Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 40: Shri Manikya Mukuta Kara Janu Dvaya Virajita (OM mANikyamukuTAkArajAnudvayavirAjitAyai namaH)

The Divine Mother’s each of the two knee joints below HER thighs, is like a single piece of ruby (red in colour). They appear like a crown on each knee.  Other way of saying this can be: The Divine Mother’s two knees are looking like crowns which are made of precious rubies in deep red in colour.

We have seen in earlier namams that the Divine Mother is red in colour like an early morning raising Sun. This red colour of the Divine mother is also confirmed by Abirami Bhatter in his first verge in Abirami Anthathi.

உதிக்கின்ற செங்கதிர், உச்சித் திலகம், உணர்வுடையோர்
மதிக்கின்ற மாணிக்கம், மாதுளம்போது, மலர்க்கமலை
துதிக்கின்ற மின் கொடி, மென் கடிக் குங்கும தோயம்-என்ன
விதிக்கின்ற மேனி அபிராமி, எந்தன் விழுத் துணையே:

The Tamil meaning given by Kavingar Kanadasan:

உதய சூரியனின் செம்மையான கதிரைப் போலவும், உச்சித்திலகம் என்கிற செம்மலரைப் போலவும், போற்றப்படுகின்ற மாணிக்கத்தைப் போலவும், மாதுள மொட்டைப் போலவும், ஒத்து விளங்கும் மென்மையான மலரில் வீற்றிருக்கின்ற திருமகளும் துதிக்கக்கூடிய வடிவையுடையவள் என் அபிராமியாகும். அவள் கொடி மின்னலைப் போன்றும், மணம் மிகு குங்குமக் குழம்பு போன்றும் சிவந்த மேனியுடையவள். இனி அவளே எனக்குச் சிறந்த துணையாவாள்.

Manikya: Kind of reddish ruby used in jewelry making.

Crown: This is usually used to cover the ladies’ centre portion of the head. Circular ornamental head dress worn by a monarch as a symbol of authority. This is made of or decorated with precious metals and jewels. The Divine Mother’s Crown is made with precious deep red rubies.

                                            

                                                         

Red colour rubies studded Crown

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 04 March 2020.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 61: Shri Sudha Sagara Madhyastha (OM sudhAsAgaramadhyasthAyai namaH)

From Namam 52 to 63,we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description.

The Divine Mother is living in the middle of Nectar Ocean.

Sudah Sagaram is a vast ocean of Nectar/Elixir/Ambrosia. Inside this ocean Kadabna forest is located. The Divine Mother’s Cintamani mansion built with wish-granting gems is inside this Kadamba forest. So the Divine Mother lives essentially in Sudha Sagaram. In humans Sahasraram is a Cakram above one’s head. This is also called Sudha Sagaram where the Divine Mother is said to live.

Earlier we saw Sri Cakram which is inside this Cintamani house. One can cross every stage of this Sri Cakaram and reach the Bindu. This Bindu is also within the Nectar Ocean.

According to Tantrasastras, there are three cities in this ocean of Nectar namely:

The first one is surrounded by the ocean of Nectar

The second is the Candramandala in the pericarp which forms the part of the wall of the thousand petaled lotuses.

The third one is the centre point “Bindu” of the Candramandala , also called “Aparajita”.

To understand the meaning of Aparajita, we need to consider three routes to attain salvation (no birth and death cycle for the soul) namely

People who pray to Lord Siva to reach Him in Kailash

People who pray to Lord MahaVishnu to reach Him in Vaikundam

People who pray to the Divine Mother to reach Her in Aparajita.(means unconquered  or undefeated or powerful and complete or Goddess Durga)

Srinagaram, Sripuram and Sri Cakaram are all the Divine Mother’s living places.

Namam 620 “Aneka Koti Brahmanda Janani” indicates that the Divine Mother created many very big lokas (something bigger than earth) or universes. Sudha Sagaram is outside of all these universes. In the centre of it is Kadamba Vanam. Inside Kadamba Vanam, the Cintamani house built with wish-granting gems is located. Within Cintamani house, the Sri Cakram is situated and the Divine Mother is living in Sri Cakara Bindu.

Close enough meanings for words used:

Tantricsastras: Sacred texts usually associated with a particular tradition and deity; here it is the Divine Mother.

Pericarp: the part of the fruit from the wall of ripened fruit. Here it can mean that part of the wall of the thousand petaled lotuses.

Candramandala: The circle of moon, the moon considered as a region

Bindu: a point without dimension, concentration of luminous energy, symbol of SivaSakthi in oneness.

Madhya: middle, internal, centre point,

Nectar is a sugary fluid secreted within flowers to attract the insects, animals and others.

Elixir: a substance, usually a liquid with magical power to cure or preserve something, here the life of the Devargal.

Ambrosia is a substance held capable of prolonging life indefinitely or Amrita, a pleasant food for the Gods and Devargal extending their life indefinitely.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 24/25 March 2020.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 60: Shri Kadamba Vana Vasini (OM kadambavanavAsinyai namaH)

From Namam 52 to 63,we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description.

The Divine Mother lives in Kadamba forest.

Kadamba vana or Kadamba forest is recorded in tantric doctrines of Hindu sacred texts in picture form. The Divine Mother’s Cintamani mansion is surrounded by many temples made of precious gems. The Kadamba trees provide the shade for such buildings. Adi Sankara says that the Divine Mother’s house is surrounded by a group of heavenly (celestial) tress.

Kadamba bud has been compared to earth. A spherical Kadamba bud has florets on all sides, like earthly sphere filled with various creatures living both on land and in water on the entire surface.

The Kadamba bud here can be considered to refer to Bhu-loka (earth where the humans are living).

Naturally any flourishing beautiful land space is good sign of the Divine Mother’s presence and blessing.

I pray to the Divine Mother seeking Her blessings to eliminate my ignorance and to give me intelligence. 

                         

                                                        

                                             

                                                        Kadamba Flower

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 23/24 March 2020.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 59: Shri Maha Padmatavi Samstha (OM mahApadmATavIsaMsthAyai namaH)

From Namam 52 to 63,we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description.

The Divine Mother resides in great lotus forest.

Great lotus forest is a thousand petaled lotus (Sahasra dala Padma) or the thousand spoked Sahasrara Cakra in humans.

Lotus is one of the best flowers used for worshiping the Divine Mother. The Divine Mother’s reddish colour had been compared to lotus by various ancient writers including Great poet Abirami Bhatter. 

In verse 6 in Abirami Anthathi, he is recording Her reddish colour and compares Her feet to lotus flower.

 6. மந்திர சித்தி பெற

சென்னியது உன்பொன் திருவடித்தாமரை; சிந்தையுள்ளே
மன்னியது உன் திருமந்திரம்; சிந்துர வண்ணப்பெண்ணே!
முன்னிய நின் அடி யாருடன் கூடி முறை முறையே
பன்னியது என்றும் உன் தன் பரமாகம பத்ததியே.

Whole universe is filled with the Divine Mother’s presence. She is clearly making her presence felt in the thousand petaled lotus forest for making it easy for her devotees to reach her.

This lotus forest or Maha Padmatavi is located between the Cintamani house and 25 palaces in Srinagaram. The Divine Mother chooses to stay in this lotus forest. She also present in Sahasrara Cakra in humans.

The ultimate fulfillment of the worship occurs when the Kundalini rises from the Muladara and reaches the Sahasrara Cakra, thousand petaled lotuses and merges with Lord Siva there. This is another way of saying that the thousand petaled lotus forest is the Divine Mother’s residence. There is a play ground provided for movement outside Her residence.

Maha Padmam is also a celestial elephant. A forest filled with such elephants is near Thivanaikaval and Srirangam in an island between Kaveri and Kollidam rivers in Tamilnadu.

 In Thiruvanaikaval, the Lord Sivan is known as Jalakandeswarar (representing water). The Divine Mother has the name Shri Akilandeswari.

In Srirangam Lord MahaVishnu is known as Ranganathan. He is said to have come to Srirangam from Vaikundam with Renganayagi (Mahalakshmi) to help his devotees. It is the foremost place in 108 important places to worship Lord Mahavishnu.

It is said that this Divine Mother Akilandeswari was active and aggressive in defeating the evil force, Bhandasuran.  Adi Sankara had performed pooja to calm down this Akilandeswari Devi and had installed a SriCakram. Akilandeswari is said to wear that SriCakram as her ear rings now. 

What is wonderful for the Divine Mother Akilandeswari is that She gets daily fresh flowers from her brother (MahaVishnu) Renganathan’s Srirangam  garden.

Atavi is a forest or Maya. Most creatures in this universe chase the Maya due to their ignorance.

The Divine Mother is residing in Maha Padmatavi. I am praying for Her blessings to eliminate my ignorance and darkness.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 22/23 March 2020.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 58: Shri Panca Brhamasana Sithita (OM pa ~ nchabrahmAsanasthitAyai namaH)

From namam 52, we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description up to Namam 63.

The Divine Mother is comfortably seated in Her Cintamani palace/mansion. Her seat is made of five Brahmas namely Bramhan, Vishnu, Rudran, Isvaran and Sadasivan.

The first four are Her Simhasan posts while Sadasivan is Her Simhasan. She is sitting on Kamesvaran’s left lap. South east Simhasan Simhasant is held by Brahma; Southwest Simhasan post is held by Vishnu; North east Simhasan post is held by Isvaran: Northwest Simhasan post is held by Rudran.

According to Adi Sankar in Soundaraya Lagari 24 th slokam Brahma is doing the creation function; Vishnu is doing the saving function; Rudran is doing destruction function; Isvaran is doing the resolution or giving mukthi function for the devotees.

They meditate up on the Divine Mother, eyes closed, thinking only the Divine Mother’s figure or rupam while standing motionless as Simhasan posts. Unsteady objects or people cannot stand as Simhasan posts. The fact that they are shown as Simhasan posts of the Divine Mother’s Simhasan is sign that they are under Her control. They get their power/sakthi from the Divine Mother. The four Brahmas shown supporting the Divine Mother is a sublime image. That is to mean that those devotees who attain such motionless stillness can only reach and hold Her within themselves.

For example: electric light, electric audio speaker, electric fan, electric cooker and electric mixer are doing different functions. Their source of power/strength is from Electricity supply. Similarly all these five Brahmas do different functions, yet all their strength comes from the Divine Mother only.

Indran is the best symbol of prosperity and comfort. Yet the Indran‘s comfortableness is compared to the spittoon used by the Divine Mother. All the universal (worldly and heavenly) riches held by Indran are only the spittoon for the Divine Mother. Then why someone should chase such Indran’s comforts and prosperity instead of seeking the Divine Mother’s blessings?

The symbolism of the Divine Mother sitting on Pancha (five) Brahma seat or aasana is that the entire universal creation is made by these five Brahmas energized by the Divine Mother only.

Certain times, the Divine Mother can take away the power from these five Brahmas to keep within Her. They may look like five dead people. This namam can in a remote sense lead us to understand that Pancha Brahasana is relating to five dead people.

There are links this present namam to other namams 249 and 947 in this Sahasranamam.

As She is sitting in Pancha Brahmam, I am praying for the Divine Mother to see me to bless me and to eliminate my ignorance and to give me knowledge.

Additional meanings:
Spittoon is a metal or earth ware pot typically having a funnel shaped top used for spitting into.

Tantric texts: Scared texts usually associated with a particular tradition and deity; here it is the Divine Mother.

Trinity is a group of three related deities. Here called Trimurthi namely Brahma, Vishnu and Siva doing creation, preserving and destroying/transforming functions respectively.

Tanmatra is subtle element. There are five sense perceptions namely hearing, touch, sight, taste and smell. There are corresponding five tanmatras for such sense perceptions.

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 21/22 March 2020.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 57: Shri cintA maNi gRhAntasthA' (OM chintAmaNigRRihAntasthAyai namaH)

From namam 52, we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description up to Namam 63.

The Divine Mother’s a palace or house is made of Cintamani Gems.

Cintamani is a gem. It can fulfill every wish or desire. The Devargal are said to have these Cintamani gems which can give them what their minds wish. The Divine Mother’s house is supposedly built with such Cintamani gems.

The inner meaning of this namam is to point out that a house made of wish fulfilling gem is one’s own mind. That gem (mind) has the power to reach and bring out the most unreachable goals of the devotee. That specific house is also the Divine Mother’s residing place.

The Devargal are even said to be worshipping the Divine Mother in Her Cintamani residence.

In summary like a Cintamani gem, the Divine Mother’s worship will give or fulfill every wish of the devotee. She has such mantra power. From Cintamani house, where She lives, She grants the wishes of the devotee very similar to the Cintamani gems.

Grhantastha:  The owner of thehouse

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 20/21 March 2020.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 56: Shri Sriman Nagara Nayika (OM shrImannagaranAyikAyai namaH)

From namam 52, we will be seeing the Divine Mother’s residence description up to Namam 63.

The Divine Mother is the ruler and or the boss of the most splendorous/auspicious city/ prosperous city or Srinagaram. Sriman is added as a respect for the Divine Mother.

The Divine Mother’s city Saubhagyapura (prosperous city) is on the middle peak of Mount Meru. This we saw in Namam 55. Also it is in the middle of ocean of nectar. This is also reflected in Namam 61 “Sudha Sagara Madhyastha” which we will see in detail soon. This auspicious city is called the SriCakara. There is also a hidden meaning to this present namam. Sri Cakram and  Kundalini in human body is the Divine Mother’s place of residences. The Divine Mother is the ruler of the Sricakara.

A cakaras is a revolving object. SriCakra is the symbol of revolving universe.

The description of SriCkara:

There is a square at the outset. Inside the square, there are three circles. Further inside this, there are sixteen petals in a circle and eight petals inside that; then comes in order going inwards a cakara of 14 triangles, then one of ten, another one of ten and then one of eight triangles.

Finally there is a triangle at the centre and a point (Bindu) at the centre. There is also a namam Bindu mandala Vasini which we will see later in detail.

Further we can try to visualize the SriCakra. Rather than seeing it as a picture on a plain surface, we can see it as a solid object. At the very top there is a point or Bindu is there. Below it, there is a triangle.This is also the tantric image of the human body. It is to be viewed as the image of the entire universe. These information or key point of SriCakara are well recorded in ancient Hindu sastras.

SriCakra becomes Merucakara when turned into an image.

Sage Adi Sankara/ Sankaracarya in the past had installed SriCakra in many of Divine Mother’s temples in India.

Various other names of SriCakra are: Cakraraja, Navayanickara, Viyatcakra and Matrkackara.

SriCkara is presided by the Divine Mother (Shri Lalitha Devi) who is the mother for all in the Universe. May I pray and attain the lotus feet of the Divine Mother sitting in the Bindu.

Additional meanings:

Nagara is a place filed with mountains and valleys with mountain like castles having beautiful places and parks with huge trees for sporting around.

Nectar is a sugary fluid secreted within flowers to encourage the insects, animals and others. Also it can mean as collected by bees to make honey.

                                                                    

                        Picture of SriCakra

C N Nachiappun

Singapore, 19/20 March 2020.