Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 538 Shri Medha (ōṃ mēdhāyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother is the form of wisdom (knowledge). 

The Divine Mother has the superior knowledge or wisdom. The Physics research on nature agrees with Hindu Vedic stated facts. Jada or static level beings graduate upwards in their activities. In Vedandas, the Divine Mother is said to grow from Jada state to active state. 

Parvatham or Himalaya is immoveable static mountain. The Divine Mother, Parvathi Devi is the daughter of the Parvatharajan (King of Himalayas); such static Parvathi Devi (the Divine Mother) graduates to have superior knowledge. From circumstances and troubles, with their efforts all universal beings grow into active souls, reaching the human form at the end. 

The knowledgeable human can control the five basic elements such as Akasa, Vayu, Fire, Water and Earth.  How humans control the elements to be useful is called the science of Physics. The lesser knowledgeable beings do not enjoy all the pleasures the humans enjoy; likewise, the lesser knowledgeable beings do not go through the troubles humans go through. This knowledge of universe is called aparavidya. Nature gives the humans both good and bad, victory and defeat; birth and death which are duality in action as a result the humans suffer all the troubles in their life. 

Medha is superior knowledge or wisdom or Brahmavidya. Those who learn the Brahmavidya get relief from worldly troubles, reaching the Divine Mother and Brahmam or Medha state. From these states, the Divine Mother is helping and grooming the beings to higher plane; She has the names Amati (ignorance) and Medha (wisdom). The interpretation of this Namam is that the souls start out with no or less knowledge and grow into wisdom level human forms. 

If we learn something now and in due course, our learning of it may be reduced. We will have to struggle to bring back the learnt items to our minds. Ever green and to remember that instantly, we need the Medha; the wisdom clear knowledge level is Medha. The Divine mother is in that Medha form. 

In earlier Namam Amati, the Mahat is referred as the knowledge and mind tattva; the Divine Mother gets the form of Medha, the superior knowledge. Medha Devi has a temple in Kashmir in Himalayas, (as mentioned in Padma Purana). 

The Divine Mother started as second level of creation, accompanied by intelligence. Sarasvati Devi is the deity of Intelligence. The interpretation of this mantra is that “She, who is the form of Sarasvati”. Devi Mahatmya praises Her as” the Devi who resides in all beings in the form of Medha (intelligence).”

The Sarsvati Devi, representing the Divine Mother is giving

all  Knowledges and forms of arts to humans.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 16 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