LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM MEANING 546-549.

Bandha-mochani (546) She liberates from bondage. Bondage is caused by ignorance or avidya. Bondage means a soul remaining afflicted by desires and attachments. She removes such bondage for those who surrender to Her, beginning of the process of liberation. Barbaralaka (547) In some texts, this nama is mentioned as ‘banduralaka’. She has curly hair that appears like waves and flowing into Her forehead. Vimarsha-rupini (548) Brahman is the combination of prakasha and vimarsha forms. Prakasha is the self-illuminating light without parentage. It is the beginning of creation or creation begins from prakasha. Without this self illuminating eternal light, nothing can exist. It is Shiva. The reflection of Shiva is known as vimarsha, which is known as Shakthi. Without the presence of vimarsha or Shakthi, Shiva cannot act. Shiva is the creator and Shakthi is the doer. It is said that ‘if ultimate Reality were merely prakasha without vimarsha, it would be hibernating.’ Without Shiva or prakasha form of the Brahman, the presence of Shakthi or vimarsha of the Brahman is not possible. Without Shakthi or vimarsha of the Brahman, the creation is not possible as without Shakthi, Shiva becomes inert. Shiva is devoid of activity with singular exception of Shakthi got abstracted from Shiva. That is why soul is said to the representative of Shiva, as soul on its own cannot act unless combined with prakriti or nature. If Shiva can be called as the Brahman, then Shakthi is to be called maya. Without the presence of maya, activities in the universe cannot happen, as maya is the expressive nature of the Brahman. This appears logical as the Creator status of the Brahman is not divested. Though Shiva has desired to create, He executes His acts of creation only through Shakthi which makes Shakthi the most sought after form of the Brahman. Shakthi in Her capacity as the administrator of the universe has multifarious activities such as creation, sustenance, fusion, total dissolution and finally recreation (nama 274). Shiva therefore is the static energy and Shakthi becomes the kinetic energy. When these two energies join together it known as ‘Shiva-Shakthi’ (nama 999) or ardhanariswara form (half male and half female) This nama mentions Her creative aspect. Vidya (549) Vidya means ‘to deliberate’. She is in the giver of knowledge that is capable of providing final liberation. This is an extension of the previous nama. After having spoken about Her vast powers in the previous nama, Vak Devis talk about the final liberation in this nama, which can be granted only by Her. Final liberation cannot be attained without understanding the Brahman for which the highest form of pure knowledge or suddha-vidya (Shiva sutra) is required. This nama says either She is in the form of that supreme knowledge or She gives that supreme knowledge for those who seek it. Shiva Sutra 21 says “Suddha-vidyodaya-chakreshatva-siddhih”. “Full acquisition of mastery over the collective whole of the shakthis through the appearance of suddha-vidya or pure knowledge.” It is said that She is the highest of vidyas and on the the appearance of this vidya, a practitioner acquires infinite knowledge and siddhis. This becomes possible because, by providing this pure knowledge She makes a person to think about Shiva in the form of primordial light, thereby becoming Shiva himself. Mundaka Upanishad talks about two types of knowledge, one is ‘apara’ the lowest and another is ‘para’ the highest. She is in the form this ‘para’ knowledge.