Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 749: Shri Mrtyu daru kutarika (ōṃ mṛtyudārukuṭhārikāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the axe that cuts down the tree of death.

Death is like a tree. The Divine Mother is the axe that cuts the tree of death. All these deaths related to sorrows cannot impact on the soul. The soul is internal, and ever blissful (Aananda Rupa). Due to its ignorance (Maya) the soul thinks it is the body, such ignorance are the cause of all the associated sorrows. The Supreme Knowledge is the axe that cuts down the illusion of death. The intelligence is equal to the axe that a tree can be cut down. Intelligence or knowledge can cut down the bushes of ignorance and provide the understanding of the Divine Mother’s form. The Divine Mother is real knowledge. For such a soul there is no fear of death and related sorrow. There is no fear within it. By surrendering to the Divine Mother, the soul never faces the fear of death.

Every tree is getting the food for its growth and strength from Earth, which is one of the five elements created by the Divine Mother. Earth cannot destroy the tree, but with the help of an axe the same tree can be cut and destroyed. The Divine Mother with Her grace acts as an axe to cut the tree of death for Her devotees. Expecting the fear of death is bigger than the actual death. An informed human expecting a death without any fear can help to win over the death.

Daru means tree. According to the numerological system Daru signifies the number 28. In one interpretation this number is set to represent variety of bonds that divide Jeeva as explained under the Namam 354 (Pasupasa vimocini, with meaning that the Divine Mother releases the ignorant beings from bondage). The Divine Mother is the axe that cuts all these bonds causing fear of death. The bonds are also understood as sorrows. As explained before, this is not just a poetic image. Guru’s grace has the power to postpone even a death that comes in old age as proven by experience.

The Divine Mother is the axe that cuts down

the trees of death of devotees.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 12 February 2022; Updated 30 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