LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 124-128

Sharvani (124) Shiva has eight forms that correspond to the five basic elements (akash, air, fire, water and earth), soul, sun and moon. Bhima form is akash, Ugra-wind, Rudra-fire, Bhava-water, Sharva-water, Pashupati-soul, Ishana-sun and Mahadeva-moon. Sharva form of Shiva represents water element and Sharva’s (water form of Shiva) wife is called as Sharvani. Their son is mars, one of the nine planets used in astrology. For performing remedies for the afflicted planets, you have to go to the root of the afflicted planet/s and perform propitiation accordingly. The ill effects of the planets will not be totally eradicated by merely performing homa or visiting certain temples of the planets. Likewise, the day and time of the ritual to be performed is to be fixed taking into account the star lord and its sub lord. For example, in a horoscope planet mars is afflicted, performing remedies on a Tuesday is not correct, but it is to performed on a day connected to the start lord or sub lord of planet mars. More importantly, performing rituals alone will not eradicate the evil effects of a planet. Poor feeding (poor does not mean beggars and you have to identify the right person and feed him) is very important in eliminating the evil effects of a planet. They are to be fed by your own hands and not through somebody. Mantra japa is another useful way to ward off the evil effects of planets. If someone is close to self-realization, no planet will affect him/her. Sharmadayini (125) Sharma means happiness. She confers happiness on Her devotees. Conferring happiness is her habit and quality as She is the Divine Mother. Shanakari (126) Wife of Shankara, a form of Shiva is known as Shankari. Sham means happiness and kara means doer. Therefore Shankara is known to give happiness and his wife Shankari has the same quality. That is why Shiva and Parvathi are known as father and mother of this universe. Srikari (127) Sri means all types of prosperity. It also means wealth, happiness, beauty, attraction, auspiciousness, etc. Since She has all these and also gives all these to Her devotees, She is known as Srikari. Vishnu Sahasranamam nama 611 is ‘Srikara:’ which means the giver of wealth to His devotees. In fact there is no difference between Vishnu and Lalithai. Vishnu is known for auspiciousness etc and there is no difference between them. There is brother- sister relationship and Vishnu is elder to Lalithai. Other namas in this Lalitha Sahasranamam confirm this. They are 267. Govonda-rupini, 298. Narayani, 893. Vishnu-rupini, etc. Srikara’s sister is Srikari. Saadhvi (128) She is chaste. When someone has huge wealth he is called Lakshmi pathi, meaning husband of Lakshmi. Most of the interpretations for this nama are irrelevant. Is it right to call someone who has got wealth as husband of Lakshmi. Lakshmi in this context means the physical wealth and not the goddess of wealth. Lakshmi pathi then means the owner or possessor of physical wealth. Rich men normally consider their wealth on par with their wives. Shankara in SL 96 refers to this illustration. It says “Poets woo Goddess Sarasvati (goddess of Speech) and claim to be Her husband and those who have wealth claim that they are husband of Goddess Lakshmi. But you are by your thought and actions always with Shiva”. The interpreters intend to say that nobody can claim Lalithai like other Gods and Goddesses as She is beyond comparison with other Goddesses. The problem in the interpretation arises with the Sanskrit word ‘pathi’ which generally means husband. But there are other meanings for this word such as master, lord, owner, possessor etc. Therefore ‘pathi’ in this context does not mean husband but refers to a person who owns wealth or who owns knowledge and wisdom, or who has mastered the art of speech. Shankara would not have meant to mean husband in his verse. Why Lalithai is called as chaste is because, She always remains with Shiva. She considers Shiva as ‘pathi deva’ which means a wife who regards her husband as divine. This is the right explanation for this nama as She was created by Shiva and therefore She considers Shiva as divine husband. ‘Pathi vedanaha’ means Shiva.