Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 870: Shri Antar mukha samaradhya (ōṃ antarmukhasamārādhyāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is to be worshipped internally (mental worship).

The devotee worships the Divine Mother inwardly, meaning that he looks within him the Divine Mother. Through five senses, our mind and thinking look outwards. Our eyes see the universal things; through our ears we hear outside noises and music. Likewise, all five sensing elements have some involvement with universal materials. When the devotee tries to visualize the Divine Mother within him by inward looking, all the five sensing elements do not have any work to do. Without the help of ears, the mind can recite the Divine Mother’s mantras. As our offerings during our inward looking prayers to the Divine Mother reach their peak, we will have Darshan of the eternal Divine Mother. Those who want to take the Divine Mother prayers to higher level and to get clear mindset, ought to neglect all outward looking prayers. When that is completed, one can get the ultimate Liberation by merging with the Brahman (the Divine Mother).

Antar Mukhars are the people seeking the Divine Mother inward within themselves. Since these inward-looking devotees can visualize the Divine Mother, their souls within them gain eligibility to reach the Divine Mother (Brahman) easily. Since She is easily reached by inward prayers, Her glories have not been reduced. She is like a deeper depth lake, with all Her simplicity and glories within Her.

As one preceptor states, “One who picks the flowers of the mind and offers them to Mahesa (Shiva and the Divine Mother), need not do anything else.” If unable to do that, “by offering wildflowers or uttering Their names, Maya will disappear.”

This Namam makes it clear, the unique values of Manasa Pooja (internal worship) are prescribed by the Divine Mother. If everything is reaching the mind through inward looking prayers, how can mental worship fails to bear fruit?”.

Internal worship is the process that awakens Kundalini. The Kundalini residing as individual soul is none other than the Lalithambika, the Divine Mother. The process of awakening and guiding the Kundalini to the union with Shiva and the Divine Mother in Sahasrara gives astonishing changes to the worshipper’s(upasak’s) body. These have been described in earlier Namams, when we considered the Kundalini’s raising to Sahasrara . The Divine Mother, the Antamukhasamaradhya, is worshipped through internal means. The Yogis worship the Divine Mother through mental Upasana.

The Divine Mother is to be worshipped internally. 

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 12 June 2022 updated 26 August 2025.

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother publiget happinessby 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