Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 801: Shri Pushta (ōṃ puṣṭāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is always full of vigor and nourishes all Her creations well.

Nature, which is growing and glowing is of vigor and nourishment; well grown trees and plants are all full of vigor, Likewise, all active creatures have vigor. Similarly, strong bodied humans have vigor. All living universal beings growing well are due to the glories of the Divine Mother. Whenever mankind sees universal creations with vigor, it ought to see the Divine Mother’s presence in them. Such visualization is a form of worship to the Divine Mother.

Whichever universal being is full in all positive aspects can be considered vigorous. Usually there may be some shortfalls. There are thirty-six tattvas (essences). These tattvas may not be full in all living beings. But in the Divine Mother, we cannot see any shortfalls in thirty-six tattvas, She is the creator of all these tattvas and is full of vigor and nourishment. Those who are happy have vigor within them. Happiness gives fullness. The Divine Mother is in Bramahmanda form, She is Pushta with full vigor and nourishment.

Sincere worship by Her devotees nourishes the Divine Mother. The Smrti concurs with this through the statement, “Brahman is nourished by Brahmanas.” The Smrti also makes it clear that “the long-living Brahman is given the long life by Brahmanas.” Those statements assert that Brahman is well nourished by the knowers of Brahman. This does not mean that the Brahman was once weak and that the sages nourished it. When there are more jnanis, Brahman gets new life and grows, that is what meant by nourishment of Brahman.

The Divine Mother is the one who contains within Her all the thirty-six tattvas (essences) and constantly enjoys the nectar of the Brahman. Hence, She is Pustha, full of vigor and well nourished.

    The Divine Mother is always full of vigor and well nourished.           

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 04 April 2022; updated 21 June 2025.

 

 

References:

1.   The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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