Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 309: Shri Ranjani (OM ra ~ njanyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother delights the minds of Her devotees; Ranjakam means bringing happiness and satisfaction to people. 

The Divine Mother creates happiness; when the devotees realize Her presence, they get immense in joy. A sense of unity between Her devotees’ hearts is created by the Divine Mother. With the devotion to Her in front, all senses of social status and positions vanish; only devotion can merge hearts together in this manner.  

Words or objects sticking to the mind giving satisfaction is called Ranjakam when we are satisfied on hearing a song, it is Ranjani also; the Divine Mother gets into the devotee’s heart to give happiness to him. 

Namam six states that, “Udyadbhaanu  sahasraabhaa” with the meaning that the Divine Mother has the radiance of a thousand rising suns. 

Ranjani means dyeing or colouring; Bhaskararaya says that the Divine Mother is Ranjani; She colours pure Paramashvara with Her presence just as a red hibiscus flower colour in a clear crystal colour of Lord Shiva, which is faultless. Only due to Her presence, Lord Shiva  becoming active. 

In Soundarya Lahari verse ninety-two, Adi Shankara explains this unison beautifully. 

Gataaste manchatvam druhina-Hari-Rudreshavara bhrutah, Sivah svaccha cchaaya ghatita kapata pracchadapatah; Tvadhiyaanaam bhaasaam pratiphalana raagaarunatayaa Shareeree shringaaro rasa iva drisham dogdhi kuthukam/ 

 With the meaning: Trimurtis Brahma-Vishnu-Rudra and Ishana have constituted your cot while Sadashiva is like your comfortable bed sheet thus converting your ragaaruna shareera‘ is reflecting on Parameshvara‘s white body thus leading to mutual shringaara rasa! The synthesis of Aadhaara-Svadhishthana, Manipoora, Anahata, Vishuddha and Agjnaa of Shadchakraas reaches the baindava sthaana‘ the union point of Parama Shiva and Prakriti!’. 

In earlier Namam fifty-two: “Siva kamesavarankastha” with the meaning that the Divine Mother sits in the lap of Lord Shiva, who is the conqueror of desire. Lord Shiva is originally colourless and due to this, there is change in Shiva’s colour to reddish same as the Divine Mother. The poets and sages have a habit of describing the female beauty as red. 

Namam 249 "Pafica pretasanasina" says that the Divine Mother's seat is formed by five deities, namely Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Isvara and Sadashiva. 

 

The Divine Mother red in colour seated

over Lord Shiva

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 29 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