Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 717: Shri Madhumati (ōṃ madhumatyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother is as sweet as honey.

She is offered honey in worship by the devotees. For highly nourished food, honey is used, which is good for the human body, mind and providing oxygen to the body. Honey is not passed as waste from our bodies. The Divine Mother is in such a honey form. Para-vidya is also called Madhu-vidya. The word Madhu reflects the Brahman. She is helping the devotees in current and future lives, by providing all the wealth needed for current life; She is like honey to Her devotees. For the souls to reach the Brahman, all the happiness and auspiciousness are there. The Divine Mother is praised as Madhumati.

Honey is the key worship offering from Her devotees. Upanishads say Madhumati is vidya. Yoga sastra says Madhumati is earth and in holy river form.

Madhu is honey and intoxicating liquor. It said that honey is dear to the Divine Mother. The devotees offer more of honey to Her during worship. This Nama’s simple interpretation is that ‘She is offered Madhu in worship’.

The Divine Mother is as sweet as honey.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 11 January 2022.; Updated 16 March 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