Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 988: Shri Adbhuta caritra (ōṃ adbhutacāritrāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother’s history and deeds are marvelous.

She has always marvelous history and wonderful actions. She is the universe; all happenings in the universe are ever wonderful in nature. All the societies in every yuga in this universe are examples. All Kalas increasing with the time are the natural Mothers’ glories. To control evil is nature’s schemes of things. All souls have come from Brahman or the Divine Mother. Providing happiness and avoiding evils for all souls, are Her scheme of actions.

Earlier Nama Anagha can be explained differently. For all deeds, there are later effects. If the deed is good, there is good efforts results. We humans cannot do anything without a resultant effect. The Divine Mother actions are without resultant end effects. It is wonderful. If anyone is without ‘I’, the later effect will not follow him. For all souls, I’ refers to the Divine Mother. Even with ahankara, the soul also cannot get end effects with the Divine Mother’s grace. The Divine Mother’s actions are wonderful ones in nature without any end effects.

Caritra means both pertaining to history and fidelity in marriage. The Divine Mother’s history and Her fidelity both evoke wonder. The entire Devi Purana is the portrayal of Her exploits. There is no need to look for Her faithfulness to Her spouse than in Ardhanarisvara concept. This was clarified by the name Kamesa jnata saubhagya mardavoru dvayanvita (earlier Namam 39).

Bhaskaracarya also interpreted this Namam as “She who protects from the results of natural upheavals like earthquakes, lightening, and storms.”

The Divine Mother’s history and deeds are marvelous. 

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 08 October 2022; updated 05 November 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, Tiruchirappalli, India, with Commentary by C. V. Radhakrishna Sastry.

3. The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamil Nadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sith-Bavandar.