Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 833: Shri Panchashat pita rupini (ōṃ pañcāśatpīṭharūpiṇyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is enshrined in fifty (one) key centers of worship.

When Sati Devi, (the Divine Mother) wanted to go for Her father Daska’s Yaja, She did not get Her spouse Shiva’s approval. He refused to go there as there was no invitation. In the Yaja place, Sati Devi was not welcomed or respected. She felt upset that Her spouse was not invited and She did not get the respect. As a result, She put Herself in Yaja fire.

Shiva was furious to hear the sad happening to His spouse, Sati Devi. He came to that Yaja, and his creation Veera batra completely destroyed it.  Shiva carried Sati Devi’s body and losing his senses wandered around in all directions. Mahavishnu followed Shiva carrying dead body of Sai Devi, learnt of this happening He cut that Sati Devi’s dead body into fifty-one parts. These parts fell in various places, making Shakti  pita. In each place, the Divine Mother’s grace and glories are shining forever. Pilgrimage to Shakti pitas is a good form of the Divine Mother worship.

The fifty-one Shakti Pitas’ corresponds to fifty-one akshras of Sanskrit. These are called Maheshvara sutras. the Divine Mother is in fifty-one Nada or sound form, which is in, agreement with Nama 901 “Nada rupa” to be discussed later.

Panchashat is fifty. Since there are fifty-one Shakti Pithas, we can take Panchashat as fifty-one. Letters A to Ksha are fifty-one letters.

representing fifty-one Devis. Fifty-one Shakti Pitas are all over Indian sub-Continent. We have seen Kundalini pass through Chakras within our body, with fifty one  Devis or the Divine Mother forms giving a total of fifty one of them.

In Indian sub-continent there are fifty-one famous centers of Shakti worship between Kamarupa and Chayachatra.  Chayachatra may be the state of Kerala. This connective is because Kerala is the land where coconut trees abound, giving shade (Chayachatra means an umbrella that gives shade). Further Kamarupa to Chayachatra supposedly means from north to south.

Harsha diksita interprets Panchashat as fifty-one in the commentary on first verse of the Sharada Tilaka. Some commentators, however, insist that fifty-one is not the right number of Shakti pitas and that in counting one pitha per letter of alphabet, the letter Ksha  need not be counted and there are then only fifty letters to be counted giving fifty shakti pitas.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 06 May 2022; updated 13 August 2025

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 832: Shri Prana datri (ōṃ prāṇadātryai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother gives vital breath to all in this universe.

She, essentially, grants life to all universal beings. From body heat or temperature and breathing, we judge that the body has life. Even without speech or in unconscious state, breathing and body heat will be maintained to determine that the human still has life.

During deep winter, trees, plants and leaves all seem to have their life. They are in such a deep sleeping stage, still holding their life. When spring comes, those seemingly dead trees plants start to grow, confirming the life tattva. Similarly, the snakes and insects living within deep earth during winter come out to the surface to move around. Many animals hibernate during winter. There are some insects living within a stone, yet they cannot come out. The Divine Mother provides for their lives to go on; as such She is called the Prana datri.

She provides the breathing ability or prana or life to all in the universal beings. She is the life provider.

Prana has many different meanings which we have discussed in earlier Namams. All those meanings are applicable to this Namam also.

       The Divine Mother gives life to all in this universe.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 05 May 2022; updated 13 August 2025

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 831: Shri Praneshvari (ōṃ prāṇēśvaryai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother rules over the pranas. Prana means vital breaths. Five vital breaths Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, and Shama are important.

She is the Empress of all pranas. Based on the life tattva, each universal being is using the resources available to it. For them to function well, the Divine Mother’s energy is given as breath or prana. Each living being gets food from the earth, drinks the water, gets heat from fire, breath or pranas from vayu or air. The Divine Mother is the presiding deity for three kinds of pranas, namely, Mukhya (important) prana, Pancha prana and sub-Pancha prana. Without Her grace, no universal being can establish its life. So, She is called as Praneshvari, the provider of the prana to the universal beings.

The Sruti says, “He, meaning the Brahman or the Divine Mother is the prana of prana (breath of breath).”

   The Divine Mother rules over the pranas  

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 04 May 2022; updated 13 August 2025.

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 830: Shri Prakata -akrtih (ōṃ prakaṭākṛtayē namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is manifest in infinite forms of the universe.

She manifests in clearly understandable forms. All universal beings are having the Divine Mother’s forms; so, She is represented in all universal beings. All the plants and all other universal souls are held by the Divine Mother; they are taken care of with Her grace. All plants branch out in the direction of light source from the Sun. For them, the light energy is critical, and they try to use the Sunlight well. That is equivalent to realizing the Divine Mother’s grace. This way all universal beings adjust to the circumstance they are in this universe. The child understands its mother’s kindness. All universal beings are under the care of the Divine mother, and they graduate to higher level. this is the grace of the Divine Mother, which is the understanding of this Namam.

The Divine Mother ‘s form is visualized everywhere. The Divine Mother is visible from everywhere to be seen by all universal beings.

She is in Prakata yogini’s forms. Prakata yoginis are the deities of the first circle in Sri Vidya Chakra. This Nama then can mean, “One who is manifested in the form of these yoginis.”

This Nama may also be taken as A-prakata-akrti (unmanifested form). Then, the interpretation is that the Divine Mother is the Consciousness that exists unmanifested in this manifested universe. Bhaskararaya quotes from the Suta Samhita, “All beings know Him as “I”,” I”; yet because of Maya, they do not recognize Him as Shiva.”

Also, this Namam can be split as ap + parka+takrtih with the meaning, “She who manifests in the form of water element Jala tattva. Ap is water.”

The Divine Mother is manifested in the form of the universe. 

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 03 May 2022; updated 13 August 2025.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

  

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 829: Shri Pratishta (ōṃ pratiṣṭhāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the base or foundation for everything in this universe. She is the firm foundation on which all Her creations rest.

With so many waves at the surface we tend to visualize sea with waves. But the major portion of the sea underneath is not visible to us, The floor of the sea is the base or foundation for the waves we see at the top.

The wide universe has a form and souls in it. The Divine Mother has all the universal features of the universal beings. The underlying Brahman is ever the same. If a human understands Brahman, he will understand the universe well.

The newborn child (soul) grows with time. For any human, the body parts which he had seven years ago, are not available now. Yet we do not distinguish humans now and humans seven years before. For the changed aspect of the human parts, the soul is the base. Likewise, for all universal things, the Divine Mother’s true form is the base or foundation.

She is the eternal foundation of everything. She is the Shakti to rule over the universe.

For the five elements, Kalas are Nirvitti, Pratista, Vidya, Shanthi and Shantyatita. Of these, Pratista is the water element-based Kala. A certain portion (kala) of the water element (Jala tattva) is called pratistha. This kala is said to give good health, long life and inspires the love of the God. The Divine Mother is the power of that inspiration. Likewise, the four other elements have Kalas to represent them.

The Shruti says, “She is the foundation of the whole universe”. According to Brahma Gita, this consciousness or the Divine Mother, the Supreme, is the foundation of all things.

Pratistha is the name of a meter with four syllables to a line, sixteen syllables in all. The Divine Mother is in the form of that meter.

A certain portion (kala) of the water element (Jala tattva) is called pratistha. This kala is said to give good health, long life and inspires the love of the God. The Divine Mother is the power of that inspiration.

The word Pratistha has implied meanings “fame and earth Sthirapratistha(solid fame) is a common expression. The Divine Mother is both the Goddess of fame and Goddess of earth.

The Divine Mother is the base or foundation of everything in this universe

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 02 May 2022; updated 13 August 2025.

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 828: Shri Ajna (ōṃ ājJṇāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the set of divine commandments enshrined in the Vedas. She is also enshrined in the Ajna Chakra.

The Divine Mother’s orders or commands, reflected in nature’s functioning in the universe. Her commands are given in the Vedas. In this world, those who do not follow the ruler’s commandments may escape the punishment temporarily. But those who slip from the Divine Mother’s commandments, face sufferings immediately.’ Speak the Truth’ is what Veda is saying. Some one realizes his mistake of not speaking the truth, when he suffers the stress from his conscience acting against him. We all know that the Divine Mother is our conscience, and this is Her action on the person not speaking the truth. This can be the best example that the Divine Mother’s ruling of universe will never fail.

She is in the form of governing commands. What one must do and what to avoid are said in Vedas. She is in such commandments. She gives out such commands to ensure smooth, error-free running of the universe.

She is in Ajna chakra, in Kundalini’s path from Muladhara to Sahasarara. Her form in Ajna Chakra is described in earlier Namams 521 to 527.

The Vedas are Her commandments. This is the making of nature. These Vedas issue the commands, like the Guru telling his disciples,” Speak the Truth, tread the path of Dharma!”. There is no exception here. The commandment is firm.

The Puranas and epics install in us the essence of the same commandment, as a friend does to us. Through such stories of Hari Chandra and Yudhisthira, the poems and plays impart the same commandment and awaken us.

Bhaskararaya finds validity for this Namam in Linga Purana, where the Shiva says, “She is neither Prakrti (cause, nature) nor Jiva nor Vikrti (effect), She is eternal commandment that emerged out from my mouth”.

This Namam may also be taken as Jna, with the meaning “Brahma, a wiseman, and the planet mercury”.  According to Linga Purana, it is to be understood as, “one who enjoys the gunas”. The Shvetashvatara Upanishad, IV.2, says,” Jna is the Lord of Time, possessor of gunas and omniscient”. The meaning of this is that the Divine Mother is the essence of the three gunas and is omniscient.

The Divine Mother is the divine commandment Herself. 

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 01 May 2022; updated 13 August 2025.

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 827: Shri Prachanda (ōṃ pracaṇḍāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother has extreme anger to destroy the evils causing trouble to Her devotees and to all Her creations.

Prachanda is the Devi who killed Bhandasura and his armies. She has commanding position being the Empress. the Divine Mother is the sovereign ruler with great power and ruling capacity She is ruling the universe; She should have controlling ability and ruling capability. As an effective ruler, She uses four methods Sama, Dana, Pheda, and Danda to rule effectively. otherwise, Her ruling will not be effective. When there is a need, the effective ruler should get angry to improve the performance of to give Danda action. Afraid of angry actions by the Divine Mother and or Brahman, the Sun, Moon, other Devas, and five basic elements do their duty well is what is said in Upanishads. The Divine Mother has such commanding position in ruling the universe well. She is celebrated as Pracanda, the one with extreme anger to destroy the evil forces.

The universe came from Her; there are many forms and beings in it. To ensure systematic functioning of such universe, the Divine Mother must take severe actions against poor performers. She installs the fear in others about Her severe actions. When the lower-level people see the head or the ruler taking severe actions, they do their duty well. She displays such anger, for others to be afraid of Her. Along the way She destroys completely the evil forces such as Bhandasura.

She is the one who has awe-inspiring attendants to be called Prachanda. Air, water, and fire are fierce attendants. The Divine Mother’s extreme anger is manifested through the wrath of nature’s forces.

Taittiriya Upanishad, II.8.1, says of Brahman, “Through fear of Him, the wind blows. Through fear of Him the Sun rises. Through the fear of Him again. Indra, fire, and Death God Yaman do their respective duties.”

How can someone who has no anger and whom no one fears enforce righteousness? asks Kamantaka.

Prachanda is said to be fond of the Chanda flower (the snake flower); This flower is an antidote to poison.

The Divine Mother has extreme anger to destroy evils

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 30 April 2022; updated 13 August 2025.

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 826: Shri Prasavitri (ōṃ prasavitryai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the Mother of the universe.

She creates all in the universe. She is formless Brahman, but She comes out with infinite forms to create the universe. From the first element akasa, which is not moving, four other moving elements, vayu, fire, water and earth are formed out; those four elements’ spreads are limited compared to akasa.

Bacteria are found in water and on earth. From that all other universal beings graduate upwards to reach the higher human level. Only humans can discord all other forms and still reach the Brahman. The Divine Mother is in all these forms as a guiding force. For this reason, She is called Prasavitri.

She is the one who gives birth to Cosmas. Bhaskararaya quotes from Devi Purana to support this: “The Shakti from whom proceed all things, from Brahma to the inanimate, the Divine Mother of the whole universe, from Mahat down to small insect are born, we bow to that Mother of all. Since She gives birth to all living beings, She is known as Savita also.”

    The Divine Mother is the Mother of the universe. 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 29 April 2022; updated 13 August 2025

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 825: Shri Budh-archita (ōṃ budhārcitāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is worshipped by the wise.

She is worshipped by all, but more so by the wise and the noble humans. From Jada Shakti form, the soul has matured into chit form. Depending on the level of maturity of the souls, there will be differences in their progress. Stones and grass also have life in them. Insects and smaller animals are different forms of life. Birds and bigger animals have different knowledge levels. Based on the body structure and their differences in forms, we either praise or hate them. The Divine Mother is the root cause of all these reactions. There are a few who appreciate the Divine Mother’s skills and glories. Even the various edible sweets have the same basic sugar content and yet they have different shapes and forms. The children may like one form and hate some other forms of sweets. The Divine Mother functions in many ways and forms. The yogis visualize this and worship Her. Due to ignorance, one tends to find the differences in Her various forms.

Those who have gained sufficient knowledge about Brahman and those who want to know about Brahman by reading the Vedas can be considered wisemen in this context here. With the Divine Mother’s blessings, they understand the wonders of Her universal creations and pursue further to understand Her glories. She is worshipped by such wise men.

Krishna says in the Gita, VII.16. “Four kinds of virtuous men worship me, O Arjuna, namely the distressed, the seeker of knowledge, the seeker of wealth and the jnani (the man of wisdom).”

A plain glass will not reflect the face; it must be coated on one side to turn into a mirror. Similarly, just being born as a human being does not mean that one’s thoughts will turn to God. One needs the Samskaras (rites marking major events in one’s life) or merit earned in previous births. Only such a person can stay near the fire and ward off the cold. Others will keep a distance and suffer the cold.

Budha also means the planet Mercury. Budha is considered wise and all knowing. Je blesses those who worship him with all auspicious boons. Adi Sankara (who himself a Budha) says in his Kanakadhara Stotram that those who worship Mahalakshmi will all be blessed by Budha. Budha himself is constantly worshipping the Divine Mother. Therefore the Divine Mother is Budha-archita.

The Divine Mother is worshipped by the wise

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 28 April 2022; updated 11 August 2025/

 

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 824: Shri Bahu rupa (ōṃ bahurūpāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother has multitude of forms.

She is formless or in many forms. In this universe, we cannot see two identical or the same things. Even two sand particles are not same in shape and size. Even living things such as turmeric tree leaves have different shapes from one another, thereby having separate identity. So, each being has a special effect within it. Even moving animals (which have hair on their bodies) do not have exactly same type of hair in their bodies.

The Divine Mother is in very many forms. She has a different name for each such form. Plants of both spreading and non-spreading types, green grass. insects, animals, and humans all have differences in them. Of these the humans have reached the highest maturity level to seek the Brahman. Their body structures can be differentiated in three ways, considering only outwardly appearing structures, leaving out that are inside the bodies. The inner body parts have many countless shapes and forms. From outward appearance, we can probably guess their social community groupings. But we cannot ever find two identically same humans. To understand such differences in all beings is a form of the Divine Mother worship.

She is far beyond such many forms as always. From this when She shows up Her three attributes such as tamasic. rajasic and sattvic tattvas, She is called Bahurupa.

She is in many forms. To create all universal beings, She takes many motherly roles or forms. Avidya, Mahat and Ahankara. Then Mantras are some of differing types of motherly forms. She takes the forms of devas, humans, animals, grass, trees and Her a few of the other worshipping forms such as Lalitha and Durgha.

The Divine Mother is in manifold forms; from micro level being or atom to a tall mountain; from the glowworm to the sun. Devi Bhagavata says, “As She is the Supreme Reality, She is formless; because her nature is one of activity, She is also one who has many forms,” Similarly, “Since She is everything moveable and immoveable, She has countless forms,” according to Devi Purana.

This name is also interpreted as, “One who becomes one, two, sixteen and thirty-two “. One is Brahman; two means Purusha and Prakrti, sixteen stands for the vowels and thirty-two for the consonants (a basic speech sound in which the breath is at least partially obstructed, and which can be combined with a vowel to form a syllable for arrangement with) both these are, of course, essential in all affairs of the world. The number sixteen here may also refer to the sixteen daily deities.

Varaha Purana says, “Raudri, the tamasic Shakti is known as Chamunda.  The rajasic Shakti, Vaishnavi, who represents the universe, is in eighteen (180 million) crores form. The sattvic Shakti, Brahma has an infinite number of forms. All these Shaktis are creations of Shiva; He is the Lord of all and spouse of the Divine Mother. Shiva is pleased with anyone who worships these Shaktis and with Him, the Shaktis are also pleased.

The Divine Mother is celebrated as many forms as possible because, She appeared in eleven versions of Rudra that please each of them. Devi Bhagavata Purana celebrates the Divine Mother who is of many names and forms as the Lakshmi, who through the manifestation of speech, shines like a dancer.’

Bhaskaracarya also quotes Varaha Purana to explain the meaning of this Namam. “The universe is seen to be manifested, and She is everywhere. Thus, because of the multiplicity of Her forms, She and Shiva are known as Bahurupa.

 

The Divine Mother has multitude of forms.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 27 April 2022; updated 10 August 2025.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 823: Shri Janani (ōṃ jananyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the Mother of all universal beings.

She is creating the whole universe; and constantly updating it. She is in Her own form always, the root cause of the universe; She created all five basic elements, the first element is Akasa. Like the Divine Mother, the Akasa is without any physical movement. From Akasa, Vayu (air) forms; Vayu is moveable element; From Vayu, the Agni or fire is created; from Agni, water is created. Following all these the final element Earth is formed. When water is formed, living beings are created and they reach the earth. Likewise, the Divine Mother creates very many other universal beings. When a devotee controls his mind, to meditate and reach the Brahman, he is purified. To consider the universe and its beings as the forms of the Divine Mother, is to get purified to attain the Brahman or the Divine Mother.

The Divine Mother is identified in five names, such as, the Janani is the mother, one who joins with the father to fertilize within Her; next Matha is the one who holds the egg within Her; then Prasavitri is the one who sees the egg grow and when the child is ready to come out, She helps the child to come out; next Dhatri is the one who cares to grow the new born child; then Amba is the one who saves the child, when it faces trouble. The Divine Mother does all these five functions; She gets all these five names. In these five names. Janani is the first stage in creation; the Divine Mother thus gets the name Janani, as this Namam is called.

As the Divine Mother is the Mother of all, from Brahma to the lowest level micro insect, She is the Mother of the universe.

 

The Divine Mother is the Mother of all universal beings

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 26 April 2022; updated 10 August 2025.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 822: Shri Brahman (ōṃ brahmaṇē namaḥ

The Divine Mother is Brahman.

She is in Brahman form. Truth (Sathyam), Knowledge (Jnana), and Infinity (Anandham) are the key things to know about the Brahman. It is without any differences and not changing, even by a small amount, by itself and is present eternally. Those souls which mature and attain Brahman, get all the attributes of the Brahman. When the soul’s status is confirmed as part of the Brahman, the soul gets the liberation from Samsara Sagara, which is birth and death cycle. Water evaporated from the ocean goes through various forms. In Himalaya, it is ice; on melting, it comes down the valley as water; it gets into stream and becomes a river; later as great River like Ganga; when it reaches the sea it gets back its attributes of the sea. Likewise, the soul goes through different stages and forms to gain maturity to reach back the Brahman. This Namam Brahman is to be understood about the Divine Mother’s glories in managing the universal beings.

When the soul realizes the Truth form of the Brahman which is without any difference and Satchidananda which is of three stages. this is understood through meditation. Self-realization is the way to reach the Brahman. At that stage when, the soul realizes that soul and Brahman are not different, there is no place to think that the Divine Mother and the Brahman are different.

The Sruti says, “Brahman is Truth, Knowledge and Infinity.”. Truth is the Pure Existence that is changeless with the time, place, and reason. Real Knowledge is that which remains unchanged through three divisions of time namely past, present, and future. The ultimate reality has no beginning or end; it is not created and has no parts. That Brahman cannot be understood easily and freely. Its existence cannot be established by rules of inferences. The sole proof is direct realization by souls. The essence of Brahman is to be experienced, just as the sweetness of honey or the fragrance of a flower. The Divine Mother is that Ultimate Being. That knowledge is called Brahman, which destroys duality completely and is beyond words and is understood only by the Self alone” according to Vishnu Purana. 

The Divine Mother is Brahman.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 25 April 2022; updated 10 August 2025

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 821: Shri Brahmani (ōṃ brahmāṇyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the root of Brahman; She is the support for all.

She exemplifies the glories of Brahman. She is eternally in Anandham, the true nature of Brahman. This cannot be opposing the Brahman. The four faced Brahma has Sarasvati as his spouse. He needs the guidance of Sarasvathi and the Divine Mother, in doing his job of creating the universe. This is explained by Sage Paramahamsa as follows. Dried mud cannot be used for making the pot. Brahma is like dried mud. Sarasvati is like water. So, dried mud and properly mixed water can be used to make pots or other forms. Both Brahma and Sarasvati joined to continue creating universal beings. Sarasvati is also under the command of the Divine Mother. Due to this, the Divine Mother gets the name Brahmani.

The Divine Mother is Brahma Sakti. Ani is the sharp end of a nail. Ananda-mayam is a maya based tattva. It is hiding the Atman like a sword is held in its scabbard. The Atman resides in natural happiness and is called anandha-mayam. The Divine Mother is the end or the root to reach Brahman. It is like a sharp edge of a nail reaching inner areas. So, She is the root of the Brahman.

Brahman, with its Iccashakti form and due to maya effect is taking a form, as the Divine Mother and She is called Brahmani. As She is helping Brahma, through Sarasvati Devi in the creation of the universe; She is also called Brahmani.

Ani means a tail. This usually means the bottom or end of the backbone and its continuation; it forms the support used by animals for sitting.

The Bhruguvalli discusses the anandha-maya kosa (the bliss sheath), as made of five parts, the last of which is the ‘the tail’. This tail is the support for the universe, which is Brahman (Taittiriya Upanishad II.5.) The Divine

Mother is the Brahman, and She provides the support for all universal things.

The Divine mother gave life to Brahma, the creator and is, therefore, known as Brahmani as mentioned in Devi Purana.

Sadashiva is not different from Brahman, then the Divine Mother as His spouse is Brahmani.

The Divine Mother is the tail of Brahman; She is the support for all.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 24 April 2022 updated 10 August 2025

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamis AparnaSan 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

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 820: Shri Sati (ōṃ satyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is Reality, the Eternal Being.

She is the spouse of Shiva, named Sati, with the meaning that She is faithful. Shiva and Shakti are inseparable divinities. We cannot separate heat from fire, likewise Shiva and Shakti cannot be separated. When we pray, with both our hands join. Due to pulling forces, all galaxies are joined together. Similarly, the faithful love She has for Shiva keeps Her with Him (Brahman) always.

Sati and Dakshayani are the incarnations to show to the world, the Divine Mother’s faithfulness to Shiva. Because She left Shiva for her father Daksha’s yaga and got disrespect; this resulted in Her self-immolation and reincarnation as Himavan’s daughter Parvathi. She performed Thapas to merge with Shiva, again.

Shiva is Chit form, and She is called Sati. To understand this and pray to the Divine Mother is an excellent form worship to the Divine Mother.

She as Sati is totally faithful to Her spouse, Shiva; She is there eternally. She is in sat, the Brahman form.

 As daughter of Daksha Prajapati, She is the devoted spouse of Parama Shiva, the embodiment of fidelity. Her spouse was pleased because She made the name, Sati, true to its meaning ‘faithful’. He gave half of His body to Her. Shiva became Ardha-narishvara. Parvati, the daughter of Himavat, is the reincarnation of Sati (see Nama 598 Dakshayani, with the meaning that She is Satidevi, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati and Nama 600 Daksha Yajna Vinashini, with the meaning that She destroyed the sacrifice (yaga) conducted by Daksha).

The Divine Mother is Reality, the Eternal Being.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 23 April 2022; updated 06 July 2025. 

 

References:

1.   The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayis Aparna 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