Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 671: Shri Vrddha (ōṃ vṛddhāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is ancient. She is the First Cause being present even before universal creation. 

One explanation is that She is advanced in age (vayovrddha). Eternally, She is the First Cause of this universe and its creation; Her age cannot be established except to say that She is ancient. All souls staring from Brahman (the Divine Mother) start at the lowest maturity level. Their forms’ beauty and youth are not assured forever.  

She is in the Supreme state of maturity. When someone reaches matured age, it is called vrddha. Vrddhi is growth. The Divine Mother has got that, and She is called Vrddha. But that is not totally weakened old age. Since She is there earlier than everything else in this universe, there is nobody older than Her. She is also called affectionately called Annada and Vasuda by Her devotees and She is the creator and protector of all universal beings and non beings. 

Vrddha means, literally, as “advanced or augmented”. This may be in four different aspects: one may be advanced in wisdom (jnanavrddha); advanced in righteousness (dharma vrddha); advanced in age (vayovrddha); and advanced in wealth (dhana vrddha). All four descriptions befit the Divine Mother.

  The Divine Mother is ancient.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 26 November 2021 /Updated 07 September 2024.

 

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