Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
141. Śantā
Meaning – She is an embodiment of peace.
Every person displays 9 emotions (rasas) – Shringāra (beauty, love), hāsya (happiness, mirth), adbhuta (wonder, surprise), bhaya (fear), karuna (compassion), vibhatsya (disgust), veera (courage), krodha (anger) and shānti (peace). The mind jumps from one emotion to another.
The Supreme Mother however knows only one emotion and this is to be eternally at peace (shānti). Mother, in Her form as Goddess Durga, may appear externally ferocious, but this appearance is only to eliminate the bad traits, ferocious behaviour and bad habits within us and render us peaceful.
142. Niṣkāmā
Meaning – She is free from desire (kāma).
Niṣkāma is a state of complete contentment and calmness that is above likes, dislikes and wants. The mind that entertains desires cannot be calm. The Supreme Mother aids us in reaching such a state of complete calmness.
The Supreme Lord being over and above desires, is known as Sampoorna kāma. The Vedas state that this Supreme Lord entertained only one desire – Prajāpati akāmayata praja srujayaiti – which means ‘I want to create; to see myself in various bodies’. This fundamental desire of the Lord led to this creation.
143. Nirupaplavā
Meaning – She is indestructible.
Nirupaplavā can be split into two ways for a better understanding of its meaning.
1) Upaplava means ‘destructible’. Everything created is subject to destruction. But the Supreme power is indestructible; it is eternal and hence is Nir+upaplava.
2) ‘Plava’ means that which is used to cross over. ‘Upaplava’ means that which is helpful in quickly crossing over- here it refers to ‘quickly crossing over the cycles of birth and death (samsara), ignorance (ajnana, avidya), sorrows and difficulties’. Nir+upaplava therefore implies that She is over and above these cycles and hence does not have any necessity to cross over these.
Through various different names, the same concept i.e. the fact that ‘She is eternal and indestructible’ is being re-iterated. This is because, the human mind that believes in the concepts of beginning & end, birth & death, and needs to slowly absorb this great truth.
Nirupaplava also means that She is devoid of vikāra (changes).
144. Nitya-muktā
Meaning – She is eternally liberated (mukta, free).
She grants liberation to her devotees.
145. Nirvikārā
Meaning – She is changeless; without modifications.
Every living being born in this world, including fruits, mandatorily undergoes 6 types of modifications (vikaaras).
They are –
Jāyate – Birth. This is the first modification. The being that was until then without the need of a body, now finds itself enveloped by a physical, visible and distinct body.
Asti – Existence. Having been enveloped by this physical body, the being thinks that he is ‘existing’ in the physical body.
Vardhate – Growth. ‘Nourishment’ of the body for growth.
Viparinamate – Physical changes that take place through the various stages of growth.
Apaksheeyate – Decaying and shrinking of the body with age.
Nashyati – Death; ceasing to live.
The Supreme Mother strives to take her devotees to that state which is devoid of these modifications.
146. Niṣprapañcā
Meaning – She is beyond (over and above) this universe (prapancha).
‘Prapancha’ consists of two words- pra+pancha, which means ‘that which has undergone the process of pancheekarana’
(the process in which the subtle matter transforms into gross matter through the medium of the five basic elements (pancha bhootas)).
Every object and every being in this creation necessarily has its origin in the five basic elements (pancha bhootas i.e. earth, water, fire, air and space). These 5 basic elements in turn originate out of the 5 tanmaatras as explained in the verse –
Mahato ahamkāra, ahamkārat panchatanmatrāṇi panchatanmātrebhyah panchamahabhootāni.
Tanmātras have a subtle existence. Just as there exists a physical earth, there also exists a subtle earth that is comparable to an atom and which in reality, is the source for this earth. The energy that is supplied by that subtle element ensures that the contents of this earth do not get depleted.
Going a little deeper into the subject, we should understand that this body is a universe (prapancha) in itself.
Only because of the existence of this body (universe), we are able to perceive the outer universe (prapancha). When it is said that the Kundalini energy that reaches the Sahasrara drenches the entire universe, it refers to the body.
The Divine Mother, who does not have a body (śareera, carrier) is without this universe (prapancha) and hence is Niṣprapañcā. The description about Her residence etc., given in earlier names, was only to help us focus and concentrate on Her.
147. Nirāśrayā
Meaning – She is not dependent on anything for her existence.
‘Aśraya’ means ‘shelter, dependence, refuge’. She is a refuge & shelter for every aspect of this creation and does not need any support for Her existence.
148. Nitya-śuddhā
Meaning – She is eternally pure; without blemish.
Atyanta malino dehī dehī atyanta malinō deho, dehī chātyanta nirmalah.
Meaning – Our physical body is full of dirt and impurities. Yet, the inner being, also known as the Lord Shiva, who resides within, is eternally pure (Nitya shuddha).
All the names being explained here elaborate about the Supreme in the best possible way and are closest in understanding the Supreme Essence. In Advaita philosophy (non-dualism), the Supreme Essence is explained as –
Nitya śuddha buddha mukta paripoorna sacchidananda advaita parama prakashah.
149. Nitya-buddhā
Meaning – She is a form of eternal knowledge.
Supreme knowledge is eternal. Such knowledge does not get dissolved even after the final destruction (pralaya). This knowledge is the basis for further creation. She is the form of such undying knowledge.
The words Buddha, boudha and bodhana all mean knowledge (Jnana).
The 3 words Sat, Chit and Ananda are also expressed as ‘Satyam, Shivam and Sundaram’ or as ‘Satya, Jnana and Ananta’. The words Ananta, Sundara are synonyms of Ananda (divine bliss).
150. Niravadhyā
Meaning – She is devoid of ignorance and illusion.
Avadya is a synonym for avidya (ignorance).