanquished the mighty foes of desire, anger, and greed. The Divine Mother as Rakini Devi is the one who grants boons to these warriors. 

Why do such yogins, who have reached turiya, need boons? they too have a state known as Vyuddhanadasa in which they provide leadership in worldly affairs. They will acquire this strength from the boons given to them by Rakini Devi.

The Divine Mother granting boons to Mahaviras.

 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 01 June 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.