Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 602: Shri Dara hasojjvalan mukhi (ōṃ darahāsōjjvalanmukhyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother’s face is radiant with Her smile. 

With Her smile, She adds radiance and beauty to Her face. A simple smile without opening one’s mouth beautifies the face. All feelings can be expressed with a simple smile. A smile can convey many messages and meanings. Above all, this Divine Mother’s simple smile is causing Her face to be radiant.  She is telling the devotees as to how to keep smiling is the explanation of this Namam. 

Dara means small.  By opening Her lips, a bit and smiling enhances the beauty of the face.  Mandahasam is a simple smile. Attahasam is loud laughter. 

Dara is taken to mean “producing fear.” As She stands roaring like a lioness, ready to kill Daruka, Her laughter is terrifying. The same mantra thus describes both Divine Mother’s aspects; one adept in giving blessings and two, in intention on the destruction of the wicked or evil people.

The Divine Mother’s face is radiant with a smile.

C N Nachiappun        

Singapore, 18 September 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