LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 637 - 644.

Vishva-garbha (637)


She has the universe in her womb. She delivers the universe and this is referred to in nama 934 ‘vishva-mata’. Vishva means all that is visible.

Svarna-garbha (638)

She has the golden egg in her womb or She was born from a golden egg. Svarna means gold and ‘hiranyam’ also means gold. ‘Vedanta-paribhasha’ a 17th century scripture explains ‘hiranyagarbha’. It says “Hiranyagarbha is the first soul to be born and is different from Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.” The subtle body consisting of the five vital forces, the mind, the intellect and the ten organs is produced from the five basic elements. This paves the way for the soul to experience the result of actions or in other words it causes karmas. The subtle body is of two kinds, superior and inferior. The superior one is the subtle body of hiranyagarbha and the inferior is the subtle body of living beings. The subtle body of hiranyagarbha is called as ‘mahat’ or the cosmic intellect and the subtle body of living beings is called ego.

‘su’ means splendid, ‘arna’ means letters or mantras and ‘gharbha’ shining or conceiving. This way the nama also means that She holds the sacred mantras in her womb. This means that She is the cause of all mantras. Hence She is said to be in the form of ‘matrkas’ (aksharas or alphabets). This has already been discussed in nama 577 ‘matrka-varna-rupini’. The alphabets lie shining in Her womb.

Avarada (639)

She is the destroyer of evil doers, known as demons. Evil doer does not merely mean the one who indulges in evil acts. It also means those who have evil thoughts. Evil thoughts culminate in evil actions.

Vagadhisvari (640)

She is the ruler of speech. Soundarya Lahari ends (100th verse) by saying ‘this was composed with your own words’. Nama 577 can also be referred here. Origin of sound has already been discussed in detail under various heads.

Dhyana-gamya (641)

She can be attained by meditation. Meditation is a process that enables us to explore the entire human potential within. Meditation is not simply thinking about some super human forms. It is a complex task of researching within. It is a process of spiritual transformation. It is the progressive level of consciousness accelerated by the combined factors of intention and attention.

Shvetashvatara Upanishad I.ii.3 says “The sages went into deep meditation and saw the power of the luminous Cosmic Self as the cause of the universe. Maya hides the Self behind the universe. The Self controls everything including the individual self and time.” She is that Cosmic Self.

Aparichedya (642)

She is incomprehensible hence, infinite. She is ubiquitous, the unique quality of the Brahman. Yet Her devotees can attain Her through meditation (previous nama).

Jnanada (643)

She is the giver of knowledge, the kind of knowledge that is needed to realize Her absolute form. For realizing the Brahman one needs to have pure knowledge un afflicted by senses. She alone is capable of providing that knowledge. Through the process of meditation, mundane knowledge is transformed into consummate knowledge. First She provides the requisite knowledge then She reveals Herself and finally She makes him merge with Her. Knowledge is the primary step in Self-realisation and She provides that knowledge.

Shiva Sutra I.2 says “ jnanam bandhah”. This means limited knowledge is bondage. Therefore, it implies that un-vitiated knowledge gives liberation.

Jnana-vigraha (644)

Her body itself is knowledge. The previous nama said that She gives knowledge and the source of such knowledge is Her entire body.

Ramana maharishi (sage Ramana) did not initiate any one through mantras. He used to initiate his disciples by a simple glance. That glance used to transform a person. What is the result of such transformation? Recent scientific study explains thus. “Conscious experience is much more than physics plus biology. What sets human consciousness apart from other biologically evolved phenomena is that it makes the reality appear within itself.”