Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 416: Shri Cit Shakti (ōṃ cicChaktyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother is the power of Consciousness. 

The Divine Mother is the superior Conscious and Knowledge. When we compare the Shakti without any feeling or immoveable, we can understand the Cit Sahkti’s power and superiority. In languages there are syllables with power equal to Citshakti and syllables equal to inferior level without feeling shakti.  Knowledge and Consciousness are forms of Citshakti. The dummy figures of human types etc can walk can drive motor cycles; can answer phone to tell that the boss is not at home but they cannot think to separate good and bad. Like the actual humans with Citshakti, these dummies cannot mingle with other beings. Citshakti humans can realize good and bad. Souls have birth, decay, and death; the dummies also have birth, decay and death but they do not feel such actions. Citshakti understands its existence; it is part of bigger knowledge and consciousness. 

She is in Jnana Shakti form. Certain times Jnana comes out from Her rupa. We can compare and explain a new thing using the one, we know earlier. We call such comparative effect as Citshakti. So the Divine Mother is in comparison is the Supreme Knowledge. She is the one, who removes the ignorance as stated in Devi Bagvatam If we do not have that we call the humans as savam. The Divine Mother is in Citshakti rupini. 

Cit is knowledge and consciousness. It is the power in all beings in this universe. Its working is to know and to enjoy the bliss. It is the strength that wipes out avidya, the ignorance. “Both knowledge and ignorance are hidden in imperishable Brahman. Knowledge is imperishable; ignorance is perishable but entirely different from these two is the Brahman who rules them both”. (Svetasvatara Upanisad V.1)

The Divine Mother as Saraswathi the Goddess of Knowledge.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 16 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.

The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Chithbavandar