Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 871: Shri Bahir mukha sudurlabha (ōṃ bahirmukhasudurlabhāyai namaḥ)

It may be difficult to attain the Divine Mother looking outward and praying to Her

She is less easy to reach or attain through external prayers. To understand the Brahman (Shiva and the Divine Mother in unison) is equal to knowing the whole universe. Ganesa through inward looking prayers got His mangos, whereas his brother Muruga, with His external means and associated delays, had to struggle to get mangos. This concept is always applicable for all universal beings. So, to reach the Brahman one ought to leave out external means of his worshipping; he ought to focus with internal worshipping means.

The Divine Mother is less easily attainable by the people desiring external things in this universe. One’s mind using five sensing elements is trying to get external things on assumption, he will get happiness. People with thinking that external things are great are called Bahir Mukhar. They may even seek the Divine Mother’s blessings to get such external things.  They do not realize that with the Divine Mother’s blessings, they can attain the ultimate, Herself. Since they seek the Divine Mother’s blessings to get minimal external things, they miss out the ultimate of attaining Herself.

Sudurlabha can mean that She cannot be attained for sure. In this Sahasranamam starting from Namam 1 Sri Matha and up to Namam 992 Avyajakarunamurtih, the concept that She cannot be attained is not stressed well. Namam 254 Dhyana dhyatr dhyeya rupa means that any lay man without superior knowledge can worship the Divine Mother to attain Her. So, the meaning that She cannot be attained, looks not quite appropiate. It ought to be interpreted as that the Divine Mother is not quit easily attainable. Soundariya Lahari verse 95, says that for people with wavering sense, She, is not easily attainable. So, here the desire on external things is not making it easy to attain Her. This is not the fault of the Divine Mother. man, considers Her worship by learned and the common man as equal. She grants same kindness and benefits, like the sun giving out the light to all universal beings equally. Here the learned people with inwards looking prayers get full benefit but the unlearned common man, still looking for external things, may get his reduced share of benefits. It is like without knowing the value of a precious thing, selling it cheap. Those who know the greatness of the Divine Mother will not go with desires on external things and external based prayers.

Physical science is devoted to the analysis of external objects. Spiritual light does not shine because of that analysis. How can one find a fish in a tree” One must dive into the ocean or lake to get the fish. It is not enough to stand on the shore. If one casts a net from the shore and waits for a long time but this will bring only limited success. The returns will be greater if one braves the waves in a boat and casts a net. But the Mother ocean must also give Her blessings! if not the boat and the net and even one’s life may be lost.

Only an ascetic (Self-disciplined and abstention from all forms of indulgence typically for religious reasons) who had turned off the five senses through restraint and discipline, can see and enjoy the flashes of the Divine Mother’s effulgence in his inward-looking prayers.

It may be difficult to attain the Divine Mother

looking outward and praying to Her

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 13 June 2022; updated 26 August 2025.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published by Mata Amritanandamis Aparna San 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