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