Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 653: Shri Yogini (ōṃ yōginyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is constantly united with Supreme Shiva (Para Shiva); She possesses the power of Yoga. 

She is called Yogini. To mature, the soul uses Yoga Shastra to learn the proper thinking process. Through such Shastra, he learns to teach his knowledge to others. He understands the universal structure, creatures etc. from such shastra learning. He matures to a higher level through such learning. The Divine Mother is the form of Yoga Shastra, who is spreading all through universe. She is an example or reference point for people learning Yoga shastra. The soul must go through the eight stages (Yama, niyama, asana, pranayama, pratyahara, dharana, dhyana, samadhi) to achieve maturity; At every stage the Divine Mother is present and by praying to Her, the soul or the human achieves maturity. 

Dharma, Artha, Kama and moksha are four rewards each devotee needs. If he can get these four items well, that is the Yogam for him in this current life. If he gets wealth and happiness only, it is called bogam. Finally, what lets the Jiva (soul) to merge with Brahman is called Yogam. The Divine Mother being the Yogini, guides the devotee who prays to Her, to merge with Brahman. 

Yogam is merging ultimately with Brahman. The mind, due to desire, through sensing organ eye, looks at outside things to become part of it. Yogam stops the actions through sensing organs to give determination to reach the Brahman. It is not enough to separate from the earlier associations with humanly pleasures but to lead to merge with Brahman is the action of the Yogam. 

The mind always seeks something outside through sensing devices. Yogam helps to stop such external actions to turn the mind to look inward to reach the Brahman. This can be achieved only by mature souls. Lord Krishna in Gita (2.50) talks about “yoga as a skill in action” Yoga is an art, there is beauty in doing it, with perfection. If properly done, yoga is making all opposing forces to bring to agreement with clear determination without looking for any specific reward and not being upset about win or lose, having the experience alone as satisfaction with balanced mindset. 

Association with outside things causes sorrow; what is perceived as happiness initially, later turns into sorrow. Even if it is happiness, it cannot be fully felt, and which can be lost. So, to ultimately merge with Brahman is the act of yoga. The Divine Mother is such form, and She is called Yogini. 

“Yoga can be said to be the restraint of mental activity” as mentioned in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (1.2). Yoga is stopping the activities of the mind and making it abide in Pure Consciousness. Yoga is oneness of the Jiva (soul) and Brahman. The Divine Mother is constantly in union with Lord Shiva.
The Gita says, “Equanimity is yoga”, (II.48) and “know that yoga is freedom from attachment to pain.” (IV.23). Another verse in Gita (II.50) teaches, “yoga is skill in action.” Skill exists in performing actions, but not taking pride in that act, performing fruitful actions, but having no concern for the fruit. The Divine Mother is Yoga shakti. 

Mantra shastra describes seven yoginis starting with Dakini (Please refer to Namas 475 to 534) There are countless yogis as indicated by the mantra “Mahacatuhsahsti-koti yogini gana sevita (Namam 237). The Divine Mother is the greatest Yogini of them all and their Isvari. The eight planetary deities Mangala to Sankata are also called yoginis.

The Divine Mother is united with Lord Shiva constantly.

 C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 08 November 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.