Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
571. Mahā-pralaya-sakṣiṇī
Meaning – She is the witness for the final dissolution (absorption) known as Mahā Pralaya.
Pralaya here refers to ‘hrudaya pralaya’ i.e. the dissolution of the heart and mind. It implies the merger of the self into the ultimate final source. She is the witness for this merger.
572. Parāśaktiḥ
Meaning – She is the supreme-most energy that supersedes everything.
Dhatus are the basic tissues that support and nourish the gross body. Parashakti is revered as the 10th dhatu, which is the most important support for every other dhatu.
Rasa (chyle), rakta (blood), mamsa (muscle), majja (bone marrow), asthi (bone), meda (brain and spinal cord), shukla (sperm and ovum) are the seven main tissues that are essential for the existence of the gross body. Ojas (vigor) is the support for these seven basic dhatus and therefore is addressed as the eighth dhatu. Prana (life force) is referred to as the ninth dhatu since the above dhatus cannot function without the life force. Parashakti is said to be the tenth dhatu as it supports the life force itself!
Upanishads describe the Parashakti as- Parasya saktir vividhaiva sruyate svabhaviki jnana.
Meaning- Everything happens on account of Her potency. It is the energy without whose will even a tiny blade of grass will not move.
573. Parā-niṣṭhā
Meaning – She is the siddhi (accomplishment) in the accomplished beings.
Nishta means steadfast position or fixing of mind steadfast at a point. The nishta of a self realized person (muni) which is perpetually united with the Brahman is called Parānishta. Sadhana in which the mind is totally focused on the absolute is Parānishta. Self realization is Parānishta.
574. Prajñāna-ghana-rūpiṇī
Meaning – She is the profound wisdom and intelligence that controls all our actions. It can be understood to mean She is the concentrated supreme wisdom.
Prajñāna is the supreme wisdom (energy) that enables us to see, hear, think, taste, smell, talk and so on.
Suka rahasya Upanishad states –
Yenaakshate shrunoteetam jivhadigraakarotichaa
Swadhu swaadhu vijaanaati tat pragnana veteeryate.
Meaning – That wisdom with which the ‘being’ sees and hears, that through which he enjoys the tastes and he talks, that through which he absorbs good knowledge and enjoys good associations is known as Prajñāna.
Eyes are not essential for seeing. Likewise ears are not essential for listening. The mind can see and hear on its own. It is the wisdom that exists within that is the causes this experience.
Prajñāna is one of the 4 maha vakyas (profound statements). It is a subject that could be spoken about for days at stretch.
575. Mādhvīpānālasā
Meaning – She is intoxicated due to the consumption of wine (madhu).
Here madhu (wine) refers to the intoxication caused by incessant hearing of divine names of Madhu (Lord Vishnu). The joy that comes upon continuous listening to divine mantras is intoxicating.
She is the energy of Madhava (Vishnu).
576. Mattā
Meaning – She is in a slumber caused by complete intoxication.
This is the slumber that comes after incessant hearing of divine mantras. Matta can also be understood as mamata- the pride, attachment and also the protective feeling that She has towards her entire creation or her children. It is the universal ego.
577. Matṛkā-varṇa-rūpinī
Meaning – She is of the form of akshara (alphabets).
The 51 alphabets are known are matrka (aksharas). ‘Aksha māla’ is a garland of alphabets in which all the alphabets from ‘a’ to ‘ksha’ are strung together.
The following stanza is from a hymn, composed by Sage Agastya praising Goddess Saraswati –
Dhorbhir Yuktha chathurbhi sphatika manimayi makshmaalaam dadhaana
Hasthe naikena padmam sithamapi cha shukam pusthakam chaparena,
Bhasa kundendu sankha sphatka mani nibha bhasamana samaana
Saa mey vaag deva theyam nivasathu vadane sarvada suprasanna.
Meaning – I pray that the Goddess of words, who in each of her 4 hands holds the garland of crystal beads, a parrot, white lotus and book respectively, and whose luster can be compared to the kunda flowers, moon, conch or the crystal beads should live always in my face and bless me.
578. Mahā-kailāsa-nilayā
Meaning – Mahā-kailāsa is Her residence.
She resides here in Her from as Gowri, Parvati. She is the source of all energy. Seated here She is blessing the entire creation. She heads all the troops of Shiva (Shiva Ganas).
Kailāsa is Shiva’s residence on the Earth. Mahā-Kailāsa is the residence of Shiva in the great space (antareeksha). It is at a much more subtler plane. As His spouse the Divine Mother resides there.
Every atom on earth is sacred. At every step there are scores of Shiva Lingas. When Arjuna was about to depart for Kashmir, Krishna had for him a special advice. He said that that every atom of that land was a Shiva Linga and hence Arjuna was asked to recite the name of Shiva at every step.
In any house, a kitchen has a function that is completely different from a bathroom or a bedroom. Likewise every house a special place created where prayers can be said or where God is invoked. This place has special value and significance in the house. Likewise on this earth, God has selected certain lands known as kshetras that are to be the puja rooms (prayer halls). At these special places, great saints have invoked the Lord and consecrated him. Hence the area reverberates with divine vibrations. God resides at such places. Such places include the 12 sacred places of Shiva (Jyotirlingas), the eighteen sacred places of Devi (asthadasha shakti peethas), the various temple towns pertaining to Vishnu, Subrahmanya, Ganapati and so on.
Kailāsa is one such sacred place. It is the temple of God. It is located in the land of Tripeetha, now known as Tibet. Eons back the land of Bharat (India) stretched from Tripeeta desha (Tibet) up to Afghanistan. Kailāsa is the airport for the Devatās who seek to land on earth and hence it is filled with limitless divine vibrations. Shiva along with Parvati, Ganapati, Subrahmanya and the hordes of troops resides here. The area has a magnetic appeal. The Kailasa Mountain is ever covered with snow even in the summer months. Heat and cold winds blow simultaneously. In the mornings, the sunrays fall on the mountain and give the impression of a crown to Lord Shiva. Just as much rays as are needed to create a crown fall on the mountain. Evening has a mix of unique colours. The Devatas eternally bathe in the Manas-sarovar Lake. The Kailāsa Mountain is 13000 feet high single rock. How far beneath the earth it stretches no one knows. Being at a high altitude, there is shortage of oxygen at this point. No plants can be visible in the surroundings.
It is said that the Lord laughed in joy and this reflection (image) caused the shining in the Kailasa Mountain. The shine on the mountain thus is the reflection of his bliss (ananda) and hence this area is filled with bliss. In this bliss, he continuously performs the tandava (keli or dance of bliss). Lāsa stands for dance, sport. The dance of supreme Mother is known as lāsa. Hence Kailāsa is the place where both the Supreme Mother and Supreme Father are performing the dance of bliss.
Maha Kailāsa located at a much subtler plane stands for supreme bliss (mahā ananda, the dance of supreme bliss).
579. Mṛuṇāla-mṛdu-dorlatā
Meaning – Her arms are as tender as lotus stalks.
Her tender arms symbolize the Ida and Pingala nādis in between which is the main Sushumna naadi. Sushumna nādi is the primary channel through which the Kundalini energy flows. She is the Sushumna nādi.
580. Mahānīyā
Meaning – She is the most supreme being and is most venerable (worshipful).
As She protects, nourishes and causes in us an inspiration to move on the path of God, She is revered as Mahānīyā.