Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 705: Shri Sastramayi (ōṃ śāstramayyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother is the creator and enforcer of all the codes of conduct for pursuing the four Purushartha (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha) She embodies all of them.                          

The Divine Mother takes the form of sastras. Each religion has a set of rules and procedures, which may be called shastras. Divinity has given out its own nature as sastras. Whatever books are close to or follow nature’s rules, they are the true shastras. When we analyze nature well, we can understand the inner meanings of nature. By studying the documented shastras and by studying nature, we can increase our knowledge. What we have in our mind is an inner shastra and what we see in nature is outer shastra. We can repair our inside experiences, but it may not be that easy to repair the whole of nature. Through shastras, we can repair our inner self, for which the Divine Mother blesses us always.

Those who study the shastras, are trying to study the Brahman. For such people, nature will always be a guide. With the Divine Mother’s grace, those who study the shastras become Yogis.

The Divine Mother is in knowledge (shastras) form. To get away from being deluded by Maya or ignorance, the Divine Mother’s blessing is needed. Shastras are documents which in orderly fashion teach us to get away from illusion and ignorance; further, they give us internal and external improvement experiences to take us through the correct path to attain Brahman or Liberation. Vedas and Sruti give us such knowledge to seek Brahman. The Divine Mother is in such documents form also; She is ‘Shastramayi.’

The four Vedas were formed from the Divine Mother’s out going breath and the great mantras from Her ego-sense. From Her sweet words were born poetry, drama, and heroic. Sagas. From Her tongue, Sarasvati was born. The six Vedanta (supplementary to the Vedas) were created from Her cheeks, and Mimamsa philosophy, Nyaya (logic), Puranas and dharma shastra (the code of justice) from the top of Her throat; and the sixty-four arts from the bottom of Her throat; the science of love from Her shoulders and the Tantras from Her limbs as said in Brahmana Purana.

 

What shastras say is the ultimate truth, not what our sense experience or reason says. Even Vedanta agrees with this view. We should accept what the shastras say even when our senses and reason appear to contradict it. We see many examples of misleading nature of the sense in this physical world. The Sun appears to rise in the east and to set in the west, yet the science of astronomy tells something different, that the Sun is not moving, but the earth is going round the Sun, completing one round in one year.

 

The Divine Mother is in the form of Shastras.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 30 December 2021.; Updated 23 February 2025

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 704: Shri Sarasvati (ōṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ)

From Namam 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother were discussed.

The Divine Mother is in the form of knowledge. Saras is lake and Vati is one who possesses, giving a meaning that She holds the vast amount of knowledge.

The Divine Mother is Sarasvati or the ruler of or function of all sixty-four arts. The souls are deceived by ignorance or Maya; the Divine Mother guides and provides means to them to grow into higher maturity level. Through arts/culture, humans in samsara (birth and death) cycle, can gradually move to higher maturity. Through arts/culture the glories of the universe can be understood. By developing and improving the arts/cultural aspect, humans learn to move towards ultimate happiness (Paramanada) or Brahman.

The epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, dance, painting, and music help to refine human nature. Lord Krishna used the flute to inspire all beings and take them to a higher maturity level. Sarasvati, who is the store house of all arts, is also learning always. She is an example to the souls to reach higher maturity. All kala in Sarasvati is deep in the hearts and minds of humans. Humans bring them to life and such action is helped by praying to the Sarasvati. Through that the souls can attain the Brahman.

Sarasvati provides knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom is pure; Sarasvati is pure white in colour; She is using white lotus flower as Her seat. She is holding bija mantra mala. Wisdom or knowledge gives happiness, like veena music. She is also holding the veena in Her hands. Knowledge has no beginning and end, when it expands, there is no celebration for its growth. With an unknown starting point, a stream running smoothly is called ‘saras’. Manasaras stream is very famous. Knowledge is also smoothly running like a stream due to Her grace. She provides us knowledge to clear our ignorance and seek Brahman or ultimate happiness.

The Bharadvaja Smrti says, ‘She who resides in the tongue of all beings and guides their speech is called “Sarasvati” by the great rsis.’ Also, ‘She is Sarasvati as She is the one who shows the way for all eyes.’ (Vasistha Ramayana).

Saras is a lake; and that lake referred to here is Brahmadanda lake, from which there is a flow of nectar. Thus, the secret meaning of this Nama is that the Divine Mother is the one with Brahmadanda form, from where the  nectar flows.  Vasistha Ramayana also says that Sarasvati is the flow of knowledge or impressions obtained from the senses.

Sarasvatim is hidden river in northern India flowing from the Himalayan mountains and merging with Ganga and Yamuna in Prayag (Trivani Sangamam).

The Divine Mother is in the form of Knowledge or as Sarasvati Devi.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 29 December 2021.; Updated 23 February 2025

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 703: Shri Sarva mohini (ōṃ sarvamōhinyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother covers all creations within Her, but She also deludes all. Deluding is to be deceived by false belief or believing something is not true. Mohini is the enchantress, a female avatar of Lord Mahavishnu.

The Divine Mother deludes all in this universe through Maya. At night a curled rope may be seen as a snake, an example of delusion. Brahman is shown as many creatures in the universe is another form of delusion. The souls are deluded that happiness and sorrow coming from their desire or ignorance are real. These are the Lila (sport) by the Divine Mother to make all universal creatures think as above; souls must surmount such Maya to attain permanent happiness (Internal Bliss), Even in sleep, Maya lets humans think of higher or lower status for them. They forget about ultimate happiness in Brahman and struggle and chase short term happiness which ends in sorrow. The soul starts to realize that there is something more than that and seeks through the Divine Mother’s grace to reach the ultimate happiness, Brahman. The Divine Mother keeps the souls under Maya and release them to attain Brahman. The Divine Mother is celebrated as Sarva Mohini.

The Divine Mother is spreading all over the universe. Yet, why we are not able to understand Her well. Ignorance or Maya interferes. The Divine Mother is deluding in Maya form to attract the universal beings to Her. As Trailokya Mohana Chakra Devi, the Divine Mother is attracting and saving all three Lokas (lower, middle and higher).

There are many famous stories in the Puranas showing that even sages such as Narada, well established in Self, have found the pull of Maya irresistible. Not only the common man, but even the wisest ones often with long and hard practice, lead a life rooted in plurality and not in unity with the Self or the Brahman. The sense of plurality is created by Maya’s power of illusion. Katha Upanishad (ll.IV. l) offers an explanation: ‘The self-existing Supreme has created all the sense with outgoing tendencies; therefore, man beholds the external universe, and not the inner Self.’ Everyone tends to look outwards; most people do not wish to see the inner self.

Basically, looking outward leads to plurality; looking inward leads to unity with Brahman. The natural tendency is to look outward. This urge is all a needed ingredient in the make of universe. That is why the Gita (Vll.3) says, ‘Among thousands of men, one perchance strives perfection; even among the most successful stickers, only one perchance knows Me in essence.’

One may have doubts and ask how opposites like eternal and ephemeral, inert and alive can arise from the Divine Mother. The answer is simple that She deludes everyone and created the sense of duality, hiding the unity.

In truth, the difference between Brahman and the universe is merely an illusion. Lord Shiva in Kurma Purana says: ‘This Parashakti who is none other than Brahman exists in Me. She, who as Maya, deludes the whole world, is dear to me.’ In another place, the Divine Mother says to Himavat (lord of mountains and father of the Divine Mother in one incarnation): ‘The sastras such as Kaula, Bhairava, Sakala and Gautama which affirm duality in opposition to the Sruti and the Smrti, were all created by Me to bewilder the world.’ Suta Samhita says, ‘Deluded by Maya, the sinful ones suffer births and deaths without knowing the Lord. The Divine Mother thus deludes all three worlds. There is a mantra and yantra by the name ‘Trailokyamohana’ which has the meaning ‘bewildering all three worlds. This Namam ‘Sarvamohini’ is thus interpreted as the Divine Mother who is the form of that ‘Trailokyamohana’ mantra and that yantra.

The Divine Mother deludes all creatures in the universe.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 28 December 2021.; update 23 February 2025

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 702: Shri Sarvaga (ōṃ sarvagāyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother pervades all the world and all living and non-living things in this universe; She is omnipresent. Sarvaga means going everywhere, all pervading and omnipresent.

She is spread all over the universe. All beings and non-beings, get dissolved within Her. She is not bound by place or time, seeing previous Nama. Desha Kaala Apariechinna. Divinity or Brahman is beyond everything in this universe and spreads all through universe. The devotee need not search for the Divine Mother, as he himself is part of the Divine Mother. She is inside and outside all creations as Sarvaga.

The Sruti says, “present everywhere like the ether (akasha) and eternal’’.  The Varaha Purana relates an incident. Once the Divine Mother, in the form of Kriya Shakti (power of action) did penance on the Sveta mountains. Lord Brahma appeared and enquired what boon She desired. She replied,” O Holy one, I do not wish to be limited to any corner of the world; therefore, I beg you grant me the boon of omnipresence.’ A doubt may arise here, as to how Brahma is within the Divine Mother, and it is said to be eternal, omnipresent, constant, and unmoving’ be the object of Her penance?’ It is all her Lila (sport). Indeed, the credo of the believer is that formless Brahman assumes human form and guides the world on the right path.

From the Devi Purana: O wise one, this is the truth of the Devi. She pervades the Vedas, sacrifices, heaven and all the animate and inanimate objects. She is the one who is sacred. She is food and drink. The Divine Mother is present everywhere, in different forms and in different names, in trees, in the air, ether, water and fire. She is, therefore, to be worshipped according to the prescribed rules. The one who understands the Divine Mother’s essence will be absorbed in Her.

 

The Divine Mother pervades all over the universe.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 27 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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 701: Shri Desha-kaala-aparicchinna (ōṃ dēśakālāparicChinnāyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother were discussed.

The Divine Mother is not bound by time and space.

The Divine Mother is not beyond time, place and universe. Those which are bound by time and the place and universe will get deleted or destroyed in due course. Time is eating them, making them lose their present form. The universe is dissolved during pralaya. The Divine Mother is not determined by any space or shape. She does not change due to time. So, She is called Desha-kaala-aparicchinna.

Our understanding of the known universe in terms of time and space is constantly expanding in time and space, continuing advances in technology. The universe is virtually limitless by time and space. The Divine Mother is the creator and sustainer of the boundless universe

The Divine Mother is there always at all places; She is beyond time and space She was there before the universe was created and She will be there after the universe is dissolved during pralaya. She is Desha-kaala-aparicchinna.

Everything from Lord Brahma to lower-level insects is limited because it has a beginning, an end, and a form. That which does not exist before the beginning and after end, does not exist in between either. The Divine Mother with no beginning and no end is none other than Supreme Brahman. She is eternal, unlimited by time and space. Yoga sutra says. ‘Since He is not limited by time and space, He is the original Guru.”

“He who is all-pervading like the ether and separate from whom there exists nothing is not limited by space, time or things”. By unison of Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother the term ‘‘He’” also refers to the Divine Mother in above statements.

The Divine Mother is not limited and not

measured by time and space.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 26 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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 700: Shri Sat-Chid-Ananda rupini (ōṃ saccidānandarūpiṇyai namaḥ

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother is the form of internal truth, internal knowledge and internal bliss.

As outlined in Braguralli of Taitriya Upanishad, Annam (Food), Prana (Breath), Mansis (Mind), and Vigna (Critical inquiry) are all sheaths to be crossed to reach the Ultimate step - the Supreme Brahman which is internal truth, knowledge and bliss. That is the form of the Divine Mother.

Every soul seeks to get out of the samsara (birth and death) cycle to attain Liberation or Salvation. Soul by renewing its existence in a new body, is establishing its sat or existence role. The Divine Mother by spreading all through the universe, is renewing many beings, thereby She is renewing Herself.

All beings try to improve their knowledge. Even birds or lower-level beings exhibit this behavior. Mankind using their knowledge try to improve their living standards, all these through the Divine Mother’s grace.

To avoid sorrow and to gain happiness is the focus of all beings. They overcome the trouble by gaining their happiness. In the material world the happiness derived from the sense of objects is temporary and limited. Once they have more attachments or desires to worldly things, they run into sorrow. So, they seek the permanent happiness which is attaining Brahman (to get Internal Bliss) which is unison of the Divine Mother and Lord Shiva. As she provides Internal Bliss, She is ‘Satcidanandarupini’. She is explaining this glory through all universal beings at all maturity levels.

The Divine Mother is the nature of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 25 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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 699: Shri Savitri (ōṃ sāvitryai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother is the creative power in the universe.

Lord Shiva is also known as Savita. When he is in shakti form, that is the Divine Mother (due to His unison with the Divine Mother), She is called Savitri. She is the divinity who creates the universe.

Sun is also called Savithru, and its famle form is Savitri. The Divine Mother through the Sun provides the light and heat for all universal beings. We can see how important the Sun’s light is for universal beings. Without heat everything will die. This Namam Savitri emphasizes this truth

Savitri creates the universe. Savita, the Lord Shiva, is the cause behind that. Since Sun is the key element in universal creation with light and heat, it is called Savithru. She is the power behind Lord Shiva. She helps to clear the minds of humans. She is the inner meaning in Gayatri mantra.

The Divine Mother is Savitri, as discussed above. She is also the Mother of Savita (the Sun).” The Sun is called Savita since he creates all beings says the Vishnu Dharmottara. The Divine Mother is hailed as Savitri as She gives light and energy to the Sun and creates the universe, according to the Bharadvaja Smrti.

Savita is also a synonym for Lord Shiva, as we have seen earlier. The Divine Mother is His spouse and therefore She is called Savitri.

The Devi Purana says that She is known as Savitri because She is naturally pure. According to Padma Purana, the deity in the temple at Pushkara Tirtha is Savitri.

The Divine Mother is the creative power in the universe.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 24 December 2021.; updayed 23 Frbtuary 2025

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 698: Shri Sarvartha datri (ōṃ sarvārthadātryai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother grants all the four life’s goals of Her devotees.

There are four Purusha Athars, namely Dharma (virtue, moral way of life), Artha (wealth), Kama (desires*), and Moksha (liberation from samsara, birth and death cycle). For constructing a building, the foundation is the key; proper dharma is the base in life supporting three other Purusha Athars. The whole universe is in dharma form. Five main elements have their own dharma paths.

Humans must earn their wealth with dharmic means. They ought to spend their wealth in dharmic ways. To live happily (Kama) is the goal in the current life of humans. Even micro level beings enjoy things within their limits. When their limits of enjoyment exceed the given limit, sorrow sets in. They must accept the happiness of Bhakti given out by the Divine Mother. Those who go beyond such limits must face sorrow. After many birth and death cycles, the souls look for liberation. Souls have come from Brahman, and they look to go back to Brahman. To gain all four Purusha Athars, the souls must surrender to the Divine Mother, who grants them the Dhrama, Artha, Kama and Moksha. She is the ‘Sarvartha datri’.

·        All desires are born from our Kamas indriyas and janana indriyas (the five senses of action and knowledge).

 

The Divine Mother grants desires of Her devotees.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 23 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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

 

Lalitha Sahasranamam Shri: Namam 388: Shri Nitya klinna (OM nityaklinnAyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother is ever compassionate to Her devotees.

Klinna means melting or being in wet condition. The old saying is that a hard-hearted person has no wetness or softness or kindness in him for others. A healthy person has glowing skin; naturally, humans have soft glowing skin in their growing stage of life. The Divine Mother is ever soft or kindhearted. She rules the universe strictly, yet She is very compassionate; She is storehouse of kindness. Her motherly kindness is ever there for Her devotees. That means that even with strict ruling, She shows Her kindness. She is keen to mature the souls through Her compassion, She is called Nitya klinna.

Another way of saying is that Her heart is always wet or soft for Her devotees; Her compassion is there eternally.

Nitya klinna is the deity worshipped during Moon growing phase third night and on Moon waning phase thirteenth night. Garuda Purana says that She is Tripurasundari, the bestower of good luck and liberation from samsara cycle for Her devotees.

Sighting growing phases third night Moon is long standing tradition among Hindus; other religions such as Muslims also consider that Moon sighting on that growing phase third night as an auspicious thing.

The Divine Mother as RajaRajeswari

     bestowing Her Compassion to her devotees.

C  N Nachiappan          

Singapore, 16 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam361 Shri Tamo paha (OM tamopahAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother removes the ignorance existing because of birth with tamas (the quality of inertia, inactivity, dullness, or lethargy) in Her devotees.

The Maha Vakiyam "Tamasoma Jothir gamaya” means the darkness or ignorance is removed by light/ jnana. Tamo can be seen as darkness or ignorance, the root cause of all misfortunes. The ignorance causes laziness and dullness. The Divine Mother is, indeed, the primordial Sun which rises, clearing the darkness. She removes the tamo attributes.

Ignorance is an illusion; The Divine Mother removes the devotees’ illusion and helps the devotees to move forward. She uses Her bigger than the Sun’s brightness to remove darkness in Her devotees.

Nature causes the dormant soul to get active. Those who are at lower stages in life are being prepared for a mature state by the Divine Mother’s actions.

The ignorance, dullness and stupor are arising from tamo.  Lord Krishna in Gita (Chapter 14 with twenty-seven slogan) talks about these three Gunas in details; it is worth as a good read for understanding the effects of three Gunas.

 

The Divine Mother is brighter than many Suns

C  N Nachiappan          

Singapore, 20 January 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 290: Shri Sakala agama sandoha shukti samputa mauktika (OM sakalAgamasandohashuktisampuTamauktikAyai namaH)

In Namas 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother is like a pearl enclosed in the shell made of all the Vedas and or scriptures. The meaning of this statement is that if all the scriptures collectively form a shell, the Divine Mother is inside like a pearl. The size of the shell gives an idea of the size of the pearl inside but not the quality and greatness of the pearl inside.

The Divine Mother’s ornaments are all the Vedas like a pearl inside the shell. This means that Vedas are like ornaments for Her. It is not enough to say that Vedas are the Divine Mother’s ornaments. Further, the Vedas cannot fully explain the Divine Mother’s true self. The Vedas only act to motivate the soul to seek the Brahman.

The Vedas give one form of the Divine Mother but not Her completeness or true-self. Katha Upanisad (1.ii.23) says, “The Atman cannot be attained with the study of the Vedas, nor by intelligence nor by hearing”. Then how to reach the Atman? When the Atman chooses a devotee to help him to attain the Brahman, its real nature is revealed to that devotee only. This Unpianistic saying reveals the appropriate meaning of this Nama. As the Divine Mother says, “Looking for truth outside is like drying up the ocean to catch the fish. One should look deep within. Only then, the truth about the Divine Mother will be revealed to him.

The tattvas which have come from Lord Shiva’s face are equally good as Vedas in describing the glory of the Divine Mother. Like Vedas, tattvas also are not able to describe the Divine Mother fully. They indicate that She is like a pearl in a shell. To get the pearl from the sea, one must dive deep inside the sea and bring out the shell containing the pearl. Likewise, the devotee has to dig deeper in Vedas and tattvas to understand the Divine Mother more. It is not enough to bring the shell with the pearl from the sea. One should know as to how to value pearls. The Divine Mother is far greater than anything else in this universe.

The shell with the pearl is in the seabed for long, long time; the pearl grows and gets polished inside to reach the valuable state. Similarly, one experiences in many ways the glories and values of the Divine Mother through the reading and understanding the Vedas and the tattvas, which will take much longer time.

The Divine Mother as Parvati Devi

C N Nachiappan          

Singapore, 10 November 2020.

 

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.

4.       

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 265: Shri Brahma rupa (OM brahmarUpAyai namaH)

In Namas 249 to 274, the Divine Mother’s Five functions and Her Five Isvara forms are described.

The Divine Mother assumes the form of Brahma doing creation.

The Divine Mother takes the form of four faced Brahma doing the creation. For understanding, we separate the male and female deities. But both are same. Fire and heat are the same. In the same way, having a male deity and a female deity for a particular purpose is common practice.

In this universe, four faced Brahma is continuously creating the universe. He is always active. So, we see Brahma as universe, which is contained within the Divine Mother. So, She is Brahma Rupini.

Brahma is predominantly rajasic; He does the creation job as assigned by the Divine Mother. She is assuming His role in creation. We earlier discussed that the Divine Mother gives orders to Brahma in carrying out the task of creation. This Nama makes it clear that Brahma is same as the Divine Mother in doing the creation.

The Divine Mother as Essence of Devi

Bhagavatha Purana – Gayatri Devi.

C N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 16 October 2020.

 

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 697: Shri Sarva loka vashankari (ōṃ sarvalōkavaṃśakaryai namaḥ)

From Namam 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother keeps all worlds in this universe under Her auspicious attraction.

Movements of machinery are controlled by outside mechanisms, and they cannot move on their own. All beings in this universe do not have the freedom to act on their own. Humans have created rules to control themselves which have certain divine aspects. For example, a human can wear a full dress or be naked in private as he desires. However, in dealing with communities, he has responsibilities and rules to follow.

Birth and death do not happen as per human’s desire; also, one cannot get the relations with other humans as one desires. Relations such as father and mother happen through divinity. Likewise, nature encourages things to make use of the available natural things. It is wrong not to follow the path laid out by the Divine Mother for the souls. When they deviate from such paths given by the Divine Mother, they go through sorrow and are prompted to turn to the Dharma path. Likewise, all the universal beings mature to a higher level.

Yogis have Iccha or desires which are like the Divine Mother’s scheme of things. Ahankara and Maya must completely be removed for the humans to get the Divine Mother’s blessings. So, what the Divine Mother desires, appears in yogin’s’ minds; to live under the scheme of things by the Divine Mother is ideal worship to Her.

The Divine Mother is the Iccha shakti; She controls all things in this universe as She desires. What She had created, stays and the humans submit to Her. She manages the whole universe for Her devotee’s benefit.

Bhagavata Purana (ll.V.42) gives two definitions of the world or Loka. From the feet to the waist is bhuloka (earth, the first of three worlds.); from waist to the neck is bhuvarloka and from the neck to the crown is svarloka (heaven, the highest of three worlds). All these three are contained within us also. Recall the nama Trikota.

Another more detailed picture contains fourteen worlds. The waist is bhuloka; the navel, bhuvarloka; the heart,svarloka; the chest, maharloka; the neck is janaloka; the lips form tapolaka, and the crown is satyaloka. The areas below waist are the hip is atala; the thighs, vitala; the knees sutala; the forelegs, talatala; the heels, the mahatala, the toes of the feet, rasatala and the soles of the feet, patala. (Bhagavata Purana ll.V.88.41).

The Divine Mother is the one who keeps all these worlds under Her auspicious attraction

The Divine Mother keeps all the worlds under Her control.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 22 December 2021.; updated 12 February 2025

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