Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 331 Shri Varada (OM varadAyai 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 boons generously to Her devotees. 

Humans have needs and therefore, they seek four types of varas or boons, namely: dharma, artha, kama and moksa. 

If we get what we desire, it is called the varam granted. The humans in their immature state seek materialistic needs such as long life, health and children. Devotion and eagerness to reach the Brahman are the desires sought by higher level beings. 

The Divine Mother grants all Her devotees’ desires and much more as per their levels. Even earning through illegal means and suddenly achieving higher social status in life are also boons granted by the Divine Mother. Those who do not know how best to use such impulsive gains, spoil themselves. 

The Divine Mother can and will remove the varam granted due to one’s misuse of such boons. Such granting of boon is but Her grace on Her devotees. Kali Devi grants best boon to Her devotees to worship the Divine Mother to reach the Brahman. 

Seeking a Varam from the Divine Mother is the best form of desire. Other divinities promote the idea of granting boon to their devotees by showing their hand. In Soundarya Lahari verse 4, the Adi Sankara says, “O Devi, while other divinities use their hands to protect their devotees, you alone do not put this act; after all, just your feet are capable of protecting the fear and granting more than we had wished for."

The Divine Mother holds in Her four hands weapons to control one’s mind; so Her eyes and toes take the role to grant the boon. 

Related Namam 639, “Avarada” with the meaning that the Divine Mother destroys the unholy will be discussed later. 

Vara means exaltation or highest; She gives all that is best to Her devotees; even the highest boon, which is the liberation from life and birth cycle. 

In Saubhagyabhaskara, Bhaskararaya quoting Devi Bhagavata, and explains that from the root vr (the chosen) the word varada is derived with the meaning that “the giver of what is chosen”. Since the Divine Mother fulfills all the desires of the devas who seek boons from Her, She is praised and celebrated as varada, the one who bestows what is a chosen or asked for. 

In fact, the Divine Mother grants much more than what is asked for depending on the specific needs of the devotees. 

The Divine Mother worship on Navami (the ninth) day of the lunar half-month is especially beneficial. The other days worshipping Her is as good, but the prayers to Her on Navami day is very fruitful for the devotee. “The Divine Mother is always said to be worshipped with concentration on Navami; She will certainly grant boons on the worlds.” 

The Divine Mother grants boons to all universal creatures without any discrimination. So She is Varada.

Rudram Namakam Chamakam is one yagam done in honour of Lord Shiva, where the devotee asks for all his life desired things, about 340 items.

 

The Divine Mother granting the boon to Her devotees. 

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 21 December 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