Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 729: Shri Ananda Kalika (ōṃ ānandakalikāyai namaḥ)

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

The Divine Mother is the bud of the fragrant flower of Bliss. A bud in a plant has potential to develop into a flower.

The Divine Mother increases or encourages the bliss to be enjoyed by the jivas (souls). Chit Rupa, the Divine Mother is in bliss form. All universal beings enjoying happiness is due to the Divine Mother’s grace to them. Bliss is Para-Brahman (the Divine Mother). Sugar is added to various eatables; it gives different sweetness and taste. Drinks mixed with sugar have various tastes. We use our eyes to see many forms in this universe to have different levels of happiness. The Divine Mother with all Her bliss is providing such happiness to be enjoyed with human senses.

Kalika is a very small kala. Bud is yet to blossom into flower is also called Kalika; this means that the flower’s nature or attribute is exposed by such small yet to be blossomed bud. Happiness or bliss is the form of Para-Brahman; the Divine Mother is in such kala form. Jivas (souls) are not yet ready to reach the Par-Brahman but are gaining maturity with the Divine Mother’s blessing. They blossom up to reach the Para-Brahman. The Divine Mother is eagerly watching. She is Chit and the happiness Kala is the inner meaning of the word ‘kalika’. Para-Brahman is a very secretive form as we understand which is a’so the Divine Mother’s form.

The Divine Mother’s presence is the bliss experienced by all universal beings. She Herself gives the blessing that makes this bud of bliss blossom like a flower, leading the Jiva (soul) into full bliss that is beyond all senses. The Self (the Divine Mother) is bliss; that is why it reflects in the senses, and we come to experience a little of that.

The word ‘Kalika’ meaning bud is very meaningful. Buds wither and die but many others blossom and spread fragrance. Buds do not attract our hearts; but flowers that have fully blossomed are an attraction. Bees and humans are automatically attracted to them. The Jiva (soul) is bound in samsara (birth and death cycle) is like the bud that withers and dies. The one who knows the Self (the Divine Mother) attracts thousands of others to him, like the blossoming and brimming with honey and sending out fragrance.

The Divine Mother is a bud of Bliss; like a bud of a lotus flower.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 23 January 2022; updated 04 April 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