Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 706: Shri Guhamba (ōṃ guhāmbāyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother were discussed.

The Divine Mother is the Mother of Guha (Subrahmanya). Also, She dwells in the cave of the heart of Her devotee.

She is the Mother of Lord Muruga or Subrahmanya. This Nama is interpreted as “She resides in humans’ hearts. The devotee does not have to search for the Divine Mother elsewhere. She is seated in every being’s heart, Once the devotee realizes the Divine Mother within him, he gets Her blessings. Realizing that one’s body is Her temple is the best outcome for the devotee.

From within their hearts, She provides wisdom to Her devotees.  To streamline the devotee’s knowledge base, there are sastras. We can get all the needed knowledge, She is in our heart cave. We are used to outside things; it may be difficult to see things in the darkness of the caves. Once we are inside the cave and getting used to the darkness, then we can start to see the things inside the cave. Without looking at outside worldly things, one starts to learn to understand the Divine Mother being within him. She is the Mother of Lord Muruga; only people who look inside themselves can visualize Her.

The Puranas celebrate the of birth of Lord Muruga as the son of Lord Shiva and Shakti to lead the armies of the devas to kill the demons Taraka and liberate the devas from the scourge Lord Muruga is also called Guha (The in-dweller). He resides in the Gandhamadana Guga in Thiruchendur; where whip had been used as an instrument of punishment of the asuras.

The use of the term Guha (cave, cavity) for heart is well recognized in philosophy. Statements from the Sruti like ‘that which enters the cave and resides there’ (Katha Upanishad) referring to the soul in the cave of the heart are examples of this.                                                                                          

The Divine Mother is the Mother of Lord Subramanya

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 31 December 2021; updated 02 March 2025

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 705: Shri Sastramayi (ōṃ śāstramayyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother is the creator and enforcer of all the codes of conduct for pursuing the four Purushartha (Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksha) She embodies all of them.                          

The Divine Mother takes the form of sastras. Each religion has a set of rules and procedures, which may be called shastras. Divinity has given out its own nature as sastras. Whatever books are close to or follow nature’s rules, they are the true shastras. When we analyze nature well, we can understand the inner meanings of nature. By studying the documented shastras and by studying nature, we can increase our knowledge. What we have in our mind is an inner shastra and what we see in nature is outer shastra. We can repair our inside experiences, but it may not be that easy to repair the whole of nature. Through shastras, we can repair our inner self, for which the Divine Mother blesses us always.

Those who study the shastras, are trying to study the Brahman. For such people, nature will always be a guide. With the Divine Mother’s grace, those who study the shastras become Yogis.

The Divine Mother is in knowledge (shastras) form. To get away from being deluded by Maya or ignorance, the Divine Mother’s blessing is needed. Shastras are documents which in orderly fashion teach us to get away from illusion and ignorance; further, they give us internal and external improvement experiences to take us through the correct path to attain Brahman or Liberation. Vedas and Sruti give us such knowledge to seek Brahman. The Divine Mother is in such documents form also; She is ‘Shastramayi.’

The four Vedas were formed from the Divine Mother’s out going breath and the great mantras from Her ego-sense. From Her sweet words were born poetry, drama, and heroic. Sagas. From Her tongue, Sarasvati was born. The six Vedanta (supplementary to the Vedas) were created from Her cheeks, and Mimamsa philosophy, Nyaya (logic), Puranas and dharma shastra (the code of justice) from the top of Her throat; and the sixty-four arts from the bottom of Her throat; the science of love from Her shoulders and the Tantras from Her limbs as said in Brahmana Purana.

 

What shastras say is the ultimate truth, not what our sense experience or reason says. Even Vedanta agrees with this view. We should accept what the shastras say even when our senses and reason appear to contradict it. We see many examples of misleading nature of the sense in this physical world. The Sun appears to rise in the east and to set in the west, yet the science of astronomy tells something different, that the Sun is not moving, but the earth is going round the Sun, completing one round in one year.

 

The Divine Mother is in the form of Shastras.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 30 December 2021.; Updated 23 February 2025

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 704: Shri Sarasvati (ōṃ sarasvatyai namaḥ)

From Namam 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother were discussed.

The Divine Mother is in the form of knowledge. Saras is lake and Vati is one who possesses, giving a meaning that She holds the vast amount of knowledge.

The Divine Mother is Sarasvati or the ruler of or function of all sixty-four arts. The souls are deceived by ignorance or Maya; the Divine Mother guides and provides means to them to grow into higher maturity level. Through arts/culture, humans in samsara (birth and death) cycle, can gradually move to higher maturity. Through arts/culture the glories of the universe can be understood. By developing and improving the arts/cultural aspect, humans learn to move towards ultimate happiness (Paramanada) or Brahman.

The epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, dance, painting, and music help to refine human nature. Lord Krishna used the flute to inspire all beings and take them to a higher maturity level. Sarasvati, who is the store house of all arts, is also learning always. She is an example to the souls to reach higher maturity. All kala in Sarasvati is deep in the hearts and minds of humans. Humans bring them to life and such action is helped by praying to the Sarasvati. Through that the souls can attain the Brahman.

Sarasvati provides knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom is pure; Sarasvati is pure white in colour; She is using white lotus flower as Her seat. She is holding bija mantra mala. Wisdom or knowledge gives happiness, like veena music. She is also holding the veena in Her hands. Knowledge has no beginning and end, when it expands, there is no celebration for its growth. With an unknown starting point, a stream running smoothly is called ‘saras’. Manasaras stream is very famous. Knowledge is also smoothly running like a stream due to Her grace. She provides us knowledge to clear our ignorance and seek Brahman or ultimate happiness.

The Bharadvaja Smrti says, ‘She who resides in the tongue of all beings and guides their speech is called “Sarasvati” by the great rsis.’ Also, ‘She is Sarasvati as She is the one who shows the way for all eyes.’ (Vasistha Ramayana).

Saras is a lake; and that lake referred to here is Brahmadanda lake, from which there is a flow of nectar. Thus, the secret meaning of this Nama is that the Divine Mother is the one with Brahmadanda form, from where the  nectar flows.  Vasistha Ramayana also says that Sarasvati is the flow of knowledge or impressions obtained from the senses.

Sarasvatim is hidden river in northern India flowing from the Himalayan mountains and merging with Ganga and Yamuna in Prayag (Trivani Sangamam).

The Divine Mother is in the form of Knowledge or as Sarasvati Devi.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 29 December 2021.; Updated 23 February 2025

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 703: Shri Sarva mohini (ōṃ sarvamōhinyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother covers all creations within Her, but She also deludes all. Deluding is to be deceived by false belief or believing something is not true. Mohini is the enchantress, a female avatar of Lord Mahavishnu.

The Divine Mother deludes all in this universe through Maya. At night a curled rope may be seen as a snake, an example of delusion. Brahman is shown as many creatures in the universe is another form of delusion. The souls are deluded that happiness and sorrow coming from their desire or ignorance are real. These are the Lila (sport) by the Divine Mother to make all universal creatures think as above; souls must surmount such Maya to attain permanent happiness (Internal Bliss), Even in sleep, Maya lets humans think of higher or lower status for them. They forget about ultimate happiness in Brahman and struggle and chase short term happiness which ends in sorrow. The soul starts to realize that there is something more than that and seeks through the Divine Mother’s grace to reach the ultimate happiness, Brahman. The Divine Mother keeps the souls under Maya and release them to attain Brahman. The Divine Mother is celebrated as Sarva Mohini.

The Divine Mother is spreading all over the universe. Yet, why we are not able to understand Her well. Ignorance or Maya interferes. The Divine Mother is deluding in Maya form to attract the universal beings to Her. As Trailokya Mohana Chakra Devi, the Divine Mother is attracting and saving all three Lokas (lower, middle and higher).

There are many famous stories in the Puranas showing that even sages such as Narada, well established in Self, have found the pull of Maya irresistible. Not only the common man, but even the wisest ones often with long and hard practice, lead a life rooted in plurality and not in unity with the Self or the Brahman. The sense of plurality is created by Maya’s power of illusion. Katha Upanishad (ll.IV. l) offers an explanation: ‘The self-existing Supreme has created all the sense with outgoing tendencies; therefore, man beholds the external universe, and not the inner Self.’ Everyone tends to look outwards; most people do not wish to see the inner self.

Basically, looking outward leads to plurality; looking inward leads to unity with Brahman. The natural tendency is to look outward. This urge is all a needed ingredient in the make of universe. That is why the Gita (Vll.3) says, ‘Among thousands of men, one perchance strives perfection; even among the most successful stickers, only one perchance knows Me in essence.’

One may have doubts and ask how opposites like eternal and ephemeral, inert and alive can arise from the Divine Mother. The answer is simple that She deludes everyone and created the sense of duality, hiding the unity.

In truth, the difference between Brahman and the universe is merely an illusion. Lord Shiva in Kurma Purana says: ‘This Parashakti who is none other than Brahman exists in Me. She, who as Maya, deludes the whole world, is dear to me.’ In another place, the Divine Mother says to Himavat (lord of mountains and father of the Divine Mother in one incarnation): ‘The sastras such as Kaula, Bhairava, Sakala and Gautama which affirm duality in opposition to the Sruti and the Smrti, were all created by Me to bewilder the world.’ Suta Samhita says, ‘Deluded by Maya, the sinful ones suffer births and deaths without knowing the Lord. The Divine Mother thus deludes all three worlds. There is a mantra and yantra by the name ‘Trailokyamohana’ which has the meaning ‘bewildering all three worlds. This Namam ‘Sarvamohini’ is thus interpreted as the Divine Mother who is the form of that ‘Trailokyamohana’ mantra and that yantra.

The Divine Mother deludes all creatures in the universe.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 28 December 2021.; update 23 February 2025

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 702: Shri Sarvaga (ōṃ sarvagāyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother pervades all the world and all living and non-living things in this universe; She is omnipresent. Sarvaga means going everywhere, all pervading and omnipresent.

She is spread all over the universe. All beings and non-beings, get dissolved within Her. She is not bound by place or time, seeing previous Nama. Desha Kaala Apariechinna. Divinity or Brahman is beyond everything in this universe and spreads all through universe. The devotee need not search for the Divine Mother, as he himself is part of the Divine Mother. She is inside and outside all creations as Sarvaga.

The Sruti says, “present everywhere like the ether (akasha) and eternal’’.  The Varaha Purana relates an incident. Once the Divine Mother, in the form of Kriya Shakti (power of action) did penance on the Sveta mountains. Lord Brahma appeared and enquired what boon She desired. She replied,” O Holy one, I do not wish to be limited to any corner of the world; therefore, I beg you grant me the boon of omnipresence.’ A doubt may arise here, as to how Brahma is within the Divine Mother, and it is said to be eternal, omnipresent, constant, and unmoving’ be the object of Her penance?’ It is all her Lila (sport). Indeed, the credo of the believer is that formless Brahman assumes human form and guides the world on the right path.

From the Devi Purana: O wise one, this is the truth of the Devi. She pervades the Vedas, sacrifices, heaven and all the animate and inanimate objects. She is the one who is sacred. She is food and drink. The Divine Mother is present everywhere, in different forms and in different names, in trees, in the air, ether, water and fire. She is, therefore, to be worshipped according to the prescribed rules. The one who understands the Divine Mother’s essence will be absorbed in Her.

 

The Divine Mother pervades all over the universe.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 27 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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 701: Shri Desha-kaala-aparicchinna (ōṃ dēśakālāparicChinnāyai namaḥ)

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother were discussed.

The Divine Mother is not bound by time and space.

The Divine Mother is not beyond time, place and universe. Those which are bound by time and the place and universe will get deleted or destroyed in due course. Time is eating them, making them lose their present form. The universe is dissolved during pralaya. The Divine Mother is not determined by any space or shape. She does not change due to time. So, She is called Desha-kaala-aparicchinna.

Our understanding of the known universe in terms of time and space is constantly expanding in time and space, continuing advances in technology. The universe is virtually limitless by time and space. The Divine Mother is the creator and sustainer of the boundless universe

The Divine Mother is there always at all places; She is beyond time and space She was there before the universe was created and She will be there after the universe is dissolved during pralaya. She is Desha-kaala-aparicchinna.

Everything from Lord Brahma to lower-level insects is limited because it has a beginning, an end, and a form. That which does not exist before the beginning and after end, does not exist in between either. The Divine Mother with no beginning and no end is none other than Supreme Brahman. She is eternal, unlimited by time and space. Yoga sutra says. ‘Since He is not limited by time and space, He is the original Guru.”

“He who is all-pervading like the ether and separate from whom there exists nothing is not limited by space, time or things”. By unison of Lord Shiva and the Divine Mother the term ‘‘He’” also refers to the Divine Mother in above statements.

The Divine Mother is not limited and not

measured by time and space.

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 26 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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 700: Shri Sat-Chid-Ananda rupini (ōṃ saccidānandarūpiṇyai namaḥ

From Nama 684 to 741 the glories of the Divine Mother are discussed.

The Divine Mother is the form of internal truth, internal knowledge and internal bliss.

As outlined in Braguralli of Taitriya Upanishad, Annam (Food), Prana (Breath), Mansis (Mind), and Vigna (Critical inquiry) are all sheaths to be crossed to reach the Ultimate step - the Supreme Brahman which is internal truth, knowledge and bliss. That is the form of the Divine Mother.

Every soul seeks to get out of the samsara (birth and death) cycle to attain Liberation or Salvation. Soul by renewing its existence in a new body, is establishing its sat or existence role. The Divine Mother by spreading all through the universe, is renewing many beings, thereby She is renewing Herself.

All beings try to improve their knowledge. Even birds or lower-level beings exhibit this behavior. Mankind using their knowledge try to improve their living standards, all these through the Divine Mother’s grace.

To avoid sorrow and to gain happiness is the focus of all beings. They overcome the trouble by gaining their happiness. In the material world the happiness derived from the sense of objects is temporary and limited. Once they have more attachments or desires to worldly things, they run into sorrow. So, they seek the permanent happiness which is attaining Brahman (to get Internal Bliss) which is unison of the Divine Mother and Lord Shiva. As she provides Internal Bliss, She is ‘Satcidanandarupini’. She is explaining this glory through all universal beings at all maturity levels.

The Divine Mother is the nature of Existence, Consciousness and Bliss.

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 25 December 2021.; updated 23 February 2025

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