Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 814: Shri Amurta (ōṃ amūrtāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother has no definite form. She is without any form as in Brahman.

The universe is made up of five elements; the universal beings are dependent upon their maturity to take the appropriate forms for visualization by their senses. Earth cannot always be in sand form but can show itself as mountains and valleys, Further, water may be form and formless. River water, rainwater, and when water is frozen become hard ice blocks; the same ice due to heat turns into water and steam. Agni or fire is even better, it does not have its own form, yet it takes the shape of things it is mixing with. Air and Akasha have no form. Through these five elements, humans can take various forms.

Humans can be affectionate or hateful in nature However, with the Divine Mother’s forms, we understand that such feelings have no forms. In each of the universal being, we can visualize both forms, Murta and Amurta aspects. Air is present as amurta in specific areas whereas Akasha is spreading all over representing the Divine Mother’s formlessness. The devotees ought to pray to the Divine Mother in such Murta and Amurta forms. 

Essentially, She is formless as in Brahman. There is no constriction here with earlier Namam 813, “Murta”. One is apparent reality; the other is the ultimate truth. Forms are apparent; the formless is the ultimate essence as in Brahman.

The deluded despise Me clad in a human body, not knowing My higher nature is Lord of all “beings”, says Krisna in Gita, lX.11. His real essence is the cause of the whole universe, but ignorant people mistake Him for an ordinary being in human form.

Brahman has two aspects, murta with form and amurta, without form, says Brhadaranyaka Upanisad, ll.iii.i. The form is the universe and the formless is the Self. Also, the Vishnu Purana says, “The Brahman has two forms murta and amurta, perishable and nonperishable, both are in all beings. The imperishable is ever changeless Brahman, while the perishable is the whole universe.”

That which is perceived through the senses is gross or with form, and that is imperishable is subtle or formless. The Divine Mother is there, as form-based Universe and formless Brahman.

It is recommended to revisit earlier Namam 813 write up here to understand the Divine Mother’s Murta form, and Amurta, formless states.

 

The Divine Mother has no definite form.    

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 17 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