LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 418 - 421

Jadashakthi (418) She is the power of inanimate energy. Generally, two types of energies are referred to in the process of creation. One is the non-pulsating (inanimate) energy and the other is pulsating energy. Both are creative energies. The latter is also known as dynamic aspect of the Brahman. This nama discusses on the non-pulsating nature of creation. Inanimate energy or apara-prakriti is considered to be of the lower grade when compared to para-prakriti or pure energy (nama 366 is para). There two forms of prakriti are the different modifications of maya or illusion, which forms part of the Brahman. Without maya, the Brahman on its own cannot function. In nama 416 She was referred to as chitchakthi. This nama refers exactly the opposite of Chitchakthi. But the creation is not possible without the combination of chitchakthi and jadashakthi. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita (VII.4 and 5) “My manifested nature has eight fold differentiations: earth, water, fire, air and akash (ether) in combination with mind, intellect and ego (three of the four internal tools). This is my lower nature (apara-prakriti). But understand that my different and higher nature (para-prakriti) is the jiva, the self-consciousness and life-principle that sustains the cosmos”. Jadashakthi forms part of the saguna Brahman (the Brahman with attributes). This saguna Brahman uses both inanimate and animate energies for creation. This is based on the principle that two factors are needed to create a third. Jadashakthi is responsible for creating the objective world (conscious mind is objective in nature) that is described in the next nama. Jadatmika (419) She exists as the objective world of maya that has been discussed in the previous nama. Except the Brahman, everything else is called maya. When the universe is called as object, then realizing the Brahman can be called as the subject. Please click here to understand subject and object. Gayatri (420) She is in the form of goddess Gayatri or Gayatri mantra. We have already discussed about Gayatri mantra in Part I and Part II. Chanodogya Upanishad III.12.1 says ‘All that exists in this world, whatever there is, is Gayatri. It is the word that is Gayatri, for the word gives names to all things and it also tells them not to fear’. The Upanishad also says that the Gayatri mantra protects and saves a person who repeats this mantra. She is considered as mother of all the Vedas. There is a story in padma purana about Gayatri which goes like this: When Lord Brahma was performing a fire ritual, he called his wife Savitri. She said that she would come with Lakshmi and other goddesses. Brahma became wild and substituted a cowherd’s daughter (Krishna’s dynasty) for his wife. He named her as Gayatri. Accompanied by her, Brahma decided to hasten the fire ritual. At that time, Vishnu told Brahma to marry her in the gandharva form of marriage (mental union of a man and a woman) and Brahma thus married Gayatri. Krishna says in Bhagavad Gita X.35 ‘among poetic meters I am Gayatri’. Krishna elaborates in chapter X, verses 21 to 41 ‘His prominent manifestations among the beings, forces and objects that are the causes and the results of His creative, preservative and terminative activities of the cosmos’. Therefore, Gayatri is considered as the powerful of all the poetic meters. Lalithambigai is said to be in the form of Gayatri. The appropriate way of interpretation is that Gayatri is a form of Lalithambigai. Vyahriti (421) Next to pranava are three vyahritis Bhuhu, Bhuvaha, Suvaha. These vyahritis represent further manifestation of OM and this manifestation is called origin of speech and said to represent the three worlds of this universe. These three worlds originated from the three letters A, U, M of OM. From these vyahritis, was derived the Gayatri mantra. Gayatri mantra is the origin of three Vedas (Rig, yajur and Sama Vedas). But what do these three lokas or worlds mean? They mean the three stages of consciousness. Bhuh means the lower level of consciousness and means the lower planes. Bhuvah means the ordinary or normal level of consciousness that is associated with our day to day activities. This vyahriti refers to the earth. Suvaha means higher level of consciousness. The higher level of consciousness is used to realize the Brahman. Thus, the three vyahritis in fact mean the modifications in the level of consciousness. (reproduced from the posting ‘gayatri mantra explained’ marked as Part I in the previous nama).