Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
441. Kaula-mārga-tatpara-sevitā
Meaning- Koula mārga refers to the pure path of yoga. She adores the offerings made by those spiritual aspirants who strictly abide by the Koula Marga.
Koula marga is misconstrued to mean tantric practices involving animal sacrifices and other tantric procedures. Such practices are not permitted and hence are unacceptable to Her. The truth is that the Supreme Parabrahma, who is being worshipped here in His female form, is actually attainable only through pure worship. Hence it is this pure path of yoga that is being referred to here.
442. Kumāra-gaṇanāthāmbā
Meaning – She is the mother of Kumāra (Lord Subrahmanya or Kumaraswamy) and Gananātha (Ganapati).
Maharishi Sanatkumara was born as Kumaraswamy to this divine couple Shiva Parvati. It is said that the Supreme Mother herself went in search of Sanatkumara and sought that he should be born to her. Sanatkumara is He who is eternally young.
The story of the birth of Ganesha and of his acquiring the elephant head is very well known.
One of our ancient customs dictates that every time elders pay us a visit, it is mandatory to stand up and welcome them. The life energy (prana shakti) of the younger host tends to rise up and float in the air above the head whenever elders pay him/her a visit. Upon standing up and greeting the elders properly, the life force (prana shakti) that is hovering above the head re-enters the head. Else life energy continues to float in the air. The net result is that the life span by about a day stands reduced in the younger host.
443. Tuṣṭiḥ
Meaning – As Tushtih, She resides within us in the form of contentment and happiness.
She is the giver of happiness, contentment and joy. The mind of those who are truly happy and contented can be compared to a strong diamond. She is ‘Vajreshwari’ (one who controls the diamond).
The inner joy, happiness or contentment can be classified primarily into 2 broad categories- spiritual contentment (adhyātmik tushti) and materialistic/ worldly contentment (loukika tushti).
Spiritual contentment (adhyatmic tushti) has various sub-classifications- Prakriti tushti, Upaadaana tushti, Kaala tushti and Bhagya tushti.
Prakriti tushti- The contentment attained by the individual entity (prakriti) is Prakriti tushti. Prakriti is the individual nature (swabhāva). The restless wandering mind of the individual finds rest /peace at a particular place, say for instance, in the presence of his Guru. Here, the wandering mind has rested and is contented. This is a change that has taken place in the individual’s nature (prakriti) and is contented. This is Prakriti tushti.
Upadāna tushti- The mind decides that a particular process, mantra etc. gives it endless happiness and reaches out to it. With this the mind remains in one place for longer periods of time and enjoys happiness, contentment.
Kāla tushti- It relates to patience with respect to time (kāla). In general the mind is eternally in a hurry. Every person seeks that all his requirements are met instantly. For example, when he visits a temple, he demands instant darshan of the Lord and instant prasadam and is in a hurry to leave. Kāla tushti means developing patience with respect to time. Accepting to wait until the Lord gives His darshan, agreeing that worship (upasana) will take years to produce results and yet continuing it are qualities of a person who enjoys kāla tushti. Patience is the greatest perseverance.
Bhagya tushti- This is the satisfaction derived from Guru/God’s blessings (anugraha). This means to be contented with what is given by the Lord. Realizing that Guru’s grace (anugraha) is the sole wealth and the entire prosperity that one can get is bhagya tushti.
These 4 are the core essentials for spiritual progress.
1) Worldly contentment (loukika tushti)- This is the satisfaction that is essential to survive happily in this universe.
It is said that to be contented with respect to worldly aspirations, it is essential to notice the inherent defects (doshas) that exist within. Creating fear will never restrain the mind. Mind has a tendency to crave for those comforts from which it has been deprived. It is only through a proper understanding of the defects hidden behind the enjoyment that the mind stops asking for them.
For example, the mind of a person who has been forbidden from eating sweets always runs behind sweets. At such times, understanding the dangers of eating the sweet will act as a restraint for the mind and he will thereby enjoy peace. The sub-classifications of loukika tushti are-
Arjava dosha- When the difficulty, efforts and pain that needs to be undertaken to earn wealth is understood mind will be content with that which is earned.
2) Rakshana dosha – When the efforts needed to protect wealth and the danger behind protecting too much wealth that has been earned is understood clearly by the mind then the mind stops seeking excess wealth and thus enjoys lasting peace. This is called rakshana dosha.
Kshaya dosha- When the mind understands that the object is perishable and transient in the end, then it also realizes the foolishness in trying to possess it. Such thinking paves the way towards spirituality.
3) Bhoga dosha – Understanding the defects and dangers behind the luxuries and enjoyments prevents the mind from desiring more of it.
4) Himsa dosha – This is one more way to protect the mind. The person who is earning can enjoy contentment only when he understands that what he is enjoying today belonged to someone else yesterday. A person’s earning is always another’s loss. This is a himsa (injury) to the one who has lost it. Such understanding will cause in him contentment with what he possesses and also instill in him a trait of sharing his wealth with the down trodden.
The Supreme Mother out of her limitless compassion causes in us such contentment (tushti). Hence she has been aptly praised in Chandi Saptashati as –
Yaa devi sarvabhooteshu tushti roopena samsthithaa,
Namas tasyai namas tasyai namas tasyai namo namaha.
444. Puṣṭiḥ
Meaning – Pushti is state of total contentment and completeness (poornatva) that follows tushti.
When a person is complete in all aspects and is able to witness completeness all around him He is said to possess pushti as in the verse ‘Sungandhim pushti vardhanam’. Pushti is best explained by the verse- Sarvatra sampoornatvāt.
Pushti is of various types- Vaak pushti, Dhana pushti, Dhaanya pushti, Jnana pushti, Sareera pushti, Pashu pushti, Dharma pushti.
Vāk pushti- This is the ability to speak lovingly, kindly and sweetly. It is the primary as well as the most important opulence (pushti) that needs to be acquired.
Sareera pushti – This is the overall health and well being of the person.
Jnana pushti- This means completeness in Jnana.
Dharma pushti – This is full knowledge of dharma and the ability to adhere by it diligently.
Dhana pushti – This means complete contentment with respect to money and materialistic prosperity.
Dhaanya pushti, pashu pushti – Complete contentment wrt food grains and cows (prosperity).
It is Her grace that enables us to enjoy this completeness in all aspects.
445. Matiḥ
Meaning – She resides within us in the form of intellect (buddhi) and hence is aptly called matih.
She is the power that causes us to think (alochana) and to reflect. Its most important result is the power of discrimination (viveka). This also gives the ability to re-capitulate (manana).
In the hymn Chandi Saptashati, She is praised as –
Durge smritā harasi bhitimshesh jantoh
Swasthaih smritamati mateev shubhām dadāsi
Daridraya dukha bhayahārini ka twadanya
Sarvopakarkaranaya sadadrachitta
Meaning – O Divine Mother Durga! It is enough if someone merely thinks about you casually. You relieve them of all their problems instantly. Moreover you grant good reflective, discriminatory and thinking capacity on them.
446. Dhṛtiḥ
Meaning – Courage is Her form. She instills in us the courage required.
True courage, fearlessness and infinite love towards the Supreme are known as the attributes to reach God. The path of Sadhana requires true courage. Those who fear God and avoid it can never reach the destination.
447. Śāntiḥ
Meaning – Peace (shanti) is Her form. She enjoys infinite peace.
Shānti is a state of equilibrium. Shānti (peace) is present in those who reason out using their intellect and those who sincerely attempt yogic practices. Peace cannot be purchased nor can be acquired externally. It is purely an internal state that grows with increase in spiritual practices.
Says Vashishta in Vashishta samhita –
Na mokŚho nabhasah prṣhte na paataale na bhootale,
Moksho hi cheto vimalam samyag jnana vibodhitam.
Meaning – Liberation (moksha, salvation) is not something that is attained in some plane (loka) after leaving this body. Neither is it found below the earth in hell (paataala) nor can it be obtained in some plane above (heaven). Moksha is attained when the mind turns pure (vimala) without even the slightest trace of impurity attached to it. Association with holy souls and adhering to their advice is the only way to attain such a state.
Om shanti shantih shantihi.
Meaning – Let there be peace in this universe, peace in all the planes above and below it.
448. Swastimatī
Meaning –
a) She is the eternal truth (swasti) and hence is Swastimatī.
b) As the entire Swasti (well being, goodness) of the creation is under Her control, She has been aptly praised as Swastimati. Her mind (manas) and intellect (buddhi) are loaded with goodness, compassion and well being (swasti).
c) She is an epitome of peace (shanti) that cannot get disturbed under any circumstances. This is Swasti.
The following verse is recited at the closing ceremony of Vedic occasions –
Swasti prajabhya paripala yantam
Nyayena margena maheem maheesah
Go-Brahmanebhyah shubhamastu nityam
Lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu.
Meaning – Glory to prosperity (swasti); let prosperity be bestowed on the rulers of the land, may those who lead world govern with law and justice, may those who are on the path of the divine be successful and may all the people in the world have a pleasant and prosperous life.
Swasti is composed of two letters- swa (meaning- su, good, well) and asti (being). It means seeking the wellbeing of all the entities within the creation. The shanti mantra says-
Swasti na indro vridhashravāh Swasti nah pooshā vishwavedāh
Swasti nastārkshyo arishtanemih Swasti no brihaspatir dadhātu.
Om shantih, shantih, shantih!
Meaning – May Indra, the Lord of heaven do good. May the Sun (Poosha) do good to us. May Trayaksha destroy the enemies and bring about peace. May Bruhaspati, the Guru of the Devatas, bless me with the right intellect. Let there be peace everywhere and on every plane.
449. Kāntiḥ
Meaning – She is the form of inner illumination or radiance.
Such illumination is hidden subtly and deeply within the person; it is the ignorance that leads the person to search for it in the outside world. She guides the path for the individual to see his own illumination.
450. Nandinī
Meaning – She is the supreme bliss (ananda).
Nandana means happiness. The person who is able to see the Divine Mother as a form of Supreme Knowledge (chit swaroopini), as a form of the self (swa- swaroopini) and as a form of supreme bliss (ananda swaroopini) can enjoy supreme bliss.
At a point of time, She took birth in Nanda vraja (clan of Nanda) and hence She has taken on the name Nandini.