Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 540 Shri Smrti (ōṃ smṛtyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother is the form of Smrtih; Smrtihs are works based on the meaning of Sruti (Vedas). 

The Divine Mother is in memory form. Those who learn Vedas ought to keep the Vedas in their memory also. If one forgets immediately, then what he had learned is like writing on the water. The Divine mother does not allow the learnt Vedic knowledge to be forgotten or destroyed. She is of the kind to learn and keep the same in memory. Since these two attributes are interlinked, the worldly knowledge is kept alive always. The human remembers that their soul to live current life well. 

Life related regulations are in Vedas, so it is called Smrti. What is applicable in one period may not be applicable in another period. So, Smrti changes with the people depending up on the nature of period they live in. But Sruti does not change with time which is eternal. When Smrti differs from Sruti for any reason, we cannot accept Smrti, meaning Sruti is considered authoritative. The Divine Mother is in Smrti form also. 

From Vedas, the Rishis have written in Smrti, the dharma and adhrama ways. Writings are based on understanding of the Vedas is called Smrti.

Mind is the one which processes the Knowledge. What has been heard is retained in the memory. The Divine Mother is in that form also. What has happened is used to decide on things that will happen in the future; this guessing or predicting ability is form of Smrti, a form also taken by the Divine Mother. 

There are many such works as Smrti such as Manu Smrti, Barhaspatya Smrti and Yajnavalkya Smrti. 

Smrti is also being the memory was mentioned earlier. Since the Divine Mother is the one who awakens and illumines memory, She is referred as Smrti in this Namam. 

Devi Purana says that the Divine Mother is Smrti, since She is the one who remembers Past, Present and Future.

              The Vedas  interpreted as Smrti is also a form of  the Divine Mother.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 18 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