LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 396-397

Parameshvari (396) She is the supreme ruler. She is Supreme on two counts, one on Her own and second because of being the wife of Supreme Shiva. Shiva is Parameshvara and His wife is Parameshvari. Vishnu Sahasranamam 377 is Parameshvara. It is interpreted as the able administrator. Gita XIII.27 says “He sees truly who perceives the Supreme Lord (Parameshvara) present equally in all creatures the Imperishable (Parameshvara) amidst the perishing”. Mulaprakriti (397) This nama provides the reasoning for the previous nama. She is the Supreme ruler (Parameshvari) because She is the root of origin. Prakriti at best can be explained as the nature. It can also be called as maya. Prakriti in combination with the individual soul and mind, intellect and ego form the creation. In fact soul has to depend on prakriti to manifest. Prakriti holds the three gunas or qualities satvic, rajasic and tamasic and three types of creative actions icha, jnana and kriya (desire, wisdom and action) shakthi. At the time of manifestation of origin of life, the prakriti beholds the individual soul by its sheer enticing powers of the gunas and creative actions (the powers of maya or illusion), makes the soul to manifest. The soul on its own is passive in nature and has to purely depend upon the prakriti to get the karmas embedded in it to unfold. More details are provided in soul and prakriti. Prakriti is said to be the kinetic form of energy. This is also known as maya or the Brahman with attributes or Shakthi or vimarsha form of the Supreme. Without this kinetic form of Shakthi the creation can never take place. Apart from playing a significant role in creation, the prakriti plays a vital role in sustaining the creation. At the time of origin of the universe, the Supreme Self alone prevailed. When the origin manifests into creation, it first becomes space then air, fire, water and earth. From earth plants, animals, man etc unfolded. This is the teaching of Taittiriya Upanishad (II.1). Prakriti in its un-manifested form is called ‘avyakta’. This is the state of prakriti where all the three gunas are found in equilibrium. Any change in this equilibrium of gunas in prakriti leads to desire, wisdom and action. This in combination with ego and intellect give rise to further creation. Therefore, prakriti is the root of all creations. This is also known as the Brahman with attributes or saguna Brahman. This is also known as prakasha-vimarsha maha maya swarupini or Shakthi. Since Shiva has to totally depend upon this Shakthi for His creative aspect, She is known as the consort of Shiva. Beyond the state of ‘avyakta’ there is the Brahman without attributes. Katha Upanishad says (III.10) “The Self is beyond thought and speech; the eyes cannot perceive it”. The Brahman is the root of all creations as there in nothing beyond that. Shakthi is called mulaprakriti because She is the part of the Brahman or the vimarsha form of the Brahman, without which creation is never possible. Chandogya Upanishad VI.ii.3 says ‘The Existence (the Brahman) decided, I shall be many’ which means the prakriti. Mundaka Upanishad I.i.8 also confirms the above statements Katha Upanishad and Chandogya Upanishad. It says ‘The Brahman grows by penance’. Whatever be the sayings of the scriptures, the root of creation is prakriti on whom the Brahman depends extensively to create and sustain the universe. This the meaning of this nama.