LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 268-270

Samharini (268) She causes destruction. Destruction is different from dissolution. The difference between destruction and dissolution is significant. Destruction is the death of a single organism and dissolution is the Supreme process of the Brahman, wherein He makes the entire universe to dissolve and merge unto Himself (nama 270). This nama describes the death of gross bodies and She as the administrator of the universe causes death. Rudra-rupa (269) She is in the form of Rudra. Her form is known as Rudra when She causes the death of individual lives. Rudra does not mean the lord of death. Let us understand Rudra. The subtle form Rudra is the cosmic energy that is capable of destroying evil energies. In the gross form, Rudra is a form of Shiva. He is known for perfect discipline. He destroys anything that obstructs the path of perfection. But for sure he is compassionate and merciful. The literal meaning of Rudra is moving around crying. As a matter of fact the cry of Rudra is the creation. Rudra also means the prana or the life force (Chandogya Upanishad III.16.3). When a child is born, it starts crying, only when it inhales prana or the first breath. This is the exact time of birth of a child and should be noted for casting birth charts. Often, reference is made to eleven Rudras and they are called ‘ekadasa Rudras’. They are in fact created from the Ardhanarishwara form of Shiva and Shakthi (male-female combine form divided vertically). It is also said that Rudra was born out the third eye of Brahma, the lord of creation. More details are available in Sri Rudram. It is also said that that Rudra is responsible for the union of individual soul with the Supreme soul by means of OM. Probably this is the reason why Rudra is called as the lord of death. The famous ‘Tryambaka mantra’ of Sri Rudram in Yajur Veda and Rik Veda has the following meaning. “Oh! The Lord of three worlds, bestower of grace, provider of fullness and strength, may I be detached from the bondage of death like a ripe cucumber (A ripe cucumber bursts and comes off from the plant automatically. There is no need for plucking) from shell, but not from immortality”. Shell means the physical body and seeds and pulp of the cucumber is compared to the soul. The verse seeks Rudra’s grace to prevent a pre-mature death. Immortality is not sought and cannot be sought also. This goes to prove that Rudra is not the lord of death. Thirodhanakari (270) She causes dissolution. She makes the universe disappear. Thirodhanam is the fourth act of the Brahman, which is called the great dissolution or ‘the pralaya’. Why this dissolution is necessary when every living being is subjected to death? The presence of ego makes a man live, as ego is a part of anthakkaranam. Without ego the man cannot exist. The ego is present in the soul and not in the physical body. The presence of ego in the soul hides the Brahman from realization. The souls never get destroyed and subject to their karmic account either they are re-born or merge with the Brahman. The law of karmas says that a soul can have only three solutions. One is to merge with the Brahman, second is to reborn and the third is to get dissolved during the great dissolution. A majority of the souls are re-reborn. To remove the evil effects of ego in the souls, the great dissolution takes place. Such great dissolutions take place after billions of years. The soul can be destroyed only by the Supreme Brahman. The Supreme Brahman simply acts as a witness and does not get involved in the actions associated with the souls. At one point of time, He wakes up and causes the great dissolution by taking back all the atoms of the universe. The great dissolution happens when lesser number of souls merges with the Brahman and more souls are reborn. Such a situation arises only when more sins are committed. In fact the great dissolution means the total destruction of ego from the universe. Not even a single life exists after the great dissolution. The Brahman draws the entire universe unto him and at the time recreation, this takes the shape of the golden egg or ‘hiranyagarbha’.