Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 574: Shri Prajnana ghana rupini (ōṃ prajJṇānaghnarūpiṇyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is pure, concentrated, and condensed Knowledge. 

The Divine Mother is in the form of Supreme Knowledge. The five universal elements Sky, earth, water agni and vayu have the meaning that they can be condensed. When we go deeper inside the earth and sea, the pressure levels increase. The same aspect is applicable to Agni (fire) also. The fire from hay gives lesser heat than solid wood being burned. In Vayu, at lower level, the pressure is high, as we go higher and higher, the pressure is reducing. But the Sky is without changing its attribute. If there is less or more effect of something in Brahman mean, it cannot be full. So, for the universe under the Divine Mother has some balanced levels? 

Our mind when going through happiness or sorrow has a way to treat them in excess. If we have lesser strength in our minds, then such happiness or sorrow are balancing out without any excess. Sun’s light in a mirror has a different effect due to the level of phosphorus content in the mirror. Likewise, the soul with the goal of Brahman will shine very much. Brahman is always balanced but due to Maya one sees higher or lower attribute in the Brahman. Like the Sky is same at all places, Brahman is same always. 

The mind with its limited knowledge through senses or by its own gets an item’s form. This form is limited and is not visible, due to the small level of knowledge; the mind is at an improving stage. Mind through eye looks at a thing, records the size of the thing. This is due to mind ‘s improving knowledge.  This knowledge is temporary, will not give the desired result. However, due to this improving knowledge, it reflects the Knowledge of the Brahman. The Sun’s reflected rays through a mirror can light up a full room. This reflected light is limited also, which is got from the Sun; Sun is a small fraction of the Brahman. Mirror does not have the natural ability to expand or explain things. Only because the mirror can reflect the Sun’s rays, its small capability is known. Likewise, the mind with its limited knowledge can reflect the defects in our understanding of things. It is not the fault of Brahman, which is the condensed Knowledge. This is called Supreme Knowledge. 

The Divine Mother is pure, uniform consciousness, with no difference between inside and outside, with no traces of avidya (ignorance). Prajnanaghana is solid consciousness. As discussed in earlier Namam 426 “Tvam” with the meaning that the Divine Mother is referred to say, by “Thou”, one of the Mahavakyas (great sayings) states, “Consciousness is Brahman”.

 

The Divine Mother is the pure and Condensed Knowledge.

 C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 21 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.

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

4.       The four MahA VAkyAs given by Shri Adi Shankara are:  PragnyAnam Brahma

        Ayam AtmA Brahma

        Tat tvam asi

        Aham BrahmAsmi

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 573: Shri Paranishta (ōṃ parāniṣṭhāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the Supreme End; the supreme abidance (honoring compliance or conformity or observance). 

The Divine Mother is in Supreme action form. When one focuses his efforts in doing a specific thing, it can be called nishta, Whatever the devotee is doing will belong to his deity of worship. Like a magnetic needle pointing to north, always, the devotee’s self and actions are towards his preferred deity. So, his devotion has an end in the deity of his choice, and this is called Paranishta. 

All efforts turn into Jnana action. Since the Jnanam or knowledge analyses the Brahman, this becomes Parajnanam. Brahmam is the root and ultimate; its understanding is got from Sastras also. Such knowledge can get clarified by a yogin. To hear enthusiastically such clarification is called Shivam analysis. To think always about the clarified knowledge is called mind; when this mind is matured it is called Jnana blessings. When such Jana knowledge is constantly happening for a devotee, it is also called Parasnishta. There is nothing more superior to this happening. The devotee becomes part of the Brahman is the interpretation of this Namam. 

The Divine Mother is the ultimate limit for words, thinking and actions. One’s words, thinking and actions on reaching a certain goal, settled without looking for other areas, is called Nishta. The Divine Mother is this ultimate limiting goal for Her devotees, and She is called Paranishta. 

To learn from a Guru, using the knowledge to judge and properly doing all it is needed to finally to understand that soul and Brahman are the same is the ultimate limit of learning and understanding. The Divine Mother is that Ultimate Limit, Paranishta. 

All living and non-living things gain their final rest with the Divine Mother. All movements need a motion-less substratum or foundation. Everything from a blade of grass to plants moves because they have an essence as their support. That support is the Divine Mother. 

Paranishta is the knowledge that is the ultimate end of all desires and actions. The Suta Gita (V50-54) describes this knowledge. One who has attained it is firmly unmovably established in non-dual experience. That ultimate end is Paranistha, the Divine Mother.

                                                      The Divine Mother is the Paranishta

 

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 20 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.

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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 572: Shri Parashakti (ōṃ parāśaktyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the original Supreme Power. She is incomparable to Super Shakti. 

A fruit and its seed have the shakti to generate another tree. In human body manjja, Semen and prana are life attributes having more shakti within them. Whichever takes a viewable form is having a lower level shakti. Whatever takes indirect form, has higher level shakti. Water turns into ice, and then it turns into water and stream in indirect form with higher strength than water. Ice does not have the strength of water. So, in indirect form, the shakti level increases. The Divine Mother is in that indirect form as Supreme Shakti. 

The Ahum of Lord Shiva is the shakti. People call this Adi or the first shakti. This is the shakti that describes Shivam. Using original first Parasahkti, Maya creates the universe. This Parashakti is also called Jada or stationery shakti, Mayashakti. This Parashakti is responsible in many forms and names to run the whole universe. She is in the Ichashakti, Jnana shakti and Kriyashakti forms also. Please refer to later Namam:658 Iccasaktijnanasaktikriyasaktisrupini with the meaning: She is in the form of powers of will, knowledge, and action. 

The Divine Mother is the Supreme Power that transcends and controls everything in this universe. Kamikagama says that the tenth elementary substance (dhatu) in our body is Parashakti. Among the dhatus, skin, blood, flesh, fat, and bone are derived from the Divine Mother, while marrow, semen, breath and vitality are derived from Lord Shiva. The tenth dhatu enhances and maintains the above nine; that is Parashakti. 

Wherever there is energy, there is the presence of the Divine Mother. The wise people see Her as energy in all substances. (Linga Purana). There is a mantra known as Para, which is also called Parashakti. The Divine Mother is in that Mantra form as well.

The Divine Mother is the Parashakti.

 

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 19 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.

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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 571: Shri Maha pralaya sakshini (ōṃ mahāpralayasākṣiṇyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the sole witness to the Great Dissolution or pralaya of the Universe. 

Through creation, the universe came into being and through pralaya, the universe will be coming to an end. This is happening naturally which is not time based. Something is like people dying while sleeping. That is dissolution for the human. When we get up in the morning, it is creation for us, within our own universe. Brahma and devas reach Brahman and get Liberation. Once the Brahma reaches the Brahman, whatever balance life he would have determines the timing for end of the universe and great Dissolution to take place. So, we cannot measure pralaya using our time scale; pralya is due to natural process. When the Great Dissolution happens, the Divine Mother does not perish. She is the sole witness to the Great Dissolution. 

Brahma and his group of people perished. As the Divine Mother stays as the witness the pralaya, She is called the Maha pralaya saksini. 

One becomes a witness when something happens in front of him. He is not taking part in that action and there is no end effect of that action on him. He then becomes the witness to that action. In this universe, creation and sustaining of beings are happening continuously. Destruction of the beings are also happening always. We cannot sense the destruction separately. During Great Dissolution or Maha pralaya, the creation and saving actions are stopped. Brahma and Vishnu reach the Divine Mother and disappear within Her. Rudran and Eswaran are doing the dissolution and hiding actions. Both are versions of Lord Shiva. All universal beings, Brahma, Vishnu and other devas are all reaching the Divine Mother and are hidden within Her. She is only one the witness to all these dissolution actions. 

During sleeping and dreaming, the body at subtle level reaches the other two stages. There is no subtle body feeling there. In deep sleep, all three levels of the body are not felt; only Anantha soul level is realized. The Divine Mother is in such realized form during Maha pralaya. 

Brahma, Vishnu and Indra all perish at the time of the Great Dissolution, meaning they are hidden within the Divine Mother. Only the Divine Mother remains as a sole witness; it is said that Lord Shiva’s “Tandava” dance creates the Great Dissolution. As a result, Brahma, Vishnu, and other devas come to an end; the Divine Mother is the Rudra’s shakti remains to witness the dance (Namam 232; “Maheavara mahakalpa Mahatandava Saksini” with the meaning that the Divine Mother is the witness of the great dance of Maheswara (Shiva) at end of the great cycle of creation). Such stories signify that only the Essence of Brahman is imperishable, and the Divine Mother is his spouse, stays without being destroyed. Saubhagyabhaskara says,” O Devi, you alone remain Victorious bearing the goad, the arrow of flowers and the sugarcane bow, witnessing the tandava dance of the Parabhairava.”

The Divine Mother is the Maha pralaya Saksini.

 

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 18 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.

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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 570: Shri Maitryadi vasana labhya (ōṃ maitryādivāsanālabhyāyai namaḥ)

 The Divine Mother is attained by love and other good dispositions by the devotees. 

We need to have good vasana (merits) to purify our minds; we ought to remove the old evil vasana or thinking in our mindset. Maitri Karuna, Muthiya (Mudita) and Upeksa are four vasanas identified to help to purify our minds. Their details are as follows.

·         To get jealous of some ones’ comfort is a bad mindset. In such cases by being a friend to him, to share his comfort and misfortune is called Maitri (friendship or loving kindness)

·         For the people suffering, showing love and affection as a friend to relieve their pain is Karuna (compassion.)

·         For someone to achieve comfort is due to his earlier birth punya. To appreciate and be happy that his punya is helping him is Mudita (rejoicing.)

·         For suffering people, rather than cursing them for their bad Karma, trying to comfort them is a good vasana called Upeksa (indifference)

 

With these four good vasanas, one will not get Jealous or displeased with others. They help to get right disposition of the mind and to get the devotion to the Divine Mother. We should cultivate friendship of happiness, show compassion towards the miserable, rejoice with virtuous and show indifference to the sinful. These four good vasanas are needed for a devotee. Due to that he purifies himself; for those with good vasanas always, it is a worshipping means towards the Divine Mother, who can be easily attained by love and other good dispositions.

     The Divine Mother is attained by love 

 and good dispositions.

 

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 17 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.

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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 569: Shri Nikhilesvari (ōṃ nikhilēśvaryai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the ruler of all things in this universe. 

She rules all over the universe which She had created. The small kingdom rulers may fight among themselves, but they will obey to rules of the emperor above them. Every galaxy in this universe is maintaining its movement well. There is no conflict among them; those are the schemes of the Divine Mother. Her scheme of things is found in souls, in every planet in total universe with no conflict between them. The Divine Mother controls all of them. 

She has very good ability in controlling and ruling the whole universe. She rules over everything, living and non-living.

               The Divine Mother controls and guides all beings in right way.

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 16 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.

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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 568: Shri Niyantri (ōṃ niyantryai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother controls and guides all beings on the right path. Essentially the Divine Mother controls all universal beings under Her command to follow the right way. 

She conducts all things in this universe in the right way. A human may slip out of good ways for a while; but later he would realize that his approach is not helpful to his. Sometimes in some births, he might have been out of right path. He would turn to correct path later. All people cannot follow evil ways always. Do we see the Sun or Moon changing from their right designated path? So many objects such as stars in the universe follow the correct path due to the Divine Mother’s rulings. She makes the universal things follow their prescribed path. These are all Her glories in keeping all beings in right path. 

An episode in Kena Upanisad states that the all-devouring Agni (Fire) was unable to consume even a blade of grass. Vayu (Air) which uproots everything could not move the blade of grass even the slightest bit. The burning power of the fire and the moving power of the air are nothing but Maya of Brahman. Everything in this universe is under the control of that Maya, the Divine Mother. This wisdom is revealed to Indra by the Divine Mother, Uma.

  The Divine Mother controls and guides all beings in right way.

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 15 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.

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

  

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 567: Shri Bhaktanidhih (ōṃ bhaktanidhayē namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the treasure of Her devotees. 

A devotee, by offering himself, body, materials, and spirit to the Divine Mother, becomes part of the Divine Mother. He then reaches the contentment state. The treasure house of the Divine Mother comes to him. 

Even if the mother is poor, she still will make sure that her children will not live a poor life. In Mother’s love, the child’s contentment is there. If the biological mother’s love and affection are such, then the universal Divine Mother’s devotees get all in their life and they enjoy Brahman or Liberation. 

The Divine Mother fulfills the devotee’s desires with Her blessings. From our savings, if we set aside for future needs, it is called the fund. Similarly, the devotees save their punya through the Divine Mother for their ultimate contentment of Liberation. 

A treasure may fulfill our desires; something that is obtained unexpectedly may also give great pleasure. For a devotee, the Divine Mother’s darshan is the ultimate treasure. Further a treasure is also the one which guard from being lost. The Divine Mother is such a treasure guarded with great care in the hearts of Her devotees.

The Divine Mother is the treasure for Her devotees. 

 C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 14 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.

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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 566: Shri Nitya trpta (ōṃ nityatṛptāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is contented eternally or forever. 

Trpta is satisfied or contented. The Divine Mother’s actions say that She is ever contented. Due to fullness within oneself, an individual gets no new desire in his mind. For all universal beings disappointments and happiness happen constantly and continuously. Usually, short-term happiness leads to long term pain. Pain and sorrow often lead towards the Divine Mother and Brahman. All beings are forms of the Divine Mother; they enjoy the pleasures in this universe, however short it may be. Through the Divine Mother ‘s ever contented nature; they attempt to get the opportunity to seek Liberation. 

Enough, they do not need anything more is contentment. The Divine Mother is total Poorna or full self; She does not have shortage for anything. One cannot get contentment with the things that are destroyable; but the Divine Mother is contented as ever with happiness. Any affection or love without any expectation also gives contentment. With such affection if we worship Her, the Divine Mother gets satisfied very much. 

The Divine Mother is contentment in Herself; such eternal contentment is possible for souls in Liberation or Moksha; if there is no desire, it is the contentment state. So, the Divine Mother is Liberation itself. Vyasa says,” Absence of desire is the ultimate happiness.”; that is Liberation. Nitya trpta is one who constantly resides in contentment state.

The Divine Mother is ever contented  

C N Nachiappun         

Singapore, 13 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.

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