Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
341. Kshetra swaroopa
Meaning – She manifests in the form of the physical body (kshetra).
Kshetra in common parlance refers to land owned; to a parliamentary constituency etc. Here however, Kshetra refers to this physical/ gross body.
She protects that being who is residing within this gross body. This physical body (shareera) is the ‘carrier’ for the being who resides within.
This physical body is addressed as kshetra for two reasons. ‘Kshata tranat’ means it protects the dweller within from injuries and hence is kshetra. ‘Kshayat’ means that it is destructible. Hence kshetra or the physical body is that form of Hers, which is subject to destruction and which protects the dweller within.
The Jnana khanda (kshetra kshetra vibhāga yoga) chapter of Bhagavad Gita opens with the proclamation –
idam sariram kaunteya ksetram ity abhidhiyate
etad yo vetti tam prahuh ksetra-jna iti tad-vidah
Meaning – O Arjuna, this physical body is called the kshetra, and one who resides within is called the Kshetrajna.
Lalita Sahasranama too begins the Jnana khanda with this same reference. This shows the similarity not only in the content of the texts, but more importantly in the form that preached these texts.
342. Kṣetreśī
Meaning- She is the empress (eshi) who governs this gross body (kshetra). She sustains this body (kshetra) and enables it to function.
343. Kṣetra-kṣetrajña-pālinī
Meaning – She sustains and rules over both -the body (kshetra) as well as the being who resides within (jeevatma, kshetrajna).
344. Kṣaya-vṛddhi-vinirmuktā
Meaning – Being eternal, She is beyond destruction and decay (kshaya) or growth (prosperity, vriddhi).
Just like the Sun that does not grow nor shrink the inner being (atma, Kshetrajna) can neither grow nor decay. It is pure illumination. This concept is explained in the second chapter of Bhagavad Gita as- ajo nityah sāśvato ‘yam purano na hanyate hanyamāne sarire.
345. Kṣetra-pāla-samarcitā
Meaning – She is worshipped by Shiva, who is known as Kshetrapāla.
Kshetrapāla is the deity who governs the temple town (kshetra). Kshetrapālas are manifestations of Shiva. The human body is also a kshetra has a kshetrapāla to govern it. This kshetrapāla (Shiva) resides within the intellect (buddhi). Buddhou sharana-manviccha- He who walks on the path of yoga (path of buddhi) realizes this truth.
346. Vijayā
Meaning – She is eternally victorious.
True victory is overcoming the inner demons such as kāma (desire), anger (krodha), greed (lobha), attachments (moha), ego and pride (mada) and jealousy (matsarya). She grants victory to her devotees in subduing these demons.
Vijaya is also one among the important auspicious muhurtams (times). Tasks begun at this hour are said to be accomplished successfully.
347. Vimalā
Meaning – She is absolutely pure without even the slightest trace of impurity (mala).
She washes away the impurities from the devotee and cleanses him. A pure mind free from all traces of impurities is Her permanent residence. Such purity happens only after all the inner demons have been vanquished. For this reason Vimala follows Vijaya.
The following are said to be the names of the Her residence- Dhruva, Janya, Jaya, Kaanta, Vipula, Vijaya, Sumukha, Vimala, Nanda, Nidhana and Manohara.
348. Vandyā
(Pronouncing this as Vandhya alters the meaning totally and hence is a grave mistake.)
Meaning – She is worshipful, venerable.
She is worthy of all receiving all the obeisance (namaskarams) and worship. She is ardently worshipped with Vandana mantras. Vandana mudra and vandana kriya is of utmost importance. Both obeisance and worship (puja) are activities for internal cleansing. In certain pujas extensive namaskaras are offered. The intent behind this is to attain bhava and chitta shuddha (purity of thought/ feeling and mind).
349. Vandāru-jana-vatsalā
Meaning – She loves Her devotees as her children.
350. Vāgvādinī
Meaning – She manifests in the form of speech (Vāk swaroopini). She is Saraswati.
She is the power that enables speech. Vāk is the sound at the inner level. She is the power behind the spoken words.
Sarveśām ca svabhaktānām vādarupena sarvadā
Sthiratha vāchi vikhyāta loke vagvādinitisa
Meaning – As She at all times abides in the form of speech on the tongue of all Her devotees, She is known as Vagvādini.