Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 260: Shri Supta (OM suptAyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother is in the deep sleep state or assumes the form of soul experiencing deep sleep. 

Supta (सुप्त) means "reclined”. 

The common sense or consciousness is not working in deep sleep state. “I slept comfortably. I did not know anything” is the experience of the soul in this state. Comfort and ignorance are causing such experiences in deep sleep. The souls realize “I”. 

Only the subtlest body condition is active in deep sleep. All universal creatures experience Sushuti or deep sleep due to Maya. The Divine Mother lives in all universal creatures in this form. 

There is no discrimination in deep sleep state. The only memory of “I know nothing” remains. Three forms of avidya are present namely, ignorance, selfishness and love of pleasure or comfort. Ignorance creates ‘I know nothing”. Selfishness creates the experience “I fell asleep”. The experience “I slept comfortably” is due to the attachment pleasure. All these are creations of Maya. The body is in casual form in deep sleep. 

The Divine Mother’s grace is there for such deep sleeping experiences by the souls. She is Supta. 

 

The Divine Mother as Goddess Mahagauri  ready to bless.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 10 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.