LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 833 - 840

Pancāśat-pīta-rūpini (833)

Pancāśa means fifty, pīta means (lit) seat and rūpini means form. Sāradā Tilakam (an ancient treatise on tantra) opens by saying ‘Let the Supreme being embodied by ever-enduring bliss, pervaded the universe of movable and immovable objects, formed into words and their meaning by fifty alphabetical letters (‘a’ to ‘ksha’) perennially emanating which is known as ‘Shabdha Brahman’. In other words, this great tantric treatise opens by paying obeisance to Her. Only the next verse pays respects to Shiva. Sanskrit alphabets are 50 or 51 depending upon the number of vowels or consonants (inclusion of ॡ (lū). Elsewhere, it is said that ‘ksha’ (consonant) is not to be included. There are a few who does not include ‘la’ in consonants). Varivasya rahasyam (II.35) says that each of the three kūtās of Panchadasi mantra gives rise to 16 alphabets, totalling to 48 (‘ksha’ and ‘ha’ excluded). Therefore, this nama means that She is in the form of 50 alphabets of Sanskrit. Her manifestation in alphabets is known as Shabda Brahman.

(It is appropriate to say that Sanskrit consists of 51 letters and not fifty. This is based on the fact that in ‘bahir matrka nyasa’ of navavarana puja uses 51 letteres. But in ‘antar matrka nyasa’ 50 letters are used based upon 50 lotus petals of chakras of kundalini. But authoritative interpretations on the first verse of Sarada Tialakm confirm that the total alphabets are 51. This information is only for academic interest.)

There are some interpretations that 50 (or 51) means the 51 shkthi pitas. When Shiva was not invited by Daksha to participate in a yajna organised by demon Daksha, father of ‘Sati’ (nama 820), an incarnation of Shakthi, She immolated Herself. Shiva carrying Her corpse was milling around. Vishnu cut the corpse into 51 pieces that fell in 51 different places. These places are known as 51 Shakthi Pitas. Again, this is only for academic interest and this nama has nothing to do with the Shakthi Pitas. Shakthi Pitas are only latest developments.

Viśṛuṇkalā (834)

‘vi’ means without and śṛuṇkalā means bondage. She is without bondage. Bondage is the quality of man. Brahman is beyond bondage. Any action, be it good or bad, causes bondage. Bondage is caused by performing actions prescribed by scriptures with ego or not performing prescribed actions. Both have the same effect and cause karmic afflictions. This nama says that She is beyond such karmic afflictions, while performing Her duties. This nama says that She remains unfettered.

Viviktastā (835)

She abides in reclusive places. Reclusive places mean the hearts of learned men. Learned men are those who can differentiate between the Self and self. Worshipping Shakthi should be done only in privacy. She will not manifest in crowd. Generally, crowd cause distorted vibes as different persons have different thoughts. But, in places where bhajans or spiritual discourses are performed, positive vibrations increase manifold due to unified focusing of thoughts, leading to ecstasy. She manifests only in places of purity (nama 765 Shuddha). Places of purity mean mental purity of Self-realized persons.

This nama says that She manifests in the minds of Self-realized persons.

{For further reading: Mental purity is more important than physical purity. When mind is crowded with thoughts, it cannot be focused. Unless mind is focused on Her, it is not possible to attain Her. Mind is the only tool available to attain Her. The mind can be controlled by three means. One is through pranayama. The second is the focused consciousness using the internal tools or anthakkaranam. The third is Samadhi. This is realisation by personal experience. Sage Patanjali says in his Yoga Sutra (I.4) “when the mind is not resolved, silenced and purified, the seer is indentified with modifications.” Yoga Sutra says that everything arises from the mind. Mind can be purified only if one becomes devoid of attachments, desires and ego. Spiritual progression can be measured only by the presence of three elements in one’s thoughts. One’s spiritual progression should not be ascertained from others. One has to be his own judge in measuring his spiritual progression.)

Vīra-mātā (836)

Vīra means Lord Ganesha and His mother is Vīra-mātā. Vīra also means warriors. Since, She Herself is a warrior, She is addressed here as mother of warriors. Warriors are those who fight against evil. Nama 777 says that She is worshipped by warriors. Nama 899 says Vīra which means She Herself is a warrior. Her actions as warrior have been described in Devi Mahatmiyam.

The best of devotees are also known as warriors. The one who conquers ego is known as warrior. She is the mother of such devotees. They call Her by different names such as ‘Ma’, ‘Divine Mother’, ‘Mother’, ‘Mata’ etc.

Viatprasūḥ (837)

The creator of akash or ether element. The element of akash originated from the Brahman and from akash other elements originated. Taittiriya Upanishad (II.1) says ‘tasmāt vai etasmāt ātmanaḥ, ākāsaḥ saṃbhūtaḥ’. This means From the Self (the Brahman) originated space. The Upanishad continues to say that from space air, from air fire, from fire water, from water earth, from earth plants, from plants food and from food human beings originated. This Upanishad also compares a human being to that of a bird. A reference can be made to nama 550 that convey the same meaning.

Mukundā (838)

She gives salvation to jivas. Maha Vishnu is known as Mukundā. The one who gives mukti is known as Mukunda. Mukti means final salvation, after which an individual soul ceases to exist. It merges with the Brahman.

Mukti is of three types, Krama mukti (gradual liberation), videha mukti (final liberation), and sadya mukti (immediate liberation). Mukti or liberation can be explained as the cessation of all miseries and attainment of the absolute bliss of the Brahman.

Mukti-nilayā (839)

She is the embodiment of mukti. What She has, She shares with Her devotees (like namas 172 and 173). Mukti is the stage where the self is completely disconnected from intellect causing liberation. It is the complete isolation of ‘self’ from the objective universe called ‘prakriti’. Released from all physical and psychical limitations, the self becomes aloof from the realm of mind and matter and shines as omnipresent spirit ever pure and free. Please refer nama 625.

Vedanta and Samkhya yoga provide different routes to liberation. Vedanta says that one should not dissociate the self from the mind and Samkhya yoga says that should dissociate the self from the mind.

There is an Upanishad by name ‘Muktikopanishad’, the last of 108 Upanishads.

Mūla-vigraha-rūpini (840)

She (Lalithambigai or Rajarajeshvari) is the root of all Shakthis. Vigraha means to assume form and mula means origin, original, foundation, etc. Mula vigraha means the original form. This is Her Sri Mata form.

There is an Upanishad called ‘Bḥvrucopaniśad’. It is says that in the beginning She alone existed. From Her originated Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. She is known as Maha Tripurasundari. The Upanishad proceeds to mention Her different forms such as Shodasi, Panchadasi, Bala, Chandi, etc.

This nama says that She is the root of all energies. The root energy sourced from Shiva and known as Shakthi, manifest as different energies during creation, sustenance and dissolution.