Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 888: Shri Vipra rupa (ōṃ viprarūpāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the knower of the Self.

She is shaped like knowers of the Self. It is the true form of the Divine Mother, to shape and guide Her devotees to know and ultimately merge with Brahman.

She is in Vipra (those who learn Vedas and live by it) form. In this universe, Jada or static materials are lifeless. In that class, some are of higher valued quality such as gold and lower valued quality such as iron. For those living, plants are at lower level, and humans are at higher level. Even within humans, Vipra has higher status. We can see the Divine Mother’s presence and Her glories where there are more Vipra. For a human, there are certain parts required; without legs and hands one can live but without a head, he cannot live. An illiterate person with lesser knowledge skills, even with perfect body parts, cannot of much help to his society. Among humans, Vipra have the higher place. To celebrate the Divine Mother in such Vipra form is a form of worship and tribute to Her.

Those who learn the Vedas and live by their rules are also Vipra; the Divine Mother appears in such Vipra form. For those who are born as Brahmana, the Divine Mother helps them to properly learn the Vedas and to practice Vedic way of life. Vipra’s strength grows; he will leave his attachments and live a life of divinity. When anybody respects him, if his ahamkara shows up, his Vipra strength will decrease. When he realizes such effects within him, he ought to leave his ahamkara. He should live to seek divinity. This is possible only through the Divine Mother’s grace. In such ways, She, grows Vipra to be highest level of humans.

                                                     

    The Divine Mother is in the form of knower of the Self.

                                                                                                                       

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 30 June 2022; updated 25 September 2025.

 

References:

1.     The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published by Mata Amritanandam in 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