Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 606: Shri Guha janma bhuhu (ōṃ guhajanmabhuve namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother is the mother of Guha (Lord Subramanya). 

Guha means Subramanya; also, it means covered or veiled; janmabhu means birthplace. 

Lord Shiva’s and Goddess Parvathi’s second son is Kartikeya or Guha. As he is said to live in the cave of the heart, he is called Guha. The Upanishads and the Bhagavat Gita say that Eshvar, Lord Shiva, resides in the cave within the heart of each being. Due to ignorance, we may not realize Lord Shiva who is residing within us. By worshipping Guha, our ignorance will be eliminated. Guha had been the Guru to Lord Shiva, demonstrating that such greatness can be achieved by the devotees. The devotees who worship Lord Guha can unify with Brahman. With the Divine Mother’s grace, the devotees can attain the Guha rupa can be one understanding of this Namam “Guha janmabhuh”. 

There is a statement, “The essence of dharma is hidden in Guha”; which may be interpreted as “The essence of dharma is veiled.” It is also said, “Truth remains behind darkness.” 

The jivas (souls) who are bound by ignorance are indicated by the word “Guha” in the sense given above. The Divine Mother is the mother of Guha. All creation after all, comes from that Mother, just as sparks scatter from the fire. Therefore, She, is called “Guhajanmabhuh”.

Guha (Lord Muruga) the second son of the Divine Mother.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 22 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