Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 371: Shri Vaikhari rupa (OM vaikharIrUpAyai namaH)

In Namams 366 to380, the Divine Mother’s sound rupas are discussed in details.

The Divine Mother is in Vaikhari audible sound form. 

The word which can reach the ears and be clearly heard is called Vaikhari. Light has many stages; likewise the sound creation has many levels. Some may not be recognized through ears; some are heard clearly through ears such as Vaikhari. The Divine Mother is in Vaikhari form. 

The Divine Mother is in sound form audible to ears. From Madhyama, the nadabrahman travels through throat, tongue and teeth by hitting at them along the way before coming out through the mouth. At this stage, it is audible to ears. 

Hardened bija sound coming out through narrow path and reaching the word state is Vaikhari. Like a seed growing under the earth and coming out as a plant, Vaikhari comes out as an audible sound. What we want to say first starts from Muladhara as Para and then to Pashyanti  and  reach Madhyama and last comes as Vaikhari form to be audible. There are six Namams from Para to Vaikhari explain this flow of sound in human system before becoming audible. 

Fully manifested and audible sound is referred as Vaikhari. Vai means certainly. Kha is the cavity of the ear and ra means to enter. So Vaikhari is the audible sound that enters the ears. There is a practice to utter the taraka mantra in the ear at the time of death of a person. This is to help the embodied soul to have upwards movement. This Namam Vaikhari reflects this practice to help the souls. 

In Yogasastra, there is a mentioning of prana (vital air) known as Vaikhara. This prana helps the yogins to attain the Divine Mother.

 

Goddess Madurai Meenakshi in India.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 30 January 2021.

 

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 Chithbavandar