Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 393: Shri Prabhavati (OM prabhAvatyai namaH)

In Namams 381 to 474, the Divine Mother’s Jnana Yoga worship methods are discussed in details. 

The Divine Mother is effulgent (radiant, shining brightly) She is emanating joy and goodness. 

Praba means light; also it means that one who is very capable /talented. 

The Divine Mother is surrounded by eight Siddhi Devis or bright rays. We can see the Sun, but we cannot separate those rays from the Sun. Likewise, from the brightest the Divine Mother, the rays originate as Her assisting ornamental Devis. These Devis are countless. The Divine Mother holds all of them within Her; whose glory cannot be described in words. 

The Divine Mother is endowed with eight Aisvaryas and Siddhis which are luminous. In one of the meditation verses invoking the Divine Mother, (“Animadibhiravrtam mayookaihi”), this is made clear. “I imagine the great Goddess the Divine Mother, who is surrounded by the golden rays of Anima and other seven Siddhis”. 

The Divine Mother assured eight Aisvaryas and Siddhis that she will also provide to them, divine miraculous powers, which will also help them, carry out their duties. Saying this, she bestowed to them eight supernatural powers, in which they were named Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva and Vashitva. 

Adi Shakara in Soundarya Lahari (Verse 30) says “You are served by the golden luminaries, the eight Siddhi deities, that emerge from Your own body. Any devotee who worships this form of Yours with the conviction that “Thou are my own Self” attains such endowments as to make even those of Lord Shiva like a speck of dust. And the great fire of the Pralaya (dissolution) becomes a flame of worship for him (nirajana)”.

The Divine Mother emanating bright rays.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 21 February 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