Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
951. Śāśwatī
Meaning- She is eternal.
This is to re-iterate the fact that the atma (inner being, soul) is eternal. She is Ajā, Vinirmuktā.
952. Śāśvataiśvaryā
Meaning- She grants every-lasting prosperity (aishwarya) which is the showering of supreme knowledge (Jnana) upon Her devotee.
953. Śarmadā
Meaning- She who causes auspiciousness is Śarmadā.
954. Śambhu-mohinī
Meaning- As She causes enticement to Lord Shambhu (Shiva), She is Shambhu-mohini.
Soundarya Lahiri states-
Purā nāree bhoothvā puraripumapi kshobanayath
Meaning- Hari (Vishnu) was once able to become a charming female (mohini) and stir waves of passion in the mind of the most impassioned Shiva who had earlier destroyed the three cities and was the enemy of the Lord of desire.
A sadhaka should perpetually be alert and be strict about his sadhana else there is a likelihood of distractions.
955. Dharā
Meaning- She is Mother Earth that supports all the beings on it.
956. Dhara-sutā
Meaning- She is the daughter of the Lord of the mountains (Himavan, Dhara). She is Parvati.
957. Dhanyā
Meaning- She takes even ordinary beings to that state of being dhanya. She manifests in the form of holy-beings (sat-purushas).
Those who contemplate about the topics discussed in the Upanishads, about liberation and about Vedanta and Brahmasutras are great persons and are called ‘dhanya’. Those who are serious about subduing the five senses (pancha indriyas) are addressed as dhanya. Those who have compassion towards all living beings (sarva bhuta daya) are dhanya. All these are elevated souls.
‘Who is a satpurusha’? Once Maharishi Narada expressed this doubt to Lord Mahavishnu. In response, Lord Vishnu asked Narada to go to earth and visit the piglet that had just been delivered. This was the most unusual reply, but Maharishi, who couldn’t go against the orders of His Lord, visited the piglet. The piglet looked at the saint and in a couple of minutes breathed its last. Narada returned to Vaikuntha in deep sorrow. However the Lord asked him to now proceed and visit the bird that had just been born on earth. This little bird too died as soon as Maharishi Narada paid it a visit. Shocked at this turn of events, the Maharishi returned to Vaikuntha in distress. Instead of replying to the original question, Lord Vishnu now directed him to visit the calf that had just been born. Afraid of Go-hatya (sin of killing a cow) and yet unable to go against the word of the Lord, Narada slowly but hesitatingly, reached the home of the cow. The calf that was a few minutes old, died as soon as it saw Maharishi Narada. Now Narada decided that it was better to stay at the gate of Vaikuntha. He was afraid of where the Lord would direct him to go.
Just as he feared, the Lord called him in and asked him to visit a newborn prince on earth. Narada replied that he was an unlucky being and that just his sight the newborn animals were dying. With his visit he was sure of the impending death of the prince. But yet the Lord was unmoved and stood by his directive. Narada hesitantly made his way to the palace. The king received him with due honour and asked him to bless his newborn son. Narada cast a quick and brief glanc at the baby. The baby in turn smiled and spoke in a subtle tone that was audible only to the Maharishi – ‘Maharishi Narada! That day in Vaikuntha you sought the answer to your question- who is a satpurusha? Now listen to my answer. You are truly a holy person (satpurusha). That day, it was I who was born as a piglet. Just by your darshan, my life as a piglet ended and I was blessed to be reborn as a bird. You paid me a visit and by your grace, I ended that life and was born as a calf. You were graceful enough to bless me with your darshan. My life as a calf came to an end and here, now I am, by your grace, born a prince. I have moved from animal to human birth. All this is the result of you endless repetition of Narayana japam’. With this enlightenment, Narada began composing the bhakti sutras.
958. Dharmiṇī
Meaning- She is the energy/wife of dharma (righteousness). She possesses the traits of dharmi and hence is Dharmini.
He who possesses in him the traits of dharma is ‘dharmi’. Dharma and dharmi are two different words. The fire burns everything and it is following its dharma. The Fire God (Agni) possesses this capacity to burn and hence he is dharmi. Agni is Dharmi and to burn is his dharma.
959. Dharma-vardhinī
Meaning- She promotes dharma.
Jitendriyatvam soucham ca mAngalyam bhakti revaca
Shankare bhaskare devyam dharmo yam mAnushya smrtah.
Meaning- Controlling the indriyas, maintaining cleanliness, entertaining only good thoughts and developing/ promoting bhakti are all acts of human dharma.
The 10 qualities of dharma are-
Dhriti Kshama Damo Asteyam Shaucham Indriya-nigrahah
Dheer Vidya Satyam Akrodho Dashakam Dharma Lakshanam
(1) Dhriti – Courage (dhairya)
(2) Kshama – Forgiveness and patience
(3) Damah – Self Control
(4) Asteya – Not Stealing
(5) Shaucha – Purity
(6) Indriya-nigraha – Sense Control
(7) Dhi – Intellect
(8) Vidya – Learning/ knowledge
(9) Satya – Truth
(10) Akrodha – Absence of Anger.
We need to periodically assess whether we are adhering to dharma or not. We should be our own witness. One who follows dharma is very dear to the Divine Mother. Sadhana that is undertaken for self-improvisation is called dharma. She increases this dharma within us.
Each stage of life (ashrama) has different dharmas associated with it.
The Lord of Dharma (Dharma devata/purusha) has 13 wives and 13 sons. Let us understand the significance behind this statement.
a) Shraddha (dedication) is the first wife of Dharma and their offspring is Dhrtih (courage, dharana). Only when dedication towards adhering to dharma exists, then courage to abide by it (dhriti) follows automatically. In other words, a person who is absolutely firm about following dharma will always find a way to stick to it. The weak minded find many obstacles coming their way in following dharma.
b) The second wife is maître (friendship). Unless the person develops affinity/ friendship towards dharma he/she will never desire to implement it. Such friendship with dharma begets Prasada (Her blessings) . Those who love dharma and follow it are showered with her blessings.
c) Daya (compassion) is the third wife and their offspring is abhaya (fearlessness). Compassion is essential to adhere to dharma. Compassion begets fearlessness.
d) Shanti (peace) is the fourth wife and the offspring (result of adhering to peace) is sukha (happiness).
e) Tushti (contentment) is the fifth wife and it begets muda (happiness). Contentment should be practiced willfully. Even salt-less food turns tasty when it is willfully put into practice.
f) Pushti (strength) is the sixth wife and her offspring is smayah (pride, garva). Here the person should be careful and alert.
g) Kriya (karma, action) is the seventh wife and Yoga is the child. Through practice of karma, Yoga is achieved. Karma gradually takes the person towards self-less action (nishkaama karma).
h) The eighth wife is unnati (growth). The person who abides by dharma finds that praise, fame and growth (unnati) will follow quickly. Such state leads to ahamkara and this takes towards a steep downfall. Hence ahamkara has been stated as the offspring. Increase prosperity in wealth/ yoga means the person should be very carefully.
i) Buddhi (good intellect) is the ninth wife and the result is artha (earnings).
j) The tenth wife is medha (intelligence) and the result is smritih.
k) The eleventh is titeeksha (forbearance) and offspring is kshema.
l) The twelfth is Hreehi (modesty) and offspring is vinaya (humility).
m) The last wife is moortih (dharma moorti) and their offsprings are Nara-Narayana. The person who has all these above traits is a complete human being (Nara) and he will have darshan of Narayana.
The Divine Mother increases all these traits in her devotees.
960. Lokātītā
Meaning- She is over and above all planes of existence (lokas, worlds).
To reach Her true form, the person should mentally go over and above this plane of existence.