Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 948: Shri Pancami (ōṃ pañcamyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is in famous Fifth form or as Panchami.

She is the spouse of Adishiva. Adishakti and the first prime Prajapati, Shiva are same in Bramham. As mentioned in Dhashina tattva, the Divine Mother is there in all Pancha Kosmas, Pancha deities, Pancha logams and Pancha Yajnas.

The Divine Mother is in fifth tithe Devi Varahi form who is the commander of the Divine Mother’s army. Varahi Devi has a special name Panchami. Brahmi and other seven (Saptha Matas) Devis are special, and Panchami is the fifth. The one who holds the earth is Adi Varahi. She is the fifth in five Ratna Goddesses. Sadashiva is the fifth in doing the fifth and final action of Anugraham or giving Salvation, in universal creation cycle; She is His Spouse. Fifth state is beyond Turiya (the fourth state of consciousness). In all five ways of worshipping Her, She provides five forms of Mukti to Her devotees like nirvana, liberation etc.

After Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Isvara come Sadashiva, the fifth and the greatest. Panchami may also be called Varahi; this Namam means that the Divine Mother is in the form of Varahi. Panchami is also Ananda Bindu, the fifth of five Bindus in the human body which is bliss.

The fifth state, beyond Turiya which had been previously described in Namam 263 ’Sarvavastha vivarjita’ with the meaning that the Divine Mother transcends all states. This is further explained on fifth state, beyond the fourth, Turiya.

The Divine Mother is in famous Fifth form or as Panchami.     

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 29 August 2022; updated 25 October 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. 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 947: Shri Panca preta mancadhi sayini (ōṃ pañcaprētamañcādhiśāyinyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother reclines on a couch made of Five Corpses.

She is sitting on the couch made of Five Corpses. Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, and Isvara are four deities as four legs. Sadashiva as the bed is used as a couch. The Divine Mother is sitting on that couch. The devotee can consider any one deity as his favourite and pray to it with essentially deep association with that deity.

At a young age, the devotee ought to read the epics. On growing up the first deity is his biological mother. For those orphaned children without a biological mother, high habits will not normally come. Mother’s affection is the root cause of all other devotions. For a devotee, the devotion towards a deity is like the child’s affection to its biological mother. To grow that affection and devotion, the epics show their favourite deities are great.

When we compare five deities as against the Divine Mother, then they are equal to corpses. For example, for electric light, electric fan, electric sounder, electric cooker, electric refrigerator all gets electric power from one source. If electricity is not switched on, this five equipment will not function or will be called dead. The Divine Mother provides these five deities with five different strengths and abilities. When Shiva is separated from Shakti, He also becomes a corpse.

To understand the glories of the Divine Mother, this Namam’s inner meaning is that devotee’s devotion increases towards the Divine Mother.

She is sitting on a higher couch made of five corpses. The five deities as mentioned earlier are leaving their assigned duties, losing own self nature, to surrender to the Divine Mother and to become the legs of her higher couch, Sadasiva also likewise becomes the bed in that couch. She is having Him as Her seat and is sitting in magnificent way.

To create the Universe, She is holding Her form as in Brahman.

She is sitting all alone on the couch.

We have seen that the Divine Mother’s couch has Brahma, 

Vishnu, Rudra and Isvara as the four legs and Sadashiva as the 

mattress in 58. Tripurasundari rests on that couch. It is the deep 

meditation on The Devi that makes these divinities motionless 

and Corpselike. Bhaskaracarya quotes from Bhairvamala: 

“On the great and auspicious Couch, pillow and mattress are 

Sadashiva, reclinesThe great Tripurasundari, the great Devi.” 

Also, Adi Sankara says in Lahari, verse 92, “Brahma, Vishnu, 

Rudra, and Isvara becomes the legs of your couch and Sadasiva 

becomes the pure white sheet as the bed.

The Divine Mother reclines on a couch made of the Five Corpses.    

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 28 August 2022; Updated 25 October 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.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 946: Shri Pancayajna priya (ōṃ pañcayajJṇapriyāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is fond of five forms of sacrifices.

The Divine Mother, who created the souls has set up the sacrifices to help them mature. For those who live for others’ sake are called a person with two births. For those who live for themselves are called athaman or atman (meaning in English is “Self" or "innermost essence,").

According to Smrtis there are five types of Yajna or sacrifices. They are Braham Yajna, Deva Yajana. Pitr Yajna, Manusya Yajna and Bhuta Yajana. Meditation, Japan and praising forms of worship is called Deva Yajana. One’s mind can easily be rusted if proper daily worship is not done as the mind gets dirty very fast.

The learned people with wisdom called Rishis. The books written by them have divine aspects and tattvas to help souls to  mature. If one reads such books with devotion and sincerity, they mature well. This is called Brahma Yajna. Brahman is giving out guides to worldly people through Rishis.

To serve and pray for the parents is called Pitr Yajna. When the small bird learns to fly, it leaves its mother bird. Humans should not leave their parents on learning the ropes. Using their body, they ought to serve their parents. After their death, humans should wish wherever or whichever Loga their parents  like live well further. This is part of Pitr Yajna.

Manusya yajna is serving humans. Humans are to treat other humans fairly. Those who glorify other humans are glorifying themselves. Even the evil people are to be treated as Narayana (other name for Vishnu) and uplift them to maturity. Paramahamsa treated the untouchables as the children of Goddess and served them. Mahatma Gandhi sacrificed his life for others. Humans ought to sacrifice to help others.

Humans, animals, and birds are interlinked in their lives. Humans should not harm them. The humans ought to treat the animals as equal to themselves is Bhuta Yajna.

To follow properly and fulfil these five Yajnas is the best form of worship to the Divine Mother,

We can see the five Yajnas are happening daily. Vedas specified these five types of Yajnas. There are other types of five scarifies done per Pancaratragama (which are done for others’ benefits in temple etc.)

The other five Yajnas are for the benefit of the souls leaving the body and before arriving in a new body. The Divine Mother is fond of such yajnas.

According to the Vedas there are five types of Yajnas or sacrifices; and according to Smrtis there are five types of Yajnas. The lists according to the Vedas and Smrtis are commonly accepted ones, but there are several other lists of five forms of sacrifices such per Pancaratragama, Kaulagama and Brhattantrakaumudi.

The Divine Mother is fond of five forms of sacrifices.    

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 27 August 2022; updated 25 October 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.

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 945: Shri Vamakesvari (ōṃ vāmakēśvaryai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is the presiding deity of the Vamakesvara Tantra.

Vamakesa is Shiva, She is the spouse of Him. In one unified form, Shiva and Shakti are same as Brahman. Divine Mother spreading over the whole universe is another form. The basic five elements created by Her, are supporting Her. Akasha is spread all over the universe. Akasha is considered as the hair of the Divine Mother. Then earth becomes Her feet. Since the universe is functioning as per the Divine Mothe’s scheme of things, devotee sees whole universe as the Divine Mother. A Devotee considering the universe as the Divine Mother is a good form of prayer to Her.

She is the leader of the Vamakesavara Tantra. This Tantra was written by Shiva. Vamars are the worshippers of Shakti according to Vama (left) path, as indicated in earlier Namams. Daksan and other Prajapati worshipped Vamakesvari Devi. Vamakesvari is then, the deity of Daksa and other Prajapati and the key deity for Vamakesavara Tantra.

The Divine Mother is the presiding deity

of the Vamakesvara Tantra.    

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 26 August 2022; updated 24 October 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.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 944: Shri Vajrini (ōṃ vajriṇyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is in the form of Indra’s Shakti (with Vajra weapon).

She holds Vajra weapons. In Geetha Krishna says that in weapons, He is Vajra weapon. Humans improve their skills and strengths to higher level. The relevant means and actions used by them are referred to as Vajra process. When humans mature to be in higher state, they turn themselves as Vajra weapons.

When Devas were defeated by the asuras, they sought Brahma’s help; He used a fully brahmasariya Maharejishi’s bones and made a Vajra weapon and gave to Devas. This helped Devas to defeat the asuras. Brahmasari gets immense strength, which aids him to eliminate worldly evils. A disciplined and purified human is matured enough to eliminate and destroy evils. This makes him to be like the Vajra weapon.

Vajra weapons have sharpened edges, which do not go away for any reason. Humans not slipping away from purity learn all the life related key points. They clear and solve difficult issues easily. People living the righteous life can be converted to be like a Vajra weapon and eliminate evil around the world. The Divine Mother is a Vajra weapon Herself, with Her schemes convert devotees to be matured to reach Brahman. They must pray to the Divine Mother in proper manner to become like the brahmasariya and be like Vajra weapon in their life.

She is in the form of Indra’s Shakti. Indra’s spouse is Mahendri, who is one of the Septa Mathas (seven Mathas) like Brahami; The Divine Mother is also known as Sasi Devi.

Vajra weapon has the diamond’s strength. The Divine Mother wears ornaments made of diamonds. Her Vajra weapon gives fear to Sun and others in this universe.

Indra possesses the weapon Vajra, the thunderbolt. The Divine Mother takes the form of Indrani, the spouse of Indra. The Divine Mother also bears the Vajra weapon. See earlier Nama 497 with the meaning that one who wears ornaments studied with Vajra (diamond).

The Vajra in the passage from the Sruti, is mentioned as “The great terrible uplifted Vajra.” Katha Upanishad (II.iii.2). Vajra indicates Brahman as Sakala Brahman or Brahman with form.

The Divine Mother is in the form of Indra’s Shakti (with Vajra weapon).

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 25 August 2022; updated 22 October 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.

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 943: Shri Vimanastha (ōṃ vimānasthāyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother is seated and journeys with other deities in Her celestial chariot.

Vimanams or chariots are Her vehicles. Vimanam means airplane, aero plane, or aircraft in English.  Human bodies are Vimanams for the souls. The Divine Mother is residing inside human bodies and directs them through their current life. Those who accept this concept have high responsibilities. His body is not owned by him. Maturing souls occupy various human bodies temporarily during their samsara (birth and death) cycle. The Divine Mother allows such arrangements so that the souls gain vehicles like the Divine Mother. It is the responsibility of humans to safeguard it well. They ought to realize that whatever they achieve is through the Divine Mother’s grace. Due to this level of acceptance their ahankara and the ‘I’ or ‘Self’ will leave them.

The Divine Mother Safeguards Her devotees. So, human bodies are used as chariots in this sense. She takes responsibility to save Her devotees. She is managing and saving humans with all their ahankara, and Self “I”, putting in special efforts. Mature people go through a lot of troubles, but they do not consider them as trouble, as they are getting divine grace. The Divine Mother takes responsibility forever to avoid difficulties for matured souls.

Manam is the action of the mind. Vimanam is beyond all current life needs. Vimanam reflects the mindless Brahman. The Divine Mother sits beyond all these universal happenings with Her high status. With the Divine Mother’s grace, one can overcome his mind and attain ultimate Brahman, is one interpretation of this Namam.

The Divine Mother’s vehicle is called Vimanam or chariot. The vehicle that travels on the ground must follow the traffic rules. But the Akhasa vehicles have less rules to follow. Manam is an immeasurable Vimanam, can expand depending upon the number of people boarding in. The Divine Mother travels in such Vimanam or chariot in every universal being.

Vi – ma – na – stha is having special lights, chakra raja ratha, kriyaja ratha and yogaraja ratha. Vimanastha means one who resides in a special chariot consisting of light. The Divine Mother resides in them all, She is the spouse of Shiva or Shakti of the Brahman. She is in Vedas, in dharma form, and in Brahman forms.

The chariot light indicates very high speeds. The Divine Mother, who travels in such a chariot, can give comfort, and refuge to anyone in a fraction of time. Light travels 300,000 kilometers (186, 000 miles) per second. It is hard to believe that ancient sages of India had analyzed this speed of light long time ago. There is a verse in the commentary of Rigveda by Sayana, “O Lord Sun salutations to You, who travel 2202 yojanas in half an instant!’’ (One yojana is equal to 8 miles). A calculation by Professor G. Krishnamurthy of Madras (Chennai) puts this at a value almost identical to the modern value of the speed of light established.

The verge referred to here has another special meaning, the first three quarters of the verse represents physical knowledge and the last spiritual knowledge. It recalls that any physical knowledge can lead to a secure and peaceful life only if it is rooted in spiritual knowledge.

The chariot of light means a bright or radiant light. This also indicates the chariots Kari chakra ratha and Geya Chakra ratha as described in earlier Namams. The present Namam means that the Divine Mother travels in radiant chariots.

Vi indicates absence, mana is a measure. Then Vimanastha is one who dwells in immeasurable limitless Brahman. Mana is Pramana or mode of proof. The Divine Mother ‘s nature is knowledge. She is one who dwells in the form of knowledge in the pramans, which are the various ways of arriving at knowledge; such a pratyaksa (direct perception by the sense) anumans (inference), upamana (ananology), arthapathi (unavoidable inference from araumsfance) and anupalabdhi (proof because the opposite is absent).

She is one who resides in Vedas (Vimanas). Vimanas may also refer to the fourteen Vidyas or branches of knowledge. The Divine Mother is one who resides in them, all. The fourteen branches of knowledge are the four Vedas, the six auxiliaries to the Vedas, the Puranas taken together, Nyaya (logical philosophy) Mimamsa (a system of philosophy) and code of the justices.

The Divine Mother is seated and journeys with other deities in Her celestial chariot. 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 24 August 2022; updated 22 October 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.

 

Shri Lalitha Sahasranamam: Namam 942: Shri Vyoma kesi (ōṃ vyōmakēśyai namaḥ)

The Divine Mother has the sky as Her hair.

Shiva, with His hair not tied down, is called Vyomakesa; the Divine Mother as His spouse is Vyomakesi. In Brahman, Shakti and Shivan are one. The Divine Mother has the universal form. She is externally large in Virat form. Virat means giant, enormous, or mighty. Five elements support Her. Akhasa or sky is spread wider. Akhasa is considered as the hair of the Divine Mother, especially when we consider Her in cosmic Virat giant form. Earth will become Her feet. The Divine Mother is functioning as the total universe. Devoted to seeing everything in this universe as the Divine Mother is a best form of his worship to Her.

She has Akhasa as Her hair in Virat form. Thousands of legs and eyes belong to the Divine Mother in Virat form. We can see Virat form in humans. Directions are the ears, sun and moon are the eyes, outer Akhasa is the hair, fire is the face.

The Divine Mother wearing the crescent moon in Her hair is keeping with this Namam. This is applicable to the hair of Shiva, as Vyomakesa and the Divine Mother as His spouse, Vyomakesi. She is the one who protects even atoms (Vyomaka) causing them to manifest in many distinct forms and names.

This Namam also refers to Cosmic Virat form, in which one of the five elements Vyoma or Akhasa or sky becomes Her hair.

The Divine Mother has the sky as Her hair.  

 

C N Nachiappan

Singapore, 23 August 2022; updated 22 October 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.