Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
411. Śiṣṭeṣṭā
Meaning – Those who adhere to right conduct and follow the path of righteousness as prescribed by the scriptures are very dear to Her.
Those who adhere to the right conduct and duty that has been handed over to them either by their ancestors, by the scriptures or by their Guru are Shistas. Such people know no slackness in their work. Neither do they entertain likes or dislikes in the discharge of their duties.
They are duty bound. Discipline and right conduct are their primary qualities.
412. Śiṣṭapūjitā
Meaning – Worship offered by sistas is very dear to Her and She accepts such worship.
413. Aprameyā
Meaning – She cannot be measured or understood by any known parameters. She is over and above even time and space.
All the description about Her is only to aid in our understanding about Her. It is one of Her most important names. Vishnu Sahasranama also refers to the Supreme as Aprameyā. All the attributes of the name ‘Srimata’ apply to this name.
414. Svaprakāśā
Meaning- She is self- illuminated.
In the 15th chapter of Bhagavad Gita, Lord Krishna states –
yad aditya-gatam tejo jagad bhasayate ‘khilam
yac candramasi yac cagnau tat tejo viddhi mamakam
Meaning – The brilliance of the Sun, which illuminates the entire creation and which dissipates its darkness, comes from Me. Likewise the illumination of the moon and fire also arise from Me. Understand that all that illumination is My illumination.
She is the illumination in the Sun, Moon and other illuminating objects.
415. Mano-vacāmagocarā
Meaning – She is beyond perception of the mind (mano) and speech (vak). Mind cannot comprehend Her and speech cannot describe Her.
She can only be realized through pure knowledge. In the Upanishads, the following verse appears-
nayam atma pravachanena labhyo na medhaya na bahuna srutena yam evaisa vrnute tena labhyas tasyaisa atma vivrnute tanum svam
Meaning – The knowledge of Brahma cannot be got by listening to lectures (pravachana), nor can He be perceived by the greatest of all intellectuals, nor can He be attained by innumerable listening to the Vedas. Only those who have His grace can attain Him. Hearing and talking about the Supreme are merely aids progress on the path.
416. Cicchaktiḥ
Meaning – She is the universal knowledge (Jnana) which includes both the individual knowledge (vyasthi) and the composite knowledge (samisthi).
Individual knowledge is the knowledge that an individual being needs for his lifetime. Such knowledge differs between individuals. Composite knowledge is the cosmic intelligence.
417. Cetanā rūpā
Meaning – She is the pure consciousness that exists within the creation. She is the power behind the running of this creation.
418. Jaḍa-śaktiḥ
Meaning – She is the mechanical force (energy) that exists within every inanimate object.
Jada is that which lifeless (inanimate energy). Even lifeless object have in them certain energy. Every object in this creation is inherently inanimate. It is Her energy that empowers every object. Cicchaktiḥ (Chaitanya) is the antonym for Jaḍaśaktiḥ (inanimate energy). Jada also refers to prakriti and maya.
419. Jaḍātmikā
Meaning – She is the form of the all the inanimate objects.
420. Gāyatrī
Meaning – She is Mother Goddess Gayatri. She is the deity for the 24-syllable Gayatri mantra. Goddess Gayatri is described as having 5 faces and 5 colours-
Mukta-vidruma – hema-nila-dhavala-chayair mukhair-tryakshnaih,
Yuktam indu-nibadha-ratna-makutam tatvarthavarnatmikam
Gayatrim varadabhayankusa-kasam subhram-kapalam gadam
Sankham chakram atha aravindayugalam hastair vahantim bhaje
Meaning: Her five faces are tinged with shades of pearl, coral, gold, sapphire and white. Her 5 faces and 5 colours symbolize the 5 sheaths within the individual (pancha kosha), the 5 duties (pancha krtyas) and the 5 stages through which he needs to pass.
She is the cause of inspiration (prachodana) to the Sun itself. She also causes inspiration (prachodana) to those who recite the Gayatri mantra. As She enables the person to attain self-realization and see the light that is within, She is extolled as Savitri. She wields the goad (ankuśa), the whip (paśa), the white skull, the mace, the conch and the discus. She holds a pair of lotuses in each hand and with the other two hands, displays the mudras conferring boons and fearlessness.
In the worship of Gayatri the meditation (dhyana) shloka is on Gayatri Devi, while the presiding deity of the mantra is Savita (Sun God). The meaning of Gayatri is explained in the shloka:
Yo deva savita asmakam dhiyo dharmadi gocaraah
Prerayet tasya yad bhargah tad varenyam upasmahe
Meaning – O Lord Sun! You are brightest illumination (varenya). I am offering my worship to you. By doing so, I will get a tinge of your illumination. May such illumination shine within me. Please direct my intellect towards the ways of dharma.
Gayatri Devi is not a deity. A form has been given to the essence of the Supreme Knowledge and it has been named ‘Gayatri’. She teaches the Supreme essence.
The person, who has been initiated into this Gayatri mantra, worships Her at every Sandhya period (twilight) and begs from Her prachodana (inspiration) to his intellect (buddhi). There is no mantra greater than Gayatri mantra. All those who have taken initiation of this mantra should mandatorily complete their recitation (anushthana) of this mantra daily before undertaking other mantra recitation. This is their foremost duty. Those who have not received this Gayatri initiation should complete the recitation of the Guru given mantra before proceeding for other anusthana.
Each deity is said to have its own Gayatri- Garuda Gayatri, Ganapati Gayatri, Lakshmi Gayatri and so on.
Reciting or recollecting just a few verses of Ramayana at the evening twilight (Sandhya) time, especially the Sundara Kanda, bestows the benefit of reciting Gayatri mantra. Goddess Gayatri has incorporated the entire essence of the Vedas into 24 syllables and handed it over as Gayatri mantra. Regular recitation of this mantra will take the person to a state above the five sheaths (pancha koshas) and bless him with infinite bliss. Those who are endlessly reciting it are participating in causing the welfare of this universe; they are uplifting this universe.
b) Gayatri means that She protects those who sing (gānam).