LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 277-280

Bhagamalini (277) She is in the form of Bhagamalini, one of the titi nitya devis. There are fifteen titi nitya devis, one nitya devi for each lunar day. In her mantra ‘bhaga’ appear a number of times. Hence this titi nitya devi is called Bhagamaliini. They are worshipped during Sri Chakra navavarana puja. In Linga purana there is a reference to a goddess called Bhaga. “She is the mother of the universe. Her name is Bhaga. She is the threefold pedestal (the bottom portion of Linga) of the deity in the form of Linga”. This description perfectly fits Uma and Maheswara (Shakthi and Shiva). Bhaga also means the six qualities of Shakthi which is explained in nama 279. She is wearing a garland twined with these six qualities of prosperity. Padmasana (278) She is seated on a lotus or She is sitting in the posture of padmasana (a yogic way of sitting, cross legged). Padmam means lotus. When one is seated in padmasana, the posture will appear like a lotus. The leaves of lotus creeper are compared to ‘prakrti’ (the source of objectivity), its filaments to vikrtis (categories) and its stalk to knowledge. Padma also means the Goddess of wealth Lakshmi. In this context it indicates that She distributes wealth to Her devotees. Here wealth does not mean material wealth, but the intellectual wealth needed to realise the Brahman which is called the bliss. It could also mean the Brahma, the lord of creation Bhagavati (279) This nama is an extension of nama 277. Bhaga means the six qualities of Shakthi viz. supremacy, righteousness, fame, prosperity, wisdom, discrimination. The nama means to highlight certain important qualities of the Brahman. She is endowed with these qualities. It is also said that She is worshipped by all gods and goddesses, therefore She is known as Bhagavati. In Vishnu Sahasranamam nama 558 is Bhagavate which carries the same meaning. The masculine gender of Bhagavati is used in Vishnu Sahasranamam. Padmanabha-sahodari (280) She is the younger sister of Lord Vishnu. Brahma and Lakshmi, Vishnu and Uma and Shiva and Saraswathi are twins. They represent creation, sustenance and destruction. Saraswathi got married to Brahma, Laskshmi to Vishnu and Uma to Shiva. The Brahman is divided into two aspects. One is the form of righteousness (dharma) and another is the possessor of righteousness. The dharma portion of the Brahman is divided into two, male and female. Vishnu, the male form of dharma portion of the Brahman is sustainer of this universe. Shakthi, the female portion of the righteousness became the wife of Shiva. She is called Uma. Shiva, his wife Uma (another form of Shakthi) and Vishnu combine is called the Brahman. This is what is explained in this nama. The three namas 278, 279 and 280 are the origin of Panchadasi mantra. That is why these namas do not convey any serious meaning as seen in all other namas. In fact, these namas convey the secretive mantra form.