Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 679: Shri Brhat sena (ōṃ bṛhatsēnāyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother has an infinitely vast army to serve Her.

 The strength of its armed forces is the best estimate to reflect the strength of any government. In today’s terms, army, navy, and air force are the basic forms. In addition, atomic power helps the governments to move their forces to any part of the globe but still sit in their own countries and destroy any object identified on the earth. All these powers had come from the root, the Divine Mother. These days a soldier uses his weapon well to destroy the enemies. It is ideal to view and pray that all these abilities came from the Divine Mother.

She is creating, safeguarding, and destroying universal things. She is giving such tasks to others by having a vast army. She does not need others’ help even a bit, yet She uses the universal beings and things which She had created to Her favorable use.

She is said to have sixty-four crores (640 million) of yogini’s (shaktis) in attendance.  In addition, there are infinitely large regiments of elephants, horses, and chariots, See namam 65 to 82.. Her forces make up a powerful and vast army. See namam 65 to 82.

The Goddess, the Divine Mother has a vast army to serve Her needs 

C N Nachiiappun

Singapore, 04 December 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 Sithbavandar

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 678: Shri Bhasha rupa (ōṃ bhāṣārūpāyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother is in the form of language (Bhasha). The Divine mother is the form of Sanskrit language.  This also underscores the 51 bija syllables particularly.  As Sanskrit is called deva Bhasha (51 alphabets emanated from the sounds of Shiva’s Kittle drum).

Worldly languages are different resulting from the Nadabrahmam used in different ways. However the sound of languages can be captured by 51 Mathura bija syllables. Sanskrit language is used for expressing and explaining the divinities, including the Divine Mother; it is also used for ideological research. The divine aspect seen in the Soundarya Lahari in Sanskrit is also seen in Meenakshi Amman writings in Tamil language. Sage Vivekananda’s English writings about Kali Devi has similar divine aspect. The Divine Mother is everything in this universe. She is in all language forms.

 All worldly languages, including Sanskrit, are the Divine Mother’s forms. Anything beyond understanding leads to our minds through languages. What the mind feels is spoken out by mouth. Repeated sayings help to understand the most difficult things and concepts. What we offer devotionally is accepted by the Divine Mother. One of the best ways to make such offerings is through spoken language, which is the key means of communication. It does not matter if it is spoken or written language.

 To understand the kid’s needs, the mother does not need a fully grammatical speech by the kid. She will understand the kid speaking in any form; from the biological mother’s speech and communications the child picks up the language, which is said to be its mother tongue.

 The dumb person is not able to speak out; yet through signs, he will be able to communicate his ideas to others. Likewise, people also use their eye expressions to convey to others what they want to say; this is one of the most effective ways to express one’s thoughts. Similarly, the Divine Mother understands devotees’ any type of language used to offerings to Her.

 The Divine Mother takes form of language spoken in every region in this universe. She is the Goddess of speech (Sarasvati rupa); all languages are indeed Her forms. As the Almighty hears our calls, whatever language we use, so all languages of the Divine Mother. She is therefore called “Bhasha rupa”.

The Goddess the Divine Mother is Bhasarupa (Sarasvati Devi).

C N Nachiiappun

Singapore, 03 December 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 Sithbavandar

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 677: Shri Bali priya (ōṃ balipriyāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is especially fond of sacrificial offerings.

She is also fond of devotees who have controlled their desires for property, wealth and women. She is also fond of the great asura king Mahabali. 

She is fond of devotees’ wisdom and their sacrificial offerings. Whenever the bad is destroyed, the Divine Mother’s presence is there and felt. The Bali Peetha is there at the entrance to the sanctum of the deities of most Hindu temples. The devotees must destroy or give all their low-level behaviors such as akangara. For a devotee to Bali or offer his life is an ultimate devotion to the Divine Mother.

 The soul by controlling and cutting out the unstable non-permanent things, gets the ultimate Brahman with Supreme Bliss. Both the devotee destroying his lower-level behavior and the Divine Mother accepting the devotee’s offerings makes the Divine Mother very pleased. Those who oppose the Divine Mother are facing all the troubles. Like the waves are owned by the sea, the souls are part of the Divine Mother; offering to the Divine Mother is an ideal devotion. 

Bali also means the one who has physical strength(thegabalam), mental strength (manobalam), and spiritual strength (athmabalam); those who can lead a good life and are eligible to get supreme knowledge or Jnana. “Strength leads to life; weakness leads to death had been explained by Sage Vivekananda. The one with strength can achieve his life goals, which is a good form of devotion to the Divine Mother. 

She is fond of people with strength. Those who try to leave ignorance (avithya), desire (kamam) and ego (akangara) are considered strong people. They are the people maturing well and use Iccha, Jnana, and Kriya shakti properly. The Divine Mother is fond of such people. 

The sacrificial offerings are made to divinities to seek their blessings. The Divine Mother is fond and pleased to accept such offerings from such matured strong devotees. 

Humans ought to show gratitude to Nature in the same way that the Divine Mother gives out Her beauty. To worship the various powers of nature (the shakti) with mantras and prayers, for which the ancient sages prescribed the various yajna (sacrificial ceremonies). Since all shakti’s are part of the Divine Mother, sacrifices conducted in any deity’s honour are dear to the Divine Mother as well; just as the praise given to the children brings joy to their parents. 

Mahabali was a King devoted to the Divine Mother. Mahabali’s greatness is shown in his willingness to sacrifice to everything to Mahavishnu (Vamana) and ultimately surrendering by offering his head as the resting place, as third step for Mahavishnu’s foot. Bali also refers to Mahabali. Then Bali Priya means, “She who is pleased by the devotion of King Mahabali.” 

As we have seen earlier, bali is also one who has the strength (Balam) to overcome nescience (benightedness, cluelessness, ignorance, incognizance, innocence, obliviousness, unawareness or unfamiliarity).

The Mahabali offering his head as third step for Mahavishn, which the Divine Mother is fond of this sacrificial offering.

C N Nachiiappun

Singapore, 02 December 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 Sithbavandar

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 676: Shri Brahmananda (ōṃ brahmānandāyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother is ever immersed in the Bliss of Brahman.

She is in Brahmananda or the Supreme Bliss form. Full and infinite Brahman does not have any thing against it. Highly enjoyable bliss is Brahmanada. Upanisads say anandam is Brahman. The one, with pure heart, understands that the whole universe is Brahman. There is no living thing in this universe that does not indulge in happiness.

A lot of people have sorrow, which is opposite to happiness. Darkness is in a way showing no light or part fraction of light. Likewise, sorrow is part of happiness. We cannot separate heat from fire; likewise, Brahman and the Divine Mother cannot be separated. Whatever respects we give to the Brahman is due the Divine Mother. So, to be thinking and being part of Brahman is a form of devotion to the Divine Mother.

She is the form of Brahman enjoying the Infinite Supreme Bliss. When one merges with Brahman, there is immense bliss being enjoyed by him; the Divine Mother is in that form. Ananda is the ultimate boundless happiness. When we get happiness in our sleep, it cannot ne explained out in words or through our mind as it does not have a form. Even if the happiness obtained in our sleep is such a great thing, through yoga and samadhi state, what we get when we are awake also does not have a form. Brahman is full, it cannot be increased and being individual self, which cannot be separated. The Divine Mother is in such a state as Brahmanada.

The nature of bliss according to the Taittiriya Upanisad has been described (Please refer to earlier Namam 252: Pramananda, with the meaning that the Divine Mother is the Supreme Bliss) as pure awareness and Liberation (Moksha). There is immense level of bliss for an ordinary human who is to be established in Brahman.

Brahmanda is the Ultimate Bliss that arises, when the Jiva (soul) returns to the Supreme, from which it originally separated. The interpretation of this Nama is that the Divine Mother is that Ultimate Bliss.

The Goddess the Divine Mother is ever immersed in the bliss of Brahman.

C N Nachiiappun

Singapore, 01 December 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 Sithbavandar

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 675: Shri Brahmi (ōṃ brāhmyai namaḥ)

The Goddess Divine Mother presides over speech. Brahmi and Bharati mean “language”. Also, one who pertains to Brahma.

Brahma is assigned by the Divine Mother, to perform the creation of the universe. His consort is Saraavati Devi who presides over speech. In this universe, Sarasvati Devi’s glories will never die down. Wherever there is Kala or arts, Her glories are shining; She lives in the tongue of all humans (male and female), helps in them achieving their specialized Kala. Her body, dress and place of residence lotus are examples of cleanliness and purity. The level of one’s pure heart determines the blessings to be received from Her. In all Kalas, the Divine Mother excels at the top; She is called Brahmi.

Brahma’s consort is Sarasvati Devi. She is one of the eight Devis. She uses the royal swan or Annam as Her vehicle. She holds Japamala and Kamandam. She uses darpa (dried long grass) dipped in Kamandala water and sprinkles on Her enemies to destroy them. She is knowledge personified; She is the Goddess of speech representing the Divine Mother.

The Goddess Sarasvati Devi as Bhrami Devi with Kamandalam representing the Divine Mother

C N Nachiiappan

Singapore, 30 November 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 Sithbavandar