Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 256: Shri Vishva rupA (OM vishvarUpAyai namaH)

In Namams 249 to 274, the Divine Mother’s  Five functions and Her Five Isvara forms are described. 

The Divine Mother has the whole universe as Her form or Herself. 

Vishva can mean in three ways, namely,

1.       The whole universe,

2.       The moon’s growing phase fourth night time and waning phase fifth day time effects,

3.       During the universal creation process the form taken by the new gross body (for the soul). 

The whole universe where the Divine Mother is pervading fully is known as vishva. From the Divine Mother, together with Lord Shiva, the whole universe is manifested. There is no difference between the Divine Mother and Lord Shiva. Brahman taking an ordinary soul state is considered a disastrous condition. Dog form is one of the lowest levels. The Divine Mother even can take a dog form and get out of that. She holds all the souls in the universe within Her. So She is Vishva rupa. 

All fifteen nights in Moon’s growing and waning phases have a separate Goddess with special names assigned to them individually for each day or night. During Moon’s growing phase the fourth night time Goddesss and again during Moon’s waning phase fifth day time Goddess name is Vishva rupa. Candra mandala and the Divine Mother’s 15 syllables Panchakshari mantra (Ka E I La Hrim, Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hrim, Sa Ka La Hrim (Shrim) are the same. The Moon’s growing phase fourth night and waning phase fifth day Goddess Vishvarupa is equal to Pancadasaksari mantra Kamarajakuda fourth syllable “La”. So the Divine Mother is Vishvarupa. 

In the Devi Bhagavata, the Divine Mother says: “I am the universe myself; there is nothing different from me”. This and several following Namams describe the state of the soul and Brahman. 

During creation of the universe:

·         Tamas or darkness is manifested.

·         Later mahat (the great one), and five universal elements water, fire, earth. Metal, wood and ahankara arise.

·         Five energies of Knowledge (Jnganasakti) and five energies of action (Kriyasakti) arise

·         From the energies of knowledge collectively the antahkarana (inner instruments which manifests in four forms of manas, buddhi, ahankara and citta) arise; from each individually the five sensing organs.

·         Similarly from five energies of action, collectively the prana (vital air) arise; and from each of these five organs of action (karmendriya).

·         From the five subtle elements arise five gross elements.

·         In waking state, the soul acts equipped with the five organs of knowledge, the five organs of action, antahkara, the five pranas (vital air) and the gross body. The soul who takes pride (abhimana) in the gross body is known as vishva.

·         As the Divine Mother is the originator and creator of this whole universe to the gross body level is also known as Vishva. 

The Divine Mother is the Vishva rupa.

 

The Lord Krishna showing His Visvarupa Darshan to Arjuna in Mahabrata battle field. (Gita Chapter 11)

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 05 October 2020.

 

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.