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