Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 411: Shri Shisteshta (ōṃ śiṣṭēṣṭāyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother is affectionate (like the mother's affection towards her children) to the righteous people; She is the chosen deity of the devotees. She is also affectionate to the righteous people. 

Shistesas are the disciples to a Guru. The Divine Mother is very good and Kind Guru for Her disciples who follow Her scheme of things to mature towards Brahman. The Divine Mother makes the Shistesas, Her own. Shistesas are the people who do not shift about from their good behavior. Others respect such Shistesas with good behavior. The Divine Mother is bent upon making everyone to have good behavior. Whoever gradually improves their good behavior becomes the preferred devotee for the Divine Mother. Shistesas also mean that the people do not drop from their own chosen good behavior, through which their soul matures. That becomes the good worship of the Brahman. So long as they fulfill their karmas, their maturity according to the scheme of the Divine Mother’s things is getting completed. Such an individual becomes special for the Divine Mother’s grace and kindness. 

Shistesas are the ones who live by divine defined procedure and control. She likes their worships of Her. They become Her favourable devotees, who seek Her blessings. Shistesas can mean also the rituals. She likes such rituals by Her preferred devotees. Those who follow the family tradition and doing rituals based on Vedas are also Shistesas. They become dear to the Divine Mother. 

Shistam can mean “prescribed ceremonies and rituals of worship.” Shistesas are those who perform such worships without any desire for the fruits. The Divine Mother is dear to them. 

Vasistha Sutra says. “Shistesas are those who control the organs of action and knowledge, who have learned the Vedas according to tradition and draw inspiration from them and who are worshippers of Brahman.”

 

The  Divine Mother as Shisteshta

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 11 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.