Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 556: Shri Katyayani (ōṃ kātyāyanyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is Katyayani, the daughter of Kata Sage. 

Katyayani has the power from all deities put together. In praying to Katyayani all prayers to the Divine Mother and other deities are all included and answered. 

Sri Chakram, representing universe, has four peetams namely: Odyanam, Kamarupam, Poornagiri and Jalandaram. In each peetam, the Divine Mother is represented by a deity. Katyayani is in Odyana peetam.

All devathas’ shakti are within Katyayani Devi. Gopis in Dhanur (Markazhi) month prayed to Katyayani Devi. As a result, Katyayni participated in Lord Krishna’s actions also, as said in Bhagavatham. The common name Kathayi is from the original name Kathayani. 

Vamana Purana says, “The brightness which is the best and greatest became known in the world as Katyayani. Under that name, She, shines and is celebrated all over the world.” Guru Bhaskararaya also points out that Katyayani is the presiding deity in temple of Odyana.

The  Katyayani Devi representing the Divine Mother occupies

        one of the peetams named Odyana in Sricakaram.

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 03 August 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.

The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar