Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 535 Shri Svaha (ōṃ svāhāyai namaḥ)

From this Namam onwards the Divine mother’s key attributes and forms will be discussed. 

The Divine Mother is the object of invocation “Svaha” at the end of mantras chanted during offerings, oblations to the fire in Yoga ceremonies. 

The Divine Mother is in the form of “Svaha” mantra. The shakti in Agni (fire) is Svaha. Similarly, the Lord Muruga who emerged from Agni is also called Svaha. When the items, like ghee are offered to Homa fire, the word Svaha is recited. Ghee is the best food for the humans; when that ghee is offered to Homa fire, it gains miraculous strength. Svaha gains all the importance in Homa fire offerings. 

When offering the items in Homa fire with all the meanings and sincerity, Svaha is recited. (Like Svaha, other names such as Svadha are also used in Homa fire offerings with different focus such as offering to our forefathers). Agnaye svaha is for offering to the Agni deity. Svaha word is used to call the Devas to come and accept our offering in homa fire. The word is with full of meaning to get the offered items to reach the correct set of divinities and people. The Divine Mother takes such mantra forms. 

Svaha means “that which is useful in invoking the chosen deity.” Svaha is the wife of Lord Shiva in His manifestation Agni (fire). The Linga Purana says,” Shava is the essence of fire and one who invokes that name is dear to Lord Shiva.” Traditionally “Om” is chanted at the beginning and “Svaha” at the end as mantras when making offering in Homa fire. 

Also, Svaha (sva + aha) means one’s own speech. The famine form of this, Svaha, is the present mantra. The word of the worshipper and the word of the Divine Mother become one. Or Svaha (Su +aha) is good uttering, good words and words of wisdom. 

The Great Bhaskararaya interpreted this name also as “She who knows Herself well”. That is the knowledge of Brahman. The Divine Mother is the one who possesses that knowledge of Brahman and one who confers that knowledge to Her devotees.

The Agni Homa fire where the mantra “Svaha” is recited .

 C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 13 July 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 Sithbavandar