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