Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 316: Shri Rati priya (OM ratipriyAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother is fond of Rati; She is served by Rati, the wife of Kama. 

The Divine Mother is acting through all universal creatures. The worldly desires and kama are essential for human life. Those, who are having low level of kama are also trying to worship the Divine Mother. Kama is part of the Divine Mother’s actions. Those devotees need to understand that all such kama actions are schemes by the Divine Mother, to lift Her devotees to higher level to reach the Brahman. The humans need to understand that the Divine Mother is also taking the Rati rupa to mature such devotees to higher level. 

Lord Shiva as Kamesvara became angry at Kama for disturbing His tapas; He burnt the Kama with his third fire eye. The wife of Kama, Rati suffered and stricken with grief, cried out the Divine Mother’s name seeking Her help. The Divine Mother pitied and felt sorry for Rati. With the Divine Mother’s blessings, Rati got back her husband Kama. Manmathan, the Lord of Kama and husband of Rati relived but only in his formless state. He is not visible to outside world.Thus the Divine Mother became dearer to Rati and in turn the Divine Mother liked Rati very much. 

Rati is conjugal pleasure and she is keen in Kama activities; this is fully needed for the uplifting of the universal creatures and also the survival of the universe. The Divine Mother is positively disposed towards Rati for this reason;  She is fond of Rati.

 

The Divine Mother

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 06 December 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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.

The Lalitha Sahasranamam published in Tamil by Shri Ramakrishna Thapovanam, Thiruipparaithurai, Trichy District, Tamilnadu, India with commentary by Shrimath Swami Sithbavandar 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 315: Shri Rati rupa (OM ratirUpAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed. 

The Divine Mother is in the form of Rati, the wife of Kama’s form. 

Lord Kamesvara and Goddess Kamesvari in their unison are creating the desire in humans to reach the Brahman. Kama or Rati create the human’s five sensual organs’ desires. Most humans consider only their present bodily needs. They improve from lower level bodily desires to higher mature desire to reach the Brahman by worshipping the Divine Mother or the Rati rupa. The Divine Mother is in many various forms of Rati in this universe; Devotee’s such a realization helps to overcome his sensual organs’ kama. 

This Namam interpretation is that the Divine Mother takes the Kama’s wife Rati’s form; Rati is the extreme desire to have something without which there is no satisfaction to oneself. Rati, the Kama’s wife creates in human minds desire and involvements in universal things; these are all actions by the Divine Mother. So the Divine Mother acts in Rati’s form. The Divine Mother takes a pure joyful form; She imparts maximum bliss to everyone. 

Rati can be interpreted to mean as attachment oriented; that is organs desires for pleasures. Vrati is non attachment to such organs pleasures. 

The Gita (V11.11) says,” Of the strong, I am the strength devoid of passion and attachment; and in all beings, I am the Kama (desire), that is unopposed to the dharma, O Arjuna!”

 

The Goddess Madurai Meenakshi.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 05 December 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 314: Shri Rakandu vadana (OM rAkenduvadanAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother has a full moon like delighting face. 

Reka means full moon; the Divine Mother has a face similar to the full moon; it is a full face without fault or dirt or with cooling delightful look, which are the attributes of full moon. 

With moonlike cool, sweet and attractive face, the Divine Mother certainly has kind heart to grant Her gracefulness and blessings to Her devotees. Wherever, we see a full moon faced female, the Divine Mother’s presence is very evident in her. The devotee has the responsibility to convert him or herself to be ready to seek the Divine Mother’s Brahma status; after which, the full moon faced the Divine Mother’s attributes are reflected in him or her. 

Earlier we saw Namam 16 “Mukha Chandra Kalankabha Mrganabhi Visesaka” with the meaning that She wears a musk on Her forehead which shines like the spot in the moon. The Divine Mother has such a delightful face.

The Divine Mother as Rakendu vadana 

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 04 December 2020.

 

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 313: Shri Rama (OM ramAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother has become the Lakshmi and Sarasvathi; She is Lakshmi who loves to dance and the provider of wealth; She is also Saravathi who loves knowledge and arts. 

When there is light, there is no darkness; where there is Lakshmi, there is no room for poverty; She lives in Mahavishnu’s left chest. Mahavishnu lives in the hearts of the devotees, so Lakshmi in effect lives in Mahavishnu’s devotees. Even if someone has lesser wealth to start with but still thinks that he has enough in life, his wealth level increases on its own; if he uses that wealth to help others, his wealth grows even more automatically. 

Rama is also attractiveness; Rama is Lakshmi and wealth; it makes one to be joyful. So with Lakshmi’s blessing one gets happiness and joy. The wealth that does not give happiness leads to poverty. Lakshmi lives in houses where good deeds are happening and wealth in that house increases. She does not stay in places where evil things are happening. 

In Devi Mahatmyam Chapter four: The prayers of Sakradi Devathas, verse 4 states: 

Yaa sree swayam sukrtheenaam bhavaneshwa lakshmi, Papathmaanam krutha dhiyaam hrudhayeshu budhi, Sradhaa sathaam kula jana prabhavasya lajja, Thaam thwaam nathaa sma paripalaya devi viswam. 

With the meaning: We salute that Goddess who is and will be in the form of wealth in the houses of holy people. She will be in the form of misfortune in the home of sinners. She will be in the form of wisdom in the heart of learned people. She will be in the form of good conduct in the hearts of good people. She will be in the form of shyness in the minds of those people born in good families. Oh Goddess, please save this world. 

Devi Mahatmyam Chapter four can also be further explained as follows:

When the most valiant and wicked Asura and his armies were slain by the Goddess, the hosts of gods headed by Indra lauded her, their necks and shoulders reverently bent, and bodies rendered beautiful with exultation. 

This is the longest and most eloquent of the Devi Mahatmyam’s four hymns. Known as the Shakradistuti (praise by Indra and the host of gods), it illumines the themes of good and evil, fate and free will, karma and divine grace. This hymn constitutes the fourth chapter of the Devi Mahatmyam. The hymn praises Durga as “good fortune in the dwellings of the virtuous and misfortune in the abodes of the wicked.” While this verse explicitly entails reward and punishment by a personal deity, implicitly it points to an impersonal balancing principle at work in the universe- the law of karma. Either ways the message is the same: our deeds have consequences. The hymn further proclaims that the Mother’s intentions are most gracious even toward evildoers. Her nature is to subdue the misconduct of the wicked. Through her inconceivable grace, even wrongdoers who have committed great evils that may well ensure them of long torments for their evil deeds are purified in battle by the touch of her weapons and are brought to beatitude. In destroying the demons the Goddess destroys the evil samskaras within us. 

Thus the supporter of the worlds was praised and worshipped with celestial flowers, perfumes, unguents and heavenly incense by devas. Benignly serene in countenance she spoke to the obeisant gods. The Devi said, “O devas, choose whatever you desire of me”. The gods responded, “Since our enemy, this Mahishasura, has been slain by you, O Bhagavati everything has been accomplished, and nothing remains to be done. And if a boon is to be granted to us by you, O Maheshvari, whenever we think of you again, please destroy our direct calamities. And, O Mother of spotless countenance, whatever mortal shall praise you with these hymns, may you, who have become gracious towards us, also be gracious to him and bless him to be fortunate, O Ambika!” Goddess Bhadrakali who was thus propitiated by the gods for their own sake and that of the world, said “Be it so” and vanished from their sight. 

The Divine Mother is provider of knowledge, arts and wealth to Her devotees.

 

The Divine Mother in Mahavishnu and Lakshmi form

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 03 December 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 312: Shri Ranat kinkini mekhala (OM raNatki ~ NkiNimekhalAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother wears a girdle with tinkling bells; with the sound making ornament in Her waist. 

Normal lower level matured people look at the dress and ornaments worn by others. Their Rasya or happiness by then is for them to start to worship the Divine Mother. 

The girdle in Her ornament worn at her waist gives out good musical sound; with that sweet sound, She is drawing the devotees towards Her to worship. Her outward appearance with such musical ornament is to please and to give happiness to Her devotees. 

She wears the girdle over Her ornaments; The verse of invocation, describe the Divine Mother as “decorated with all the ornaments (Sarvalankarayukta)”. 

 

The Divine Mother is wearing the ornament in Her waist.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 02 December 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 311: Shri Rasya (OM rasyAyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother’s presence is to be enjoyed; She enjoys Herself on universal happenings. 

The Divine Mother gives enjoyment to all universal creatures. The humans enjoy through their sensory organs; like eating good food; seeing beautiful things through their eyes; by touching, sensual pleasures enjoyments; hearing enjoyable things such as good music through the ears; enjoying the fragrance through the noses. 

The universal creatures enjoy their lives depending on their maturity level. Knowingly or unknowingly they start to worship the Divine Mother. The one who understand the Divine Mother start to seek the Supreme Brahman. The humans even if they are not matured enough, have their way of enjoyments. The Divine Mother is blessing all universal creatures in having their own enjoyments. 

The feeling one has after his own happy or sad experience leads to the Rasya. This may give joy or sorrow. If that is joyful feeling, it is called the Rasya. If it sorrowfulness, it is called Virasya. Lower level Kama will not be Rasya. The Divine Mother helps the devotee by removing their sorrowful experiences; Her presence is a joyful experience. Vedas describe the Brahman as Rasya. 

Rasam is the essence of the thing. The Sruti says, “He alone is the essence”. The essence referred here is the bliss of the Brahman. The Divine Mother reveals constantly that Brahma bliss. In addition, She creates the constant bliss of enjoyment for Her devotees.The Divine Mother is enjoyable as Rasya.

     The Divine Mother 

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 01 December 2020.

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 310: Shri Ramani (OM ramaNyai namaH)

In Namams 275 to365, the Divine Mother’s  many forms providing benefits to Her devotees in great details are discussed.

The Divine Mother gives joy to Her devotees. 

One’s body is developed through food intake and appropriate levels of physical exercises. The Divine Mother is playful type; She creates interest in various universal creatures for physical sports and exercise to upkeep them. This helps to reduce the difference between the devotee and the Divine Mother. This may be called the divine play by the Divine Mother; through such divine plays, the devotee gets to near the Divine Mother and his devotion towards Her grows. She shows Her simplicity to level off with the devotees and to grace with all Her glory to them. 

The Divine Mother as Balatripurasundarai, twelve years old enjoys playing. Many worship this young form of te Divine Mother to keep near to Her. 

The Divine Mother has melted the heart of Lord Shiva; he cut all his bonds and had become established in yoga. In the same way, the Divine Mother delights the hearts of the devotees; She deserves and is praised as Ramani by all. 

 

 The Golden kavacham Madurai Meenakshi.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 30 November 2020.

 

References:

1.       The Thousand Names of the Divine Mother published in English by Mata Amritanandamayi Center, 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