Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
711. Sādhu
Meaning – She represents good and auspicious traits (sādhu). Om Sādhune namah!
The name ‘sādhvi’ has already occurred earlier in the Sahasranama (nama 128) and the speciality of this Sahasranama is that it is free from the errors of repetition (purarukti dosha). Therefore, although here it is recited as ‘sādhvi’, it actually consists of two different names- sādhu and ee.
712. Ee
Meaning – She is a form of Vishnu. Om Eeyai namah!
713. Guru-maṇḍala-rūpiṇī
Meaning – She is the unbroken lineage of Gurus (Guru manḍala)- from Sadāshiva to one’s own guru.
The traditional guru manḍala is –
Sadāshiva samarambhām vyāsa shankara madhyamām
Asmad ācharya paryantām vande Guru paramparām.
In Datta tradition, we pray to our guru manḍala –
Dattatreya samarambhām nrusimhādhika madhyamām
Sacchidananda paryantām vande Guru paramparām.
As the Divine Mother represents all the lineages of Gurus, She is Guru-maṇḍala-rūpiṇī.
714. Kulottīrṇā
Meaning – She is over and above the Chakras (spiritual centers known as kula).
We have discussed in the earlier names that Her primary residence is the Mūladhāra chakra (also known as kula). From here, She travels up to the Sahasrāra and thereafter returns back to the kula (mūladhāra). The truth however is that She is over and above all the Chakras.
Uttīrna means ‘to cross over’. She helps Her devotee cross over the 6 Chakras and takes him to Sahasrāra. Kulottīrṇā also means that She helps the devotee cross over the limitations of this cycle of births and deaths and rewards him/her with liberation.
715. Bhagārādhyā
Meaning –
a) She is worshipped by (āradhya) the Sun God (Bhaga).
The Sun gets its luster from Her grace and hence with great reverence He worships Her.
b) As per the scripture on alphabets (Akshara Shastra), the vernacular alphabet ‘ae’ is known as Bhaga. This alphabet resembles the triangle (trikona). Trikona (triangle) is Her residence and She is worshipped within it ; hence She is Bhagārādhyā.
716. Māyā
Meaning – She is the individual illusion and ignorance.
The composite/ cosmic illusion that envelops the entire creation is Mahā māyā. Māyā is the ignorance and illusion at the individual (microcosm) level. The illusion of one individual differs from that of another. Wealth and power obtained due to knowledge, fame or any other means causes intoxication in the individual that intensifies his ego. This is māyā. Wealth in itself is harmless; its combination with māyā is dreadful.
To cross over this illusion (māyā), it is necessary to hold on to Her feet. She is the illusion and only She can aid the person to cross over this illusion.
717. Madhumatī
Meaning – Every action of Hers is attractive and tempting akin to honey. She is honey (madhu).
To a person who is trapped in illusion (māyā) as explained in the previous name, everything in this world looks tempting and delicious. Trapping a person in māyā is the basis for sustaining this entire creation.
718. Mahī
Meaning – She is the Mother earth (bhumī).
Vedas describe the Lord as- ‘Mahīm devīm Vishnupatnīm ajūryām’.
All living beings born on this earth should make attempts to understand the nature of this life on earth and scrutinize in detail the good as well as the hardships that occur here. To a person who is intoxicated by all these illusory creations of earth, life on earth appears bountiful and joyful. Such a person seeks to be reborn again and again on earth. Such a person is fully trapped in maya!
These three names of ‘Māyā, Madhumatī and Mahī’ seek to teach us about this worldly illusion and warn us. They seek to instill in us the desire to move away from such entrapments.
719. Gaṇāmbā
Meaning – She is the mother of Ganapati. She is also the ruler of all the various ganās (troops) in this creation including Shiva’s attendants (Shiva-ganās).
720. Guhyakārādhyā
Meaning –
a) She is fervently worshipped through secretive means. Internal worship (antar yaga) is also known as Guhyakārādhyā. It is invisible and hence called secretive (guhya).
b) Devatas too are known as Guhyās. The Supreme Mother is served by many invisible yogini matās (gupta yoginis) and by Devatas and hence also is Guhyakārādhyā.