Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 859: Shri Kastha (ōṃ kāṣṭhāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother dwells in the highest state (beyond which there is nothing).

She is the inner meaning of Vedanta. Shiva in eight special forms is shining. “Bheema”, one of Shiva’s names, also refers to Akasha. Bheema’s spouse is Kastha, as mentioned in Puranas is also in the form of the Divine Mother.

Meaning expands exponentially when we logically analysis Akasha. To avoid the confusion, Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa provided an example. When we dig in the sand at the riverbed there is water within the hole. We can take that hole water and drink to quench our thrust. The interpretation is that when people are doing the analysis of Akasha or Shiva’s Bheema logically, are confused. These misled arguments are presenting the Vedanta inner meanings as incorrect. However, the spouse of Bheema (Shiva) the Divine Mother is in the inner meanings of the Vedanta, which everyone can realize as truth of Herself.

When we explain the Brahman in simple two words, it will become a Maha Vakiyam or a great saying. Brahma Vidya and Ananda Brahman are great sayings. They give the meaning of the Divine Mother, clearly without any misunderstanding, is Ultimate Happiness. Self, the Brahman can explain its existence as Great Vidya or Knowledge or the Ultimate. To explain all these, as confirmed by Bhaskararaya also, the Divine Mother is as ‘Kastha”. Those who seek to reach the Divine Mother as Kastha will have clear knowledge and pure love.

She is in Kastha form beyond any time restrictions. In one day, the following are the time limits or factors mentioned in ancient documents,

 

1.     Eight yamams are equal to 24 hours.

2.     Six murthangal are equal to one yamam.

3.     Two nadiys equal to one murtham

4.     15 lagus equal to one nadiy

5.     15 Kastha are equal to one lagu

6.     5 Shinangal are equal to one Kastha

7.     3 Neemoshas are equal to one Shinam

8.     3 Lavaingal are equal to one Neemosham

9.     8 Vethangal are equal to one Lavam

10.100 Thristi are equal to one Vedal

Kastha is also a yellow colour tree, its inside is also yellow in colour. People consider this tree as Shiva Shakti form and pray towards this tree.

In Vedanta, Her true Self is mentioned. Shiva’s Bheema form, Akasha’s spouse Kastha, the Divine Mother, is mentioned as directional Devi. This directional Devi has no limiting end points, which are also called Kastha. The meaning is that She, the Divine Mother, is expanding far beyond the limits of the directions and that there is no limit to each direction. When we try to reach the limit, it keeps going further away. Yet it appears like having a limit. The Divine Mother is at such non-reachable level.

Kastha also means dead wood. Again, Shiva is known as Esthanu, meaning tha rather than being a living tree trying to grow. Shiva is like a dead wood. Between Esthanu and Kastha there are no differences in their growth.

Bhaskarararaya quotes from the Suta Samhita, “Whether it be with form or without form, real or unreal, the Supreme Shiva (and the Divine Mother by their unionization as one) is the foundation for all the statements of Vedanta which are the highest state (Parakastha)’. The Sruti also says, “That is Kastha, the Ultimate goal, that is the Supreme way.” (Kata Upanisad l.iii.III)

Kastha is that which spreads everything. Krishna declares in the Gita (X.42), “support this entire universe, pervading at with a single fraction of Myself.” And Linga Purana says that the Divine Mother is Kastha, the spouse of Supreme Shiva, who is in the form of Akasha known as Bheema containing within all living and non-living things.

Also, Kastha is considered as one who stands beyond the ocean of soul’s samsara Sagara.

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 The Divine Mother dwells in the highest state

     (beyond which there is nothing)

 C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 01 June 2022; updated 12 September 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