Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
851. Janma-mṛtyu-jarā-tapta-jana-viśrānti-dāyinī
(This is one name and hence pausing after ‘tapta’ is wrong. Pausing in between during recitation alters the meaning).
Meaning- She washes away the suffering/ afflictions of birth (janma), death (mrtyu) and old age (jarā) and thus provides rest/relief to her devotees.
Birth (janma), jarā (old age) and death (mrtyu) are the 3 tāpatrayās (tapta) that afflict the beings and cause them terrible distress. By alleviating them, She provides happiness (sukha) and rest to her devotees.
852. Sarvopaniṣadudguṣṭā
Meaning- All the Upanishads proclaim or speak about Her only. They sing Her glories.
Upanishad can be split as- Upa+ni+shad. ‘Upa’ means ‘close by’; ‘nee’ means ‘neechai or a little lower seat’ and ‘shad’ is ‘to sit’. Upanishad thus means ‘to sit close by in a lower seat’. Sitting in a seat lower than that of Guru or God indicates the devotion and dedication of a student who seeks to learn. What is it that the student seeks to learn? Upanishads contain the various truths about the self and teach about the self. They show the path to reach divinity. They contain the essence of the Vedas. They provide relief from the afflictions of birth, old age and death.
853. Śantyatīta-kalātmikā
Meaning- She is the form of the kala (art, specialization) that exists over and above the state of complete peace.
She resides at a state that is over and above peace (shanti). The mind should be controlled and quietened so as to enjoy absolute peace. Only thereafter can it enjoy the happiness that follows. Such happiness is the nirvana sukha (the happiness of liberation). Such happiness is yet another form of the Divine Mother.
854. Gambhīrā
Meaning- She is like a complete, deep ocean whose end/depth cannot be fathomed.
As knowledge increases, humility should increase. This is an indicator of true spiritual growth. With humility, knowledge increases further. The depth of a true jnani (highly knowledgeable person) cannot be measured. He is like the deep unfathomable ocean. The ocean shows its waves only towards the shore; as one travels deeper into the ocean he will observe that it has a calm and stable exterior even though it is deep and endless. In Ramayana, Rama’s character has been described with the phrase- ‘Samudra iva gāmbheerye’
855. Gaganāntasthā
Meaning- She fills the entire space (gagana).
856. Garvitā
Meaning- One who has the pride of being the creator is Garvita.
She is the form of the Mahā-ahankaara. An individual possesses the individual ego that stems out of self-identity. This ahamkara is harmful as it causes separation from Divinity. The Supreme Lord also possesses an identity wherein He identifies with every being in this creation. To Him, every karma taking place in this universe is His own karma. Such an attitude is called the Mahā-ahamkaara and this is the source/root for all this creation.
Due to this Mahā-ahamkara She takes on the name Garvitā.
857. Gāna-lolupā
Meaning- She is immersed in music and is enraptured by good music.
858. Kalpanā-rahitā
Meaning- She is beyond imagination (kalpana) and cannot be achieved through kalpana.
859. Kāṣṭhā
Meaning- She is the ultimate and final goal- sa kāsthā sa parā gatih.
860. Akāntā
Meaning- She destroys sin.
‘Aka’ refers to sin and ‘anta’ means to bring it to an end.