Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 691: Shri Chatur anga baleshvari (ōṃ caturaṅgabalēśvaryai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother commands four types of armies. Chaturanga means armies that are the four types of forces consisting of elephants, chariots, horses, and foot soldiers.

Chariots, elephants, horses, and foot soldiers are considered four types of defending forces for any kingdom. The Divine Mother is the commander of these types of forces.  For a kingdom, in addition to wealthy treasury, a good army is needed to defend it from aggressors. (In the current world, the forces had taken a new form. Land-based army, sea-based navy, and air-based air force are three basic types of defense forces needed by any Country In all times, all these forces are there for a country due to the grace of the Divine Mother; She commands all of them).

The four types of forces are led by the Divine Mother. In humans the four forces are manas (mind), Buddhi (intellect), Chitta (thought)and ahankara (ego). Creating, sustaining, and destroying are three acts are done by Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra as assigned by the Divine Mother. They each have four types of forces serving and helping in their assigned tasks.

Vama, Jyeshta, Roudri and Ambika are four deities under the Divine Mother. Brahma, Vishnu, Rudran, and Indra are also under the Divine Mother. She is the leader of these four types of forces in this universe.

The Divine Mother is the commander of all four types of forces, She goes to battlefield commanding such forces to protect the devas and destroying the asuras. A series of Namams 65 to 76 describe the Divine Mother’s forces in great details.

Chaturangabala also can mean four vyuhas or aggregates. According to the Puranas, the Vaishnavas, Shaivas and Shaktas all have their own separate vyuhhas or aggregates for functioning well. The Divine Mother presides over all vyuhas.

Chaturangabala also can be said to be four kinds of Purusa: Purusa (person) in the body, Purusa in the Chandas (meter), Purusa in the Vedas and the Great Purusa (Mahapurusa).

The game of Chess is also called Chaturangam.

The Divine Mother commands four types of armies.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 16 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