Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 291: Shri Purushartha prada (OM puruShArthapradAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed. 

The Divine Mother grants the four-fold objects in humans. The four objects are namely: Dharma (morality), Artha (wealth), Kama (desire) and Moksa (liberation). 

The embodied soul’s movements upwards or downwards are based on its karma. Dharma way should be used by the humans to earn their living; dharma way will give him enough wealth for his life needs. Happiness can only be enjoyed based on his dharma. Moksa is liberation from Samsara Sagara. After going through many births and having sensory enjoyments, the souls seek the Brahman. This is where the Divine Mother’s grace to the devotee comes in. So for the benefit of mankind, the Divine Mother grants four objects in their life. 

The Purusha is the one who understands the things he wants and seeks them with determination. Basically the Purusha seeks the four objects where the Divine Mother’s help comes in. The Divine Mother is happy to give the four objects to the person who follows the teachings of Vedas and Tattvas to reach Her. In other words, the Divine Mother gives these four objects to a person who controls his mind, thinking, sensory organs and body. 

According to Brahamanda  Purana, “Those who worship the Supreme Sakti, whether  or not following the rules, are not in Samsara Sagara; they are liberated souls, no doubt.” Worshipping the Divine Mother’s feet means the liberation from Samsara Sagara for prosperity and for peace in this worldly life. Dharma way of life for the humans gives the Artha or enough wealth for ones lively needs; this will lead to meeting his desires in life. Only on attaining these three things, can the embodied soul inside the human bodies seek Moksa to get liberated from Samsara cycle. 

This Namam can be interpreted as follows also: Purusha is Shiva; Artha is wealth. The Divine Mother is the one giving this wealth to Lord Shiva also, to be passed on to His devotees. Further Sage Adi Shankara says in Soundarya Lahari in very first verse that Shiva only is able to move because of his association with Sakti. “When Shiva joins You, O Sakti, He is able to engage in His cosmic tasks; otherwise He cannot even move about”. In this way, the Divine Mother is liberating Lord Shiva also from a lifeless state.

 

The RajaRajeswari

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 11 November 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.