Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 843: Shri Bhava chakra pravartini (ōṃ bhavacakrapravartinyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother turns the wheel of the birth and death cycles for all universal beings.

She controls the wheel of the Samsara cycle (cycle of life and death) for Her devotees and all other beings in this universe. Those who still are left with their life attachments will have a new birth to go through struggle or sorrow. Only a very few humans understand this principle; they try to reach Brahman or seek salvation in their life. People, whoever is trying to reach Brahman, only a small percentage reach the actual Brahman. Universal beings are being grouped into various types such as plants, animals, and humans. All these have attachments from earlier births, and they seek temporary enjoyment in their current birth. The surrounding nature they get depends upon their previous birth’s attachments; they always try to keep their attachments. When their initial desires are met, new desires come up for them. Soul’s desires which are met or not met is Bhava chakra. The Divine Mother controls actions for all universal beings. The souls are living to gain maturity, this way. Those who study nature will realize this fact to be true.

Sage Ramakrishna Paramahamsa gave an example. The child is playing with the playthings given by its mother; once it gets bored, it is seeking the mother herself. Bhava chakra is like this. All beings, wishing for their needs, get their desires filled within reasonable time. So, Bhava chakra looks attractive to universal beings. All universal beings are going through their Bhava chakra with the blessings of the Divine Mother.

Every one’s life is linked to another universal beings. It is spinning like a chakra. It may look like that first being is spinning second being’s chakra, and on the reverse, the second being is spinning the first being’s chakra. All these spinning are beyond each individual being’s control; The Divine Mother is behind, turning the wheel smoothly for each universal being.

Anaha chakra belongs to Shiva. Kundalini shakti controls the function of this chakra also. In Srichakra there are triangles; four representing the Shiva facing east and five Shakti triangles facing west. The Divine Mother is controlling all these Shiva and Shakti chakras.

Our mind is always spinning like a chakra. Bhavan, Shiva’s chakra is controlled by the Divine Mother also. Mahavishnu holds a chakra in his hand which is spinning always and letting out heat as mentioned in Vishnu Purana.

“Another birth, another death and yet again another time lying in the biological mother’s womb”. Thus, the wheel of samsara goes around through births and deaths. The Divine Mother turns this wheel for everybeing in this universe.

Bhava chakra is the Anahata chakra in our bodies. Bhava is Shiva, this chakra is Shiva’s chakra. The Anahata chakra in the heart region is Shiva’s abode, and the Divine Mother is activating this chakra. As the heart is Divine Mother’s abode also, there may be question as to how it can be now termed as Shiva’s abode. In truth, it is Shiva, or the Divine Mother, or Brahman are all one and same. It is unity in diversity, the combination of all qualities.

Chakra can be viewed as mind. Bhava chakra belongs to Shiva’s mind. The Divine Mother controls it. Poet Kalidasa says in Kumara Sambhava “And on Shiva’s part, there is little loss of composure.”

Vishnu Purana says mind is a chakra, “Vishnu bears in His hand (Mind), in the form of the chakra which is constantly revolving; it is swifter than the wind.

            The Divine Mother turns the wheel of the birth 

           and death cycle for all universal beings.      

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 16 May 2022; updated on 14 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