Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 407: Shri Shiva murti (OM shivamUrtyai namaH)

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

Shivam means auspiciousness. Devi is also auspicious. The Divine Mother’s form is same as Lord Shiva Himself. 

In Sahasracakra at behind the head of the humans Shivam and Shakti are in union. Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother are inseparable. Essentially, the Divine Mother has Shiva’s rupa. Shakthi and Shivam are same is the implied meaning of this Namam; like fire and heat are the same. As we say the Divine Mother is Shiva murti, She is having all the auspiciousness of Lord Shiva. Shiva also means Moksha which is higher than auspiciousness. So the Divine Mother is the nature of liberation. 

The Divine Mother is part of Lord Shiva in Ardhanarisvara and auspiciousness is associated with it. Liberation or Moksha is Lord Shiva; the Divine Mother by their unison is liberating Her devotees. 

Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother are not different from each other. Bhaskararaya refers Sruti, “One Rudra is hidden in all beings; He is endowed with Maya; He is with and without parts. He is the Divine Mother; and not different from her; by knowing this, one attains immorality.”

 By being Moksha (Liberation), Shiva in that sense, the Divine Mother is the nature of Liberation. She is also the embodiment of auspiciousness.

    Lord Shiva with the Divine Mother 

 

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 07 March 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.