Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
121. Bhayāpahā
Meaning – She dispels all the fears (bhaya) of the ardent devotee.
Dispelling all forms of fear is the result of undertaking this śambhavi vidya.
122. Śāmbhavī
Meaning – As the wife of śambhu (another name for Shiva) She takes on the name śāmbhavi.
The word ‘Sham’ means goodness and ‘Bhu’ means ‘originating from’. Therefore Shambhu means He who originates out of goodness and who can be understood through the practice of integrity & goodness. His energy/ wife is Shāmbhavi.
Lord Shambhu appreciates these traits of integrity and goodness and showers them on His devotees.
In the Vedic hymn Chamakam, the following verse appears- ‘śam ca me mayaśca me’ which means ‘May I be granted happiness (goodness, integrity) in this world and in the other world’.
123. Śāradārādhyā
This name has 2 meanings –
1) Shārada is Goddess Saraswati, the Goddess of entire knowledge in this creation. This Goddess Shārada worships (āradhya) the Supreme Mother.
It implies that the Supreme Mother is an authority over all knowledge and is being worshipped by it.
2) She is worshipped (āradhya) in the Sharad rutu (autumn).
The festivities of Navaratri wherein the Supreme Mother is worshipped for 9 days, commence in the beginning of autumn (Sharad rutu).
In this season (sharad rutu) the monsoon would have just receded and the weather will be peaceful and calm. Yet, it is important to note that this period is a breeding season for germs and bacteria of all kinds. Consequently it is also known as Yama kāla (dangerous period). These germs lead to outbreak of infections/diseases. As a protection, in this season, various auspicious rituals that involve the usage of auspicious ingredients such as turmeric, kumkum, camphor etc., which in turn are the natural protectors against infections and diseases, have been prescribed in our tradition.
124. Śarvānī
Meaning – She is the wife of Sharva (another name of Shiva) and hence is Śarvānī.
When the being drifts into the deep sleep state (Shushupti), he is immobile with no thoughts or activity. He is not even conscious of his existence, name or form. The God who protects the being at such a time, who awakens the being thereafter and who renders him mobile is Sharva. Sharvani, as His wife, signifies the energy (shakti) that resides within us and which protects us during deep sleep.
In Vishnu Sahasranama, Lord Vishnu has been praised as ‘Sarva, Sharva, Shiva, Sthānu’. Appearance of Shiva’s name in Vishnu Sahasranama proves that Shiva and Vishnu are one and the same energy being depicted as two separate forces.
125. Śarma-dāyinī
Meaning – She grants auspiciousness and happiness to Her devotees.
The term ‘Sharma’ means ‘Vedas’. It also means ‘Atma Vidya’ i.e. knowledge about the self. Through constant study of the Vedas or through acquiring the knowledge about the self, the being is blessed with the resultant auspiciousness.
Sharma is a very common name in India. This name acts as a reminder that time should be spent in studying Veda, in contemplating about Brahma, and in acquiring self-knowledge (atma vidya).
There are two ways of reaching Her – one is adopting the right way of life and the other is proper worship. She grants Brahma vidya (knowledge of the Supreme) to the deserving people who adopt these approaches. This is the true auspiciousness that She grants.
126. Śānkarī
Meaning – As the energy (wife) of Lord Shankara (Shiva), She is Śānkarī.
The word śankara is also synonymous of auspiciousness.
śam karoteeti śankarah…He who performs meritorious deeds and He who blesses those who perform such meritorious deeds is known as Shankara. His energy is Śānkarī.
Goddess Śānkarī’s temple is one of the 18 most important temples of the Supreme Mother (Ashtadasha shakti peethas) and is located in Srilanka.
127. Śrī-karī
Meaning – She grants Śri (supreme knowledge).
The word ‘Śri’ instantly brings to memory the wealth and materialistic prosperity of all forms. But the word ‘Śri’ has many secretive meanings (refer introduction). Śri means ‘the ultimate supreme knowledge’. This is the ultimate result of worshipping Her.
128. Sādhvī
Meaning – She is of gentle attitude and is a chaste woman.
Sādhvi is one who predominantly possesses pure traits (sattva guna); is of saint-like gentle behaviour devoid of anger, jealousy, hatred and so on.
From this definition, it can be inferred that saints are dear to her. She blesses her ardent devotees with saint-like behaviour, calmness, mental peace and with good thoughts. She drives away all forms of confusions and tensions from the mind.
A close connection exists between this name and the name Bhāvanāgamyā (name 113). It is only through developing proper feelings (bhāvana) that this saint like state can be achieved.
In the Bhagavad Gita the Lord states –
nāsti buddhir ayuktasya na cāyuktasya bhāvana
na cābhavayatah sāntir asāntasya kutah sukham
Meaning – One who is not connected with the supreme consciousness, one who has no connection with Yoga (yukti) and who does not perform Yoga Sadhana, cannot possess proper buddhi (intellect). This lack of good intellect causes a deficiency of good and healthy thoughts. Due to this, good feelings (bhāvanas) cannot be developed. A mind devoid of proper bhāvana cannot experience peace (shanti). A mind devoid of peace (shanti) cannot find happiness (sukham).
Correct attitudes and the right bhāvana (mental perceptions, feelings etc) bring about peace. A mind that is devoid of peace will not enjoy any happiness even if all the possessions in the world were to be showered upon it. The reason behind comparing infants and toddlers to God is that they are selfless and have no idea about greed. They enjoy peace.
Apart from infants, in every other being, every action stems out of embedded or inherent selfishness. Our Upanishads have decisively declared – ‘Atmanastu kāmāya sarvam priyam bhavati’ which means that every action that a person performs stems out of his personal wanting/ desire (kaama).
It could be possible that we are consciously ignorant about it.
True peace (Shanti) originates from knowledge (jnana), i.e. Śrīkarī (supreme knowledge) takes a person to Sādhvī (peaceful & selfless) stage.
129. Śaraccandra-nibhānanā
Meaning – Her face glows like the full moon (Purnima Chandra) as it appears during autumn (sharad rutu).
During autumn the clouds would have disappeared and the moon will be shining resplendently showering coolness everywhere.
130. Śātodarī
Meaning –
1) Her waist (udara) is so tiny that it is invisible (shāta).
This name is very similar in meaning to ‘Lakṣya-roma-latādhāratā-samunneya-madhyamā’ (name 35).
The supreme energy is infinite; with no beginning and no end. How then can one visualize the middle section of this endless energy? The great saint Annamacharya in his composition wonderfully describes this infinite form. He says- ‘O Mother – you grow according to the situation. To the worthy you appear huge and infinite. The next minute you become as small as an atom to suit another’s need’.
2) Udara means cave. Plenty of caves exist within Himalayas and it is also known as Shatodara. As the daughter the Himalayas, the Divine Mother is known as Shātodari.
Our body is likened to the Himalaya Mountain. The heart is the cave within which She resides. She is the daughter of this mountain.
131. Śāntimatī
Meaning – She is an embodiment of peace. Her intellect (mati) is full of shanti (peace).
When lack of peace (ashānti) reigns, She steps in to restore peace.
Having destroyed all the demons She installed Ganapati at the Mooladhāra Chakra and sent Him down to earth for our protection.