Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
751. Mahā-kālī
Meaning – She manifests as Mahā-kālī.
She is the wife (energy) of Mahā-kālā. It implies that She is over and above time (kālā); She is the undivided time. This indivisible time (akhanda kālā) is the characteristic of Parabrahma. She surpasses death.
Mahā-kālī is the presiding deity at Ujjayini temple. Ujjayini is one of the 18 most-sacred temples of the Divine Mother (ashtādasha shakti peethams). Ujjayini means ‘the place that grants jaya (liberation, moksha)’.
752. Mahā Grāsā
Meaning – She swallows everything.
Time consumes everything. There is nothing that does not perish with time. To Mahā-kālī, the form of time, everything is Her food.
753. Mahā-śanā
Meaning – She eats away the entire universe.
Ashana is ‘to eat’. Mahā-ashanā is one who eats away everything. This is continuation of earlier name.
754. Aparṇā
Meaning – Devi Parvati lived without eating even leaves when She was seeking the Lord and hence got the name Aparnā. She who relieves her devotees from runa (indebtedness) is Aparnā.
Little Parvati undertook intense sadhana for securing Lord Shiva as her husband. For some time She gave up cooked food and lived only on uncooked food. Later, for some period, She lived only on fallen leaves (parna). Subsequently She gave up even eating leaves (aparna) and continued Her sadhana. For undertaking such severe austerities, She was addressed as Aparna.
Fasting on certain days has been introduced for a reason. Every part of the body has been given some lifeline during which it can function well. Eating 3 meals on a daily basis puts extreme load on the internal organs and they fail early in life, leading to diseases. Over eating is thus injurious to health. Fasting has been introduced as a ritual in our life so that the body is given rest on that day. At least one day in a week should be set aside for fasting.
755. Chaṇḍikā
Meaning – She gets tremendously angry with those who entertain demonic thoughts, display evil traits and pursue bad habits.
756. Chaṇḍa-muṇḍāsura-niṣūdinī
(Chanda-mundāsura nishudini is one name and hence there should be no break/ pause between chanda-munda. Pausing after the word ‘Chanda’ amounts to addressing Her as Chanda.)
Meaning – In Her form as Chandika, She destroyed the evil demons Chanda and Munda, and was bestowed with the name Chamundi.
Mother Chamundi’s temple is at Mysore.
757. Kṣarā-kṣarātmikā
Meaning – She is both impermanent (destructible) and permanent (eternal).
‘Kshara’ is ‘that which is destructible’. ‘Akshara’ means ‘indestructible’. Kshara here refers to the gross body that is prone to destruction. Akshara is the inner being (soul, consciousness) within, which is eternal. Alphabets being eternal, are also addressed as Akshara.
758. Sarva-lokeśī
Meaning – She is the empress who rules all the 14-worlds (lokas, planes).
759. Viśva-dhāriṇī
Meaning – She bears/ supports the entire creation. She holds all the worlds within Her womb.
Vishwa also refers to the waking state (refer no. ) and from this name we can understand that She is the support for this Vishwa.
760. Tri-varga-dhātrī
Meaning – She bestows the Tri-vargas of Dharma, Artha and Kaama.
She is an embodiment of Dharma, Artha and Kaama. The truth is that abidance with rules of righteousness (Dharma) leads to materialistic prosperity and fulfillment of desires (artha-kaama). One should live per dharma and earn material prosperity (artha) through it. Then automatically proper and healthy desires (kaama) will be developed.