Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 753: Shri Maha-ashana (ōṃ mahāśanāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother eats everything in this universe.

The Divine Mother is a big eater, as can be visualized during pralaya. The eaten food by someone if not digested creates a trouble. Whatever can be digested will only be eaten by mankind. All universal things which had come into being fitting food for the Divine Mother during pralaya. Within a split second the Divine Mother opens Her eyes and the whole universe is created; likewise, when She closes Her eyes, the whole universe disappears, all universes become the food for Divine Mother, meaning that during pralaya all universal beings merge in Her,

Please note, earlier there is a name Maha-asana. That means the Divine Mother has the greatest seat of all. In fact, She is seated on a seat with four Vedas as its legs and Shiva Himself is the plank of the seat. ( See picture above).

In Devi Mahatmyam, the Divine Mother is portrayed during the battle with Chanda and Munda as eating the asura’s army in its entirety along with elephants, chariots, and horses.

The Divine Mother eats during Pralaya

all universal things, which She had created.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 16 February 2022, updated 02 May 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