Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 288: Shri Punyapunya phala prada (OM puNyApuNyaphalapradAyai 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 out the effects of both good and evil actions. 

The Divine Mother grants the benefits of Punya and Papa (Sin) to the devotees. She gives out the happiness or sorrow depending on one’s karma.  From the grace given, one can understand as which of one’s actions are punya or papa. Ravana and his people were destroyed due their sinful actions. Bhisma and Karna had been with the evil people out of necessity but it was not their aim to increase the evil on their part; they were spared of their sinful punishments as a result. The Divine Mother gives the benefits based on one’s karma but the one’s who do not seek the fruits of their actions are liberated to be merged with the Brahman. 

If someone does what is needed to do, he gains punya; if he does things not fair, he gains papa. One’s karma is the basis of the Divine Mother’s help to him. 

Apunya means, an action looking similar to punya but not really a punya action. Certain times, due to ignorance or ahankara, someone does evil things. He would not know the resultant karma effect due to such actions. Just to avoid this, Vedas specifically state to do certain type of things and not to do some others. When someone does purposely evil things even after understanding the veda stipulations, the Divine Mother grants the punishment accordingly. She is kind as the mother, but She still has to punish the misdeeds of the devotees. 

The fruit of punya (good deed) is happiness; the effect of apunya (evil action) is sorrow. 

Karma is the key concept in Indian philosophy. No one can escape the karma effect. The ideal way of completely leaving the desire for fruits of action will help one to free from karma effects. Lord Krishna says this in Gita. In explaining Brahmasutra, sage Adi Shankara repeatedly explains that the rituals like yoga are not the path to liberation. There is desire for reaching the Brahman or seek rewards behind such yogic actions. 

The wanting to get Liberation or Moksa is a rare commodity among people. Many want material things in life. People who cry the Divine Mother’s names seeking Her grace, still have the bear their karma. 

The person immersed in worldly karma will bear the fruits strictly based on the rules of the Divine Mother. The real devotee gets light treatment of karmic effects on him. For example, when a mother takes her young child to the temple, she would probably carry the child. If she were to take others’ child with her to the temple, she may walk the child all the way to the temple. Here the karma through attachment, immersed in worldly actions is the slave to these actions. A devotee is a slave of karma only in the eyes of the world; in reality, he is the Divine Mother’s darling child (Ottur Nambudiripad). 

A mother punishes her problem child not out of the spite but for its own good. If someone slips on the ground and falls, he has to fall on that same ground only. Likewise “O Devi even for someone who errs against You, the real refuge is only You!” This is the basis for calling the Divine Mother as the dispenser of the fruits of good and evil deeds. We will understand that even our negative experiences flow from the Divine Mother’s compassion. 

The Divine Mother says, “When someone steps on a thorn, he becomes upset. But there is a ditch, just behind and the thorn saved him from breaking his leg by falling into the ditch. Because of the thorn in his feet, he took steps carefully, so he did not fall into the ditch. A devotee has to realize and see his unhappy experience in this way. 

 

The Goddess Annapoorani.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 08 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 Sithbavanda. 

4.          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EoRFDzDoU&t=7s 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 287: Shri Nijajna rupa nigama (OM nijAj ~ nArUpanigamAyai namaH)

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

The Divine Mother commands are in the form of Vedas. 

Nigama are Vedas; Tantras are written in accordance to Vedas. The Divine Mother is in Vedas form also. 

To bring each soul to higher matured stage is a bigger scheme of the Divine Mother. The Vedas stipulate on right things to do and things to be avoided by the humans. This comes about due to the Divine Mother’s vedas. The person who is following the Vedas’ teachings is said to follow the Divine Mother. By following the Vedas instructions, one’s mind, word and actions are said to improve to reach the Divine Mother. On studying one’s life, it is easy to determine, whether he is fully following the Divine Mother.  

The Divine Mother’s commands are routed through the Vedas. Such instructions are specified in Karmakandam. Based on varnas and asrama, the accepted dharama ways are stipulated by the Divine Mother. Further, nigama or Vedas explain the cause and effect means to reach the Brahman. Puranas convey the same meanings in much friendly smoother way to humans. Veda is like a ruler’s command. 

Due to love one cannot go beyond his wife’s instruction; due to friendship, one cannot go beyond a friend’s advice; likewise, the King’s instructions are to be followed due to the fear of punishment behind it. Similarly, Vedas are tough instructions from the Divine Mother, the Empress of the universe; the stipulated commands of the Divine Mother to be followed by the devotees. 

The Divine Mother in Kurma Purana says, “At the beginning of creation, the Supreme and ancient Sakti, according to my command manifested in the form of Vedas; Rg, Yajus, sama and Atharva.” 

Twenty eight Tantras following the Vedas emerged from Lord Shiva under the Divine Mother’s commands. 

Five Tantras from Kamika came from Lord Shiva which are known as Sadyojata; five starting from Dipta emerged from Vamadeva’s face; five starting from Vijaya came from Aghora (Fire) face; five starting from Vairocana came from the Tatpurusa’s face; eight starting from Pregita came from Isana face of Lord Shiva as explained by Bhaskararaya. These twenty eight Tantras are providing the upward push for the mankind to follow the Divine Mother’s instructions.

 

The Vedas are instructions from the Divine Mother.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 08 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. 

4.          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EoRFDzDoU&t=7s

  

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 286: Shri Varnasrama vidhayini (OM varNAshramavidhAyinyai 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 established the order of the professional and life stage divisions for human race. 

The Divine Mother created the varnas and asramas for human race. Varnas are professional divisions of the society namely: Brahmana (teachers and educators), Kshtriya (warriors, providers of security), Vaisyas (business community) and Sudras (essential service providers); Asrama are four stages of one’s life namely: Brahamacarya (bachelor), Grahastha (householder), Vanaprasatha (senior citizen) and Sannyasa (matured detached senior). 

As described in namam 285, the Divine Mother has created four faced Brahma to very small minute creatures in this universe. For showing the good path for all these billions of creatures, She created the Vedas Karmakandam and Brahmakandam. Basically the Karmakandam is for use by the humans.  She has separated the humans based on gunas (attributes and trades) into four varnas and four asramas. These varnas and asramas follow the certain preconditions listed in Vedas given by the Divine Mother. So She gives out the varnas and asramas which act as social order to the human race in the universe. 

The four types of varnas are described as follows:

1.       Brahmanas with predominantly sattvic qualities have attributes like truthfulness, not stealing, not acquiring nor accepting wealth from others and engaging in the study of the scriptures. Their intellectual power is their strength. They are usually teachers or priests in temple service.

2.       Kshtriyas have more rajasic over sattvic qualities; their attributes lead them to be as warriors; they follow the truth and dharma; they get angry towards injustices.

3.       Vaisyas have rajasic qualities predominate than tamasic ones; they are diligent, skillful and enterprising; they are merchants and industrialists; they can use a bit of deceit in achieving their goals. For them the stomach and the heart are important.

4.       Sudras are the people predominately with tamasic attributes; they have relatively less intelligence; they face many dangers and misery in their lives; they may not follow the dharma and truth well enough in their lives; they are happy doing menial jobs. 

If we consider Virat Pursha as the universal society, the above four varnas become respectively the head, hands, the trunk of the body including chest and abdomen, and waist and his feet. We also noted that these four varnas are based on gunas (attributes) and actions. 

Four stages (asramas) in one’s life are: Brahamacarya, Grahastha, Vanaprasatha and Sannyasa. The completeness of the life underlines this order.

·         The Brahamacarya is the one who should be engaged solely in studies. Any indulgence in pleasures of the senses or in agitations ruins his life without knowing the problem due to it. He will forget the meaning and goal of his life. He will not have lofty ideas and contended life going forward.

·         For a householder, with uncontrolled youthful life will lead to premature aging and untimely death. A householder who spends wisely his youthful years, can later pass on the family burden to his children; spend time helping others and enriching his religious life. This is called “Vanaprastha.”

·         It is a pity if an old man continues to struggle day and night to seek earnings for meeting his own and his family needs. One ancient poet wrote:”Alas, you poor black incest, not only do you fall into the flame, you put out the lamp too!”

·         The Divine Mother sings “Always remember. O mind, this supreme truth: there is none that is your own.”  Sannyasa is close to the truth of this saying. 

Such life stage classifications are based on practical aspects of life. These are known as Sanatana Dharma, the eternal code of life set up through Vedas by the Divine Mother.

 

The Divine Mother: Goddess Lalithambigai.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 06 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.

4.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EoRFDzDoU&t=7s

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 285: Shri Abrahma kita janani (OM AbrahmakITajananyai 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 the mother of everything from Brahma to the lowest level insect in this universe. 

The Divine Mother has created all these billions of creatures. There are smaller microstructures down to atom level insects. She sets up the appropriate environment for each creature to be created and She provides for their safe living in this universe. Brahma takes the universe form to do his task of creation. Brahma is a matured soul that has reached the Brahman. All these billions of creatures are held within the Divine Mother. 

Brahma’s life span is very long; His one day is many long years based the Brahma time scale is being used. Micro creatures may have only very small life span. The Divine Mother provides for all such variations for each individual creature under Her creation in this universe. 

She is the Mother of bigger four faced Brahma to non visual micro atom level creatures. There may be difference between Brahma and atom level creatures. Yet the Divine Mother does not show any difference in Her grace to any one of them.

The Conception and Evolution of the universe; the

Divine Mother is holding the universe within Her.

 

C  N Nachiappun           

Singapore, 05 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.

4.       https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_3EoRFDzDoU&t=7s

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 284: Shri Sahasra pad (OM sahasrapade 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 one thousand feet.Anything moving in this universe is considered as the Divine Mother’s feet.  There can be nothing against Her movements in the universe is implied in this Namam.

Pad also means is to praise in eight times four equals 32 words or phrases. Further Sahasra means one thousand; sahasrapad means that praising Her with 1000 times four equals 4000 words or phrases such as this Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam and other verses such as Soundarya Alhari by Adi Sankar; all other sages like Kalidasa have praised Her with their divine works on Her glory.

The 15 syllable Panchadashi Sri Vidya mantra (the 15 syllables are shown in appendix); the middle Kamaraja kuta and the last Sakti kuta are contained in Namam 282 to 284 according to the Tantra. These three Namas glorify the Divine Mother in two kutas other than her head which is Vakbhava kuta.

The Thousand petaled Lotus representing

the thousand feet of the Divine Mother

 C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 04 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.

4.       https://srividyasadhana000101.blogspot.com/2013/10/01-panchadashi-fifteen-syllable-sri.html

KA E I LA HRIM, HA SA KA HA LA HRIM, SA KA LA HRIM  

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 283: Shri Sahasraksi (OM sahasrAkShyai 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 one thousand or countless eyes. 

Billions of universal creatures are within the Divine Mother; every creature’s eyes are included within Her. There are countless eyes for the Divine Mother is the interpretation of this Namam. Also with so much eyes looking at the universal affairs, no one can escape from Her sight and knowledge for any and or all of our actions, done openly or secretly. 

Things shining in the universe are considered as the Divine Mother’s eyes. In this way, there are countless eyes. This is in reference to the fact luminous nature that the sun, the moon and the fire are referred to as the Divine Mother’s eyes. The Divine Mother is also called Trinayana (three eyed, like Lord Shiva), as mentioned in dhyana sloka for this Lalitha Sahasranamam and in other ancient texts.

The Thousand petaled Lotus representing

the thousand eyes of the Divine Mother

 

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 03 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.

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 282: Shri Sahasrasirsa vadana (OM sahasrashIrShavadanAyai 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 one thousand heads and faces; thousand literally means countless, here. 

For humans, we have one head and one face, which is similar to the Divine Mother’s external image. For various reasons, happiness and sorrows come to the humans naturally; we are trying to destroy the sorrow. Ravana’s heads and faces came from the Divine Mother. Rama did not discard that fact, when he destroyed Ravana. We have to fight the evil, until we reach the Brahman. We will realize that the sorrows also come from the Divine Mother to humans in a way to help souls to mature to reach the Brahman. 

Namams 282, 283 and 284 explain the countless forms of the Divine Mother. Before the universe was formed five great souls appeared. Depending on the Karma effects, many separate souls were born. To give them identity, a separate head, faces etc were given to those souls. There are countless heads and faces  there in the universe. The word ‘thousand’ implies countless. So the Divine Mother creates countless souls and keeps them under Her control. 

The Purusa Sukta says, “The cosmic man (Purusa) has a thousand heads, a thousand eyes and thousand feet”; the Gita (X111 – 13) describes the Supreme, “He exists in the world enveloping all with hands and feet everywhere, with eyes, heads and mouths everywhere, with ears everywhere.” 

The Devi Bhagavata describes the cosmic form of the Divine Mother: “The Divine Mother is effulgent with a thousand eyes, a thousand hands, a thousand heads and a thousand feet” 

The Divine Mother’s body is spread over the entire universe. Everything in this universe is a limb or part of her body. Which means that we cannot hide any our actions without Her knowledge in this universe is one of the interpretations of this Namam. 

The sages imagine that Adisesha (Ananta) is a thousand-headed serpent, supporting the earth. Ananta is the symbol for the power of countless faces, an attractive power. It is this power that keeps the celestial bodies revolving in their paths without crashing into each other. This is shown that Ananta, the serpent, supporting the earth on his hooded head. This cosmic force of attraction had been learned in India even as early as Vedic times. Later Aryabhatiya is the proof for this. Varahamihira gives the pictorial aspect that the earth being suspended in a case formed by the stars in the same way a ball of iron would be suspended in the centre of the cage made of magnets. The stability of solar system is based on the forces of mutual attraction. 

In all, the Divine mother has countless heads and faces; nothing happens in this universe without Her knowledge.

 

The Divine Mother as Goddess Kalimaa Jagan Mohini.

C  N Nachiappun          

Singapore, 02 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.