Lalita Sahasranama # 32

Ratnagraiveyacintakalolamukatpalanvita

Ratna katicena Graiveyena cintakena lolaisca muktaphalaisca anvita

Neck encircled with gem bedecked pendants of the necklace and a pearl necklace quivering

This refers to two ornaments: Golden necklace having gem -bedecked pendants, and necklace of pearl.

Grivyameva cinta yesyam te graiveya cintakajhlolah muktaisca, tesam yani ratnabhutani aphalani taih anvia

Here the word graiveyacintaka means those who concentrate on the neck of the goddess; those who are not able to fix the deity in the heart but worship her externally are the middle class worshippers

The word Lola according to this interpretation means those who fickle. The Amarakosa says, Lola means fickle and greed these are the lowest worshippers

The muktas are the highest worshippers

In all these three classes the fruit is to be obtained according to the worship and She is the giver of the fruit to her worshippers.

Lalita Sahasranama # 31

Kanakangadakeyurakamniyabhujanvita

Kanakmevaangadam yesam taih keyuraih kamniya bhujah taih anivta, or Kanakamayaih angadaih Keyuraisca Kamaniyah bhujaih anvita

She whose beautiful arms are covered with ornaments made with gold or ornaments called angada and keyura (bracelets). Due to difference in the shape of the angada and keyura it may also mean different ornaments. Hence in the Bramhottara Kanda and AgP, they are expressed simultaneously.

Lalita Sahasranama # 30

Kameshbaddhamangalyasutrasobitakandara

Kamesena baddam yanmangalyasutram, tena sobhita kandara yasyah sa

She whose neck is bedecked with the "mangalya sutra" tied by Lord Kamesvara

Lalita Sahasranama # 29

Anakalitasadrsyachibukasrivirajita

anakalitam sadrsyam yasyah, tadrsya cibukasriya virajita

Adorned with a beautiful chin which is incomparable!

Lalita Sahasranama # 28

Mandasmitaprabapuramajjatkamesamanasa

mandam yet smitam tasya prabhapure majjat kamesvarasya manasam yasya sa

In the beautiful flow of whose smile the mind of Kamesvara is drowned.

The word Kama means bindu which is the part of the body of Kamakala and which is the sun termed as fire. Kala meaning moon. The Kmkl V says: " Bindu is the form of ahamkara; the sun is the form of pair (kama and kala) of equal essence. Kama means that which is desired and Kala means the moon.

The two bindus Kama and Kala are manifested as the fire and the moon.

According to Mimasakas , the mind is omnipresent, so when it is said that the mind is drowned it means that the glory of the goddess is unlimited.

Lalita Sahasranama # 27

Nijasanllapamadhuryavinirbhartistakacchapi

nijaysa santapsaya madhuryena-visiya nihisena bhartsita kacchapi (vina) yaya sa

The melody of whose words put to shame the kacchapi (i.e., vina of Sarasvati)

The AmrK says: The vina of Visvavasu is named Brhati, that of Tumburu, Kalavati, that of Narada, Mahati and that of Sarasvati Kacchapi

The desire for hearing the vina is due to the sweet melody coming out indistinctly from the svaras, sadja, etc., though there is no clear reception of the sound of the letters. Kacchapi, being the vina of Sarasvati, speaks like the parrot and the resembles cuckoo speech which is a little distinct, along with melody. But no doubt, with distinct utterance the sweeter melody of her words excels all musical instruments.

I am certain if she were to talk to me ( I hope she would!) I would find it totally outta this world :) Kacchapi or no Kacchapi...her words would be a balm in anybody's life....

In Lalita

Lalita Sahasranama # 26

Karpuravitikamodhasamakarshidigantara

Karpurah vitikayah amodam samkarsanti ya disah taevantaram yasyah sa

The fragrance from the betel leaves she chews attracts the deities of the quarters

Karpuravitikamodena samakarsini digantarani yasyah sa

By the fragrance of whose betel leaves the quarters have become fragrant.

Lalita Sahasranama # 25

Suddhavidyakurakaradwijapanktidvyodjjvala

1) suddayah vidyah ankuranaminvakarah yasys, tena dvijapanktidvayena ujjvala

She who is shining with her two rows of teeth in the form of sprouts of Suddhavidya

According to this interpretation - Suddhavidya means Srividya . The word Suddha means pure (i.e., opposite of ignorance)Vidya means Sodasi Vidya. Her teeth resemble Sodasaksaramantra.

This Mantra sprang from the Muladara of the Goddess and passing through the various stages of Para, Pasyanati etc. emerging from her mouth in the form of Vaikhari and reached the ears of her pupils. Among these states, Para is mere sound the potentiality of growth in the seed, Pasyanti is the seed that has begun to sprout, Madhyama is when two small leaves are visible. The last stage is Vaikhari, is when these two leaves are separated but at the same time are joined at the root.Hence, here they are called ankuras resembling teeth. They are 32 in number. Similarly 16, two fold buds of the sodasaksari mantra also are of 32 each.

2) Suddha vidyankurakara ca dvijanam brahmanam pankitih taddvayena ujjvala

The word Dvija in name, by Slesa means Bramhanas as Sruti declares Vidya ha vai brahmanam ajagama, etc. i.e Vidya taught and spread by Bramhanas. Hence the Bramhanas are buds of Vidya. Moreover, as the Bramhanas come forth from the mouth of the goddess they are compared to her teeth.

3) suddhavidyayah ankurakara ya dvijapanktih, tasyah dvayena ujjavala

The word dvijapankti stands for 32 types of initiation beginning with Suddha vidya and ending with anuttara. The initiation is the third birth since the thread ceremony is the second birth.

4) Suddhavidya eva ankuram yasya sa - Suddhavidyankura sa ca akara ca sa dvija panktisca iti, tasyah dvayena ujjvala

The word Suddhavidya means the three -syllabled mantra and ankura means beginning, i.e., a certain initiation of that name is to be begun before going on to the thirty two initiations. Hence, to attain goddess Lalita one should purify himself with the 32 initiations.

Seems like one can break compounded words and come with many explanations. She has a radiant face with a radiant smile! I am learning about the LSN in a great way..to be able to look at a name everyday and try and assimilate its meaning...

Well..looks like life is looking up.....I was praying by the 25th name life should happen in some way shape or form..it has! I am still looking to put the final pieces of the puzzle..before I embark on a journey as a teacher....

In her I trust completely, implicitly and explicitly...she never has let me down....someone asked me yesterday..you are single..don't you think you need someone to be there for you as you grow older? She has NEVER let me down and I believe that she will at all costs be there in some way..maybe in the form of someone or just her presence that I can sense as a mind so peaceful and at rest...

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 24

Navavidrumabimbasrinyakkariradanacchada

navam vidrumabimbayoh sriyam nyakkari-nau radancchadau yasya sa

Her two delicate lips put to shame the shining beauty of both the fresh corals and the bimba fruit.

Again we go back to comparing her with jewelery and food. I am not sure what the bimba fruit is supposed to look like..maybe they are like cherries...since her lips are the ones that are compared.

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 23

Padmaragasiladarshaparibhavikapolabhuh

Padmaraga silaiva adarsha tasya paribhavini kapolbhuh yasya sa

Her cheeks surpass the brightness of the mirror coated with the Padmaraga ruby.

From all this I can infer the compulsion that people have to buy jewelery. She does not need any of that since she is parabramhan by humans think that by acquiring jewels maybe they can be a little brilliant too....who knows!

In Lalita

Lalita Sahasranama # 22

Tatankayugalibutatapanodupamandala

tatankayugale sampadyamane tapanasys udupasya ca mandale yasyah sa

The Sun and the Moon have become her earrings!

Here the earring of Tripurasundari is described and they are the Sun and the Moon.

There is a tradition of identifying Sun, and the Moon as her breasts, eyes and earrings.

The two breasts of the goddess represent two circles of the letter ka which is a part of the klimbija

which is called kamabija

Just like the rest of her...there are Bijas for every part of her and she is sacred in every way shape and form!

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama# 21

Kadambamanjariklrptakarnapuramanohara

Kadambamanjaryah klrptah karnapurah tena manohara

She looks beautiful with blosson of kadamba flowers on her ear (on her earlobes)

She will look beautiful regardless of where she has her flowers...unlike me...I would look a total joker!

She is who she is and I am certain all of the flowers add to her simple beauty that is incomparable!

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 20

Tarakantitiraskarinasabaranabhasura

1) tara(= mangala) devyah kantim tiraskaroti tadrsena nasabharena basura

She is adorned with the nose ornament which excels the lustre of goddess Tara

The word tara refers to two goddess viz Mangala and Sukla. Hence it would mean She is adorned with such nose ornaments which can overpower the lustre of goddesses like Tara, Mangala, Sukla etc.

2) According to the second interpretation, the name means shining with the jewels on the nose which outshine the stars in splendor (jewels are manikya and mautika)

If I picture her with a nose ring...I am certain that the lustre of that nose ring adds to her resplendence....and she glows...

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 19

Navacampakapuspabanasadandavirajita

Navam Campaksya puspam tena tulya yo nasadandah tena virajita

She whose nose is a beautiful as a newly blossomed campaka flower.

One can Only imagine how beautiful her nose looks ....if it were to look like a newly blossomed campaka flower ....

In Lalita.

Lalita Sahasranama # 18

Vaktralaksmiparivahachalanmeenabalochana

Vaktralaksmyah parivahe caladbyam meenabam tulye lochane yasya sa

She whose eyes are like fishes moving in the pond of the beauty of her face

minasya eva (locanam) iksanam yasya sa

Here minabalochana means She who sees like a fish. It is well know that by the mere glance of the fish her eggs become fertile and not by her milk. similarly a glance of the goddess is capable of nourishing her devotees.

On this day of Deepavali, I am indeed blessed by the number of people in my life who I believe are sent by her...and she is in them. Some are here in India and some are in the US and there has been ONLY love and affection that everyone shows me. I guess she indeed has more than glanced at me...for I see in everyone in my life some form of her!

In Lalita.

Lalita Sahasranama # 17

Vadanasmaramangalyagrhathoranacillika

Vadanam eva smarasya mangalyagrham tasya torane cillika yasya sa

She whose eyebrows are gate arches of the Palace of Kamadeva.

Here the word Cillika would mean brhu i.e eyebrows as stated in the Namakalpadruma and also because the word is used in the sense in the ancient scriptures.

Her face is the glorious palace of the Cupid and her eyebrows are the entrance arches of that palace.

I guess there is NO part of the body that Kamadeva aint gonna like. She is the ultimate woman - one with the looks, the valor, courage, and of course the brain.

What I find interesting is LSN talks about even her eyebrows... ..well..I am waiting to understand how she will be described in the following slokas....

In Lalita.

Lalita Sahasranama # 16

Mukachandrakalankaabamriganibiviseshaka

Mukham eva chandrah tatkalnkatvena tulya mriganabheh viseshkah yasya sah

The Tilak mark of Kasturi on her forehead is like the black spot on the moon.

Amma! it was rather weird that I got to meet someone who knew of you! that was out of the blue..I guess you are there looking out for me...

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 15

Astamichandravibrajdarikastalashobita

astamyam yascandrah tadvat bibhrajata alikasthalena sobita

Her forehead is as bright as the moon the eight day.

Life throws many situations at us and till now life has been rather chaotic and looks like things are coming around...the brightness of the moon on the eight day like described above is slowly starting to shine in my life as well!

I do NOT doubt that I have been destined for the best that my karma can afford....I also know that I have her, the big mama, looking out for me at all times with a smile on her face ...and she knows the game of hide and seek rather well....I have sought her and am at her feet ...she just needs to acknowledge and make sure that she accepts my surrender and sets me free forever!

In Lalita.

Lalita Sahasranama # 14

Kuruvindamanisrenikanatkotiramandita

Kuruvindamanayah Tesam srenya kanata kotirena mandita

Her crown is resplendent with the shining rays of Kuruvinda jewels

Kuruvinda is a type of gem. This gem has special features. It is RED in color. It confers love, prosperity and devotion to Hari. Hence, if one mediatates on her as wearing such gems his devotion will be increased.

The author, Vasinyadi Vagdevis described up to this portion Sri Devi's evolvement in general and begin now to describe Sri Devi in the manner of her creation. According to Vedic statements, Sri Devi's crown first appeared from the Holy Fire, illuminating all sides with great brilliance and then came out all other parts of the body down to the feet.

Well..she is red and so is everything that she wears! She is resplendent and hopefully her resplendence will start to be visible in my life...it is visible in spurts in my life...hopefully from the resplendence in my life will be FULL GLOW....

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 13

Champakashokapunnagasaugandhikalasatkaja

Chamapakashokapunnagadi Saugandhikani taih lasantah kacah yasya sa

She whose hair is adorned with the Fragrant flowers of Champaka, asoka Punnaga etc

We were treated to her radiance in the earlier slokas, now we get to hear about her description. LSN Starts with the head. Since head is the Vagbhav Kuta and the first Kuta of the Panchadasi mantra.

Campaka has very special significance in my life. Growing up in R.A. Puram, Sambandam street, we had 2 champaka trees.One was in the front and the other one was on the side. It was an effort to get the flowers and my grandmother, mother and I used to go to the top of the house and use the tool to hook the branches and get the flowers to offer during Puja at home.

Campaka was my mom favorite flower and I everytime I see champaka being sold on the streets I smile thinking of my mom! I guess it is an all person favorite - My own mom's and my Universal Mom's too!

oh! how I miss my mother! No words can describe it....It is a feeling that overwhelms so often and the pain is felt deep in the heart....I know that she is up there looking out for me..She was a person who never pitied herself...she always took the world on! Amma, I need to let go of these shackles of self pity and keep marching forward. Bless me now and always!

Love ya!

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 12

12) Nijjarunaprabhapuramajjadbramhandamandala

Nijah arunaprabhayah pura tasmin majjanti bramhandanam mandalani yasyah sah

Bathing all the universe in her own red radiance

She has rose-like radiance as described in contemplating in the Nyasas such as Saubagya.

Lalita Sahasranama # 11

11) Panchatanmatrasayaka

Pancha Tanmatrani eva sayaka yasya sa

She who is holding the arrows of the five subtle elements

The five subtle elements are her five arrows, and they are rasa (taste), rupa(form), sabda (sound), sparsa (touch) and gandha (smell).

The names of the Lalita Sahasranama 8- 11 is significant since it has Ayudhamantras. Ragasva of Ragasvarupapasadya can be split as Ra+aga+sva where AGA means Sthanu which is Siva and Ha is Siva's letter. The lexicon declares that Ha means Siva, Sthanu and the Sky. Thereafter Sva stands of i with the bindu. So the subtle form of the pasa is the bija formed by these three letters ra, ha and i. Ra always follows Ha and with i it becomes HRIM

Similarly Krodhakara can be split into Kro + dha+ akrodha and word kara is connected to each unit of the compound. Anukusa would be Anusvara. And the bija mantra would be Krom, dham and am.

In Manorupeksukondanda Manas means dham as Kosa describes , tha means the lord of the right nostril and mind and Kodanda is anusvara as declared by the lexicon. So dham would be danurbijam.

Thus from 8-11 we can derive dam, ram, kam, lam, yam, sam, vam and am, tim, um. These letters when combined according to the rule give bija of the mantras of weapon. The five banabijas (arrow-mantras) are dram, drim, klim, blum and sah.

Well....this is a rather complicated name and the derivations of bija mantras are very interesting!

I know that I have been taking her for granted too...and she has been keeping me on a leash (her noose!) I have never doubted her presence in MY life. She has been there in many forms. My friend Mathy always said, "you do not know how lucky you are!" so true those words are..I never was at a loss for people in my life, she always sent the right person the right time...I should have the jnana to see her in these people...Hope that I realize that every time.

She has been kind, caring, loyal and has never given up on me...so could I ask for a better friend and mother? Well, the fact that she has blessed me with so many things that in itself shows her presence....

I believe in you and I know you won't give up on me!

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 10

We are still talking about her weapons!

Manorupeksukothanda

mana eva rupam yasya tadrsam- iksurupam kodandam yasyah sa

She is possessed of the Sugarcane bow of mind

This one talks about what she is holding in her upper left hand. She holds a bow which personifies the mind characterized by both Sankalpa and Vikalpa.

The mind has two functions 1) the mind desires to join thoughts into concepts and theories (sankalpa) and the other one is 2) minds function of rejecting thoughts which helps in simplifying and limiting our experience through our senses (Vikalpa).

So, I seek your blessing to invade my mind with the good and destroy the bad! When I say my prayers for the day I surrender myself and my thought and speech and everything done by me that day to her and it becomes her doing, by doing this we can stop accruing karma.

Hopefully this should help reduce my karmic load and help me with reduction in the number of births...could this be my last one?

I see her smiling :)

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 9

We are looking at Namavali # 9

Krodhaankarankushojjvala

Krodhah aakarah yasya sa= krodhaakrah, sa casau ankusaca krodhakarankusah ten ujjvala

She who shines holding the elephant hook in her lower left hand

The word Krodha(wrath) is one of the mental modifications, i.e., hatred. The word akara would mean savisayakam jnanam and is used in the sense of knowledge.

I was told that the goad or the elephant nook is nudge you to let go of your ego and that is why it is one of the classical weapons most gods carry...life is about letting go of the "I". It is very easy to do while writing because many time it is IMPLIED that anything that is being done is being done by ME....so to give up the I ...it is a hard days work, everyday, for the rest of one's life...

She can have all the weapons to get you to look into yourself, however, the time should have come for you to be asking the right questions, to getting the right guru to dispel the myth about "I" or "me".

There have been many Gurus in my life and I am certain I will meet many more....I am hoping that each of them will do a little bit of good in making me realize that the facade I wear is just an illusion and make me a better person. I am going to try too...to make me that better person..and folks...all of you can help me too!

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 8

The description about her continues:

Ragasvarupapashadya

Raga eva svam roopam yesya sa = Ragasvarupah , sa casau pasascaraga......sa, tena adya

Means holding a noose of desire

The word Raga, i.e., Desire means a particular mental modification

There are three forms of the devi: 1) Sthula = physical 2) Suksma= Subtle 3) Para= The supreme

In the mahalakshmyaastakam - Stulasuksma maha raudrae, mahasaktirmahodara

Desire is the supreme form and the noose is the gross form. This noose is held in her lower left hand out of the four hands that she is said to have - chaturbahusamanvita (#7)

She probably uses the noose to bring folks closer to her and for them to meditate on their reason for life, and one needs to be desire -less to become "totally" free. To say I have no problems in this world is possible ONLY when you have no desires at all! The minute you start to desire anything the karma theory holds good...you are accruing karma which keeps making you go round and round.

I need to surrender to thee and I do so with utter humility for I know not what I am doing...well its all your doing anyway!

In Lalita

Lalita Sahasranama # 7

Continuing with her description

Chaturbahusamanvita

Chaturbihih Bahubihih Samanvita

She possesses four arms

These four arms carry different weapons and other "tools" for a lack better terms.

The names we are gonna talk about the next few days will reveal why she is holding the weapons that she is!

I guess to initiate the "cid" in each of us or consciousness she needs all these weapons to be successful!

Well! All I need are her kind words and action!

In Lalita

Lalita Sahasranama # 6

Now Lalita Sahasranama goes on to describe her beauty

Udhyadbhanusahasraba

Udyatam bhanuman yatsahasram tena tulya abha yasyah sa

She who is bright as thousands of rising suns.

This indicates her color. She is also Sindurarunavigraham / Nijarunaprabapuramadhyatbramhanda mandala, Sarvaruna

Everything about her is RED. She is radiant and red in her vimarsa form.

well....the color red is auspicious, something about the color. It is radiant and it attractive. So to expect her to be any other color would not be cool at all!

Her resplendence can only be enhanced by red!

My imagination can not to justice at all to her in all her RED glory!

In Lalita

Lalita Sahasranama # 5

Today we are gonna talk about the purpose of her genesis.

5) Devakaryasamudyata

Devanam Karyani = Devakaryani, tadartham samudyata

Manifested herself for fulling the acts of the gods

She manifested herself in order to slay the asuras Bhandasura and Mahisasura.

As mentioned in Lalita Sahasranama # 4 - When the devas were in a State of disarray, they decided to collectively seek Mahasambu's guidance on how to slay the demons Bhanda and Mahisasura.

Mahasambu having heard their pleas tells them that ONLY Lalita can save you all and gives a string of instructions to follow.

So, when she manifests herself from the Cidagnikuntam she does to help all the Devas hence Devakarya Samudyata.

So if Bhandasura is considered one's EGO, she will manifest to help one get rid of their egos by destroying ignorance through initiating consciousness or cid.

In my life I am not sure whether I will be able to let go of my ego without her hand holding...I guess she also needs to become Mamakaryasamudyta..meaning she needs to manifest to fulfill my acts as well....

It shall become evident soon...

In Lalita

Lalita Sahasranama # 4

It is Namavali # 4 and here the Lalitophakayana start to discuss about her emergence from:

Cidagnikuntasambuta

1) Cidevaagnikuntam tatra samyak bhuta - Cidagnikuntasambuta

Cid= pure Bramhan and Bramhan is the altar of the fire as he dispels the darkness of avidya (ignorance) by initiating "cit" (consciousness)

2) Agnikuntam eva cit tasya kundat sammbuta

She is the conqueror of ignorance = Ajajetri

She is the forest fire to the forest of sins= Paparanyadavanala

The divine mother manifested from the fire-pit of supreme knowledge.

According to Lalitopakhyanam, Mahasambu ordered all the gods to gather to conduct this MahaYajna and from the fire of that yagna manifested Lalita, hence cidagnikuntasambuta.

In my Humble opinion, I believe that she in fact does bring clarity through surrender. And surrender is made possible when that avidya that you control everything is conquered. She has indeed done her job in making me realize day by day how much control I have, right now zip, zero, nada....

Having moved back to India two months ago, I am still trying to land a job and every time I feel ah! there is the light at the end of the tunnel, the delusion about the tunnel and the light is revealed. So to believe that I control anything seems to be rather lame...so I have given up on trying to land the job and have left it to her albeit with a lot of resistance...

Nobody claimed that surrender was that easy!

In Lalita!

Lalita Sahasranama # 3

Srimadsimhasaneshwari

1) Srimaccha tatsimhasanamcca Tasyasevari - The great queen on the Lion throne

2) Simhaabinamasanamiti simhasanam tasyesvari - simha=lion. goddess seated on the lion

also simavahini

3) simha = himsarthakah:

simha is derived from the root himsa - which means to destroy and asana derived from the root "as" which means driving out and Isvari means powerful. The collective meaning of these two words mean total annihilation. So she is the powerful goddess who destroys the universe

4) Simhasanam (simhasana mantranam) + Isvari

There are 5 Simhasana mantras and she is the presiding deity of these simhasana mantra

Lalita Sahasranama # 2

After knowing her as Sri Mataa, now I am gonna look at:

Sri MahaRajni - Sri Yukta Maha Rajni

She is the great ruler, She is considered as the controller and maintainer of the universe.

The three letters of Srividya are contained in this name . One of them is Sodasi (Srim) and the remaining two letters,i.e., a and ha are called Prakasa (Illumination) and Vimarsa (reflection) respectively. Rajni, the part of Maharajni contains the mantra Mayarajni.

(lalita Sahasranama - L.M. Joshi)

Sodasi Mantra - Ka ae e la hrim, Ha Sa Ka La Hrim, Sa Ka La Hrim (Pancha-dasakshari) Srim (Sodasi)

Prakasa and Vimarsa go hand in hand, one cannot reflect unless there is illumination. She is the giver of illumination

Also Tamopaha: She is the destroyer of darkness in the form of nescience. Thus she is a LAMP in the darkness - Ajnanadvantadipika.

There are so many things that I am unaware of, however, I am going to try and make more sense of these 1000 names...I was telling my friend yesterday, everyday brings in few questions about life maybe the name that I am learning for that day may illumine the answer!

I leave it to her.

In Lalita!