Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 681: Shri Sukaradhya (ōṃ sukhārādhyāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother may be worshipped in great comfort by devotees who are fully immersed in Her.

Depending upon the deity being worshipped, the procedures and preparations may be hard or difficult to fully follow in worshipping the said deity. If the devotee makes a mistake in reciting the holy names of the deity, we cannot take that as an error or mistake. Devotion to the deity of worship is the important aspect here rather than identifying an error

For the child (Ataman) to seek the Divine Mother (Brahman), there are no such strict restrictions in worshipping methods. Immediately after getting out of bed, the child may run to its mother. Also, after bathing and wearing clean clothes, the child can go to the mother with the flowers. The child has the right to go to its mother at various times in various ways. The same freedom is there for the devotee in praying to the Divine Mother. 

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa worshipped the Divine Mother with such love and freedom. and he used to interact with the Divine Mother. He did not strictly follow the prayer rules. This Namam is an explanation that such a sincere devotee has total freedom to worship the Divine Mother in the ways he is pleased and happy.

In worshipping the Divine Mother, the true devotee does not have to strain and discomfort his physical body. She does not limit by having a specific procedure to be followed for Her worship. Whatever form we pray to the Divine Mother, we need to realize that form in us. Also, there is no rule to worship that we must offer specific things to Her in our prayers. So long we worship with complete devotion, She is satisfied. The mind must focus on devotion, there is no other thing needed. She is celebrated a Sukharadhya for such simplicity in worshipping Her.

This Namam implies that there are no rules to be followed or preparations to be made for the Divine Mother’s worship. There are other forms of worship that involve inflicting pain or hardship on the body. She is pleased with simple chanting of Her names if it is done with devotion. Thus, She bestows Her blessings, because of worship that is done easily.

Krishna reassures us in the Gita (ll.40). “There is no loss of effort here is no harm. Even a little of devotion delivers us from great fear”. There is no need to fear an error in procedure or harmful consequences. Even a first step in this direction will protect us from the fear of samsara (birth and death cycle). There is no need to worry that complicated procedures have been neglected. As Krishna again says in Gita, the Divine Mother will be pleased with simple offerings of “leaf, flower, fruit and water”. Soundariya Lahari, sloka 27 says that all thoughts, words and actions of the true devotee are the offering to the Divine Mother. The Divine Mother is the one who forgives errors, that Her darling devotees(children) make unknowingly.

 Soundariya Lahari, sloka 27

 Japo jalpah shilpam sakalam api mudra-virachana

Gatih pradaksinya-kramanam asanady'ahuti-vidhih;

Pranamah samvesah sukham akilam atmarpana-drsa

Saparya-paryayas tava bhavatu yan me vilasitam.

 

Let the mutterings that I do,

With sacrifice in my soul.

Become chanting of your name,

Let all my movements become thine Mudhras,

Let my travel become perambulations around thee,

Let the act of eating and drinking become fire sacrifice to thee,

Let my act of sleeping becomes salutations to you ,

And let all actions of pleasure of mine,

Become parts of thine worship.

The Divine Mother is easily worshipped

 C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 06 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