Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 623: Shri Kevala (ōṃ kēvalāyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother is the ‘Absolute’, as She is complete, independent and without any attributes from within. 

The Divine Mother is independent, and She stays as is. Similarly, souls will not mix and stay independent. When we look deeper, three Guna variations and their glories, become available to the soul. When all the graces and glories are hidden, there is no more attachment. This independent state is called Kevala or fourth identified state Turiya. For a devotee to shrink into Kevala state is ideal. Considering the Divine Mother as Kevala and praying to Her, lifts the soul to higher maturity towards the Brahman. 

The Divine Mother stays alone independently. Any material will have a form, colour and action. It is possible to separate these things and learn about them. The one staying alone independently is called Kevalam, as we have seen earlier. The Divine Mother is said to be in avyakta form, (meaning as in the original created level). She is independent and as one spreading all over the universe. She is in a full and complete state. 

The word Kevala has lower meaning and status than spoken now.  The non understandable Brahman is not needed for people with kama thinking; so kevala has a lower rating. Actually, kevala is highly respectable state. Later in Namam 925;” Kaulini kevala”, with meaning: that the Divine Mother is worshipped as Pure Knowledge (Consciousness). 

Kevala is one who is not touched by changes arising from Her own kind, from others or from within. She is in the form of absolute knowledge, which is the knowledge of the Brahman.

The Divine Mother is called Kevala, the absolute and complete.

 

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 09 October 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