Moola Grantha names 11-20
Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
11. Pañcatanmātra-sāyakā
Meaning - The five tanmatras are her arrows which are made of flowers.
(The tanmatras are the subtle elements. They are the objects of the five senses. The five tanmatras are sound, touch, form, taste, and odor or smell and correspond to the five senses of hearing, perception, vision, taste, and smell).
Here, she is controlling the mind through the medium of the tanmatras.
12. Nijāruṇa-prabhā-pūra-majjad-brahmāṇḍa-manḍalā
(This entire line is one name and there should be no pause between Prabhapura and majjad brahmanda).
Meaning- Her bright brilliance engulfs the universe.
She takes us to a state wherein we merge completely into it. She assures the Devatas that She can absorb the demons into herself.
13. Campakāśoka-punnāga-saugandhika-lasat-kacā
Meaning - She wears Champaka (sampangi, Michelia Champaca); Ashoka (Saraca asoca) and Punnaaga flowers on Her long black braid.
The ‘black’ colour of Her long hair symbolizes that She is the God of death (Yama) who has come to take the demons to task.
Beginning the description of Her gross body with the hair also symbolizes beginning with the Sahasrara chakra.
The subtle emphasis, in this name, is on the protection of nature (prakriti). It is our duty to protect plants and trees. Let the world not reach a state wherein there are no more trees.
To ladies, their long hair (kachaa) is not for beauty, but because it brings about auspiciousness (mangalya) to them. Hair should not be left loose but tied. There is one entire scripture (shastra) dedicated to hair and its significance. While ladies should have long hair, men should not have long hair barring the tuft at the back of the head. Hair should not be combed anywhere inside the house. Similarly, nails should not be cut in kitchen, even in fact, inside the house. Men should not shave in the rooms. A lot of science and hygiene are embedded behind all these rules.
In any temple one should never stand directly in front of the deity but always watch the deity from a little sideways. Standing directly in front means incurring the deity/Yama’s wrath. The camphor light (arati) that is offered to the deity is shown to us. We take the heat using our palms and press it against the eyes. Why? When the heat touches our eyes, it increases the blood circulation. At the same time, it cleanses us of our sins.
14. Kuruvinda-maṇiśreṇī-kanat-koṭīra-maṇḍitā
Meaning - Her crown glitters with rows of kuruvinda gems.
The beautiful Kuruvinda seeds, which are red and black in color, come from the Indian wild liquorice plant called Indian shot. (Abrus precatorius, Canna indica).
There are also gems known as Kuruvinda gems (Padmaraaga) which are mainly born out of water.
Such beautiful water gems (rubies) and seeds adorn Her crown.
15. Aṣṭamī -candra-vibrāja-dhalika-sthala-śobhitā
(This is one single name, there should be no pause between Vibhraja and dalikasthala).
This name has the following meanings -
1) Her forehead is like the Ashtami Chandra (the half-moon as it appears on the eighth day of the lunar fortnight).
The moon on this eighth day is exceedingly beautiful. On ashtami, the moon is of the same shape in both the waxing as well as waning fortnight. This is the speciality.
2) ‘Ashtami’ is also known as ‘Tvarita’. Tvarita means quick. Hence ‘Ashtami Chandra’ symbolizes that She quickly grants blessings.
While hair symbolized the Sahasrara chakra, the forehead represents Ajna chakra (the two-petalled lotus), which is located in the centre of the forehead. This two-petalled lotus resembles the half moon of Ashtami. Whoever focuses/ concentrates on this point of Ajna Chakra, quickly achieves dhyana (contemplation).
16. Mukacandra-kalaṇkābha-mṛganābhi-viśeṣakā
(This is one single name and there should be no pause between Kalankaabha and Mrga).
Meaning - The black bindi (kasturi tilaka) adorning Her beautiful face appears like a tiny black spot in the beautiful and round full-moon.
While her forehead is compared to the half moon, the face is compared to a glowing full moon. Here, the bindi represents Ajna chakra. Just as efforts are needed to locate the small black mark in the beautiful full moon, efforts are needed by the sadhaka to focus on this Ajna chakra in order to attain quick concentration/ contemplation.
The kumkum (bindi) on the forehead brings about auspiciousness (mangalya). Hence this tradition of wearing a bindi has come into vogue.
17. Vadanasmara-māṅgalya-gṛhatoraṇa-cillikā
(This is one single name and there should be no pause between mangalya and gruha).
Meaning - If Her face is the beautiful palatial house of Lord of desires, then Her striking beautiful eyebrows (chillika) are the festoons (torana) that lead to it.
Lord Manmatha is lord of desire, also known as Smara, Kamadeva.
At times of festivities, traditionally archways made of mango leaves (torana) are tied at the entrance of the house and are considered auspicious. These leaves blow away the poisonous germs and prevent their entry into the house.
Traditionally, cow dung was smeared in the front yard of the house and it was decorated with designs (rangoli). This was also done to prevent the entry of poisonous germs into the house.
18. Vaktra-lakṣmī-parīvāha-calan-mīnābha-locanā
Meaning - Her beautiful eyes sparkle and move about like fish that are swimming in an ocean of beauty.
Her face is an ocean of beauty and her eyes are the fish that are swimming in it. They are beautiful and lustrous and are the cause of all auspiciousness (prosperity).
They are compared to that of fish to assure us that She constantly guards us. A mother fish keeps track of all her children with just her single glance (Meena-kishore nyaya). Likewise the Divine Mother takes care and protects all her children with just her single glance.
19. Navacampaka-puṣpābha-nāsadaṇḍa-virājitā
Meaning - Her nose (naasa) is like the freshly blossomed tender champaka flower (magnolia champaca) and adds immensely to Her beauty.
Danda refers to a staff (stick). This Danda is a support for moving upwards. ‘Naasa danda’ means that the nose is to be used as a support to move to higher planes. In other words, subtly the importance of Pranayama, as a yogic practice, is being stressed upon.
20. Tārākānti-tiraskāri-nāsabharaṇa-bhāsurā
This name can be interpreted in different ways -
1) ‘Taara’ means planets. She is dazzling with Planets Venus (shukra) and Mars (Mangala) that have been retained by Her as Her nose rings.
2) The Pranava mantram (Omkaara) is known as the Taaraka Mantram. Here through the usage of the word ‘Taara’ it is implied that, Divine Mother Parashakti is beyond Omkaara (Taraka).
For many spiritual reasons, wearing the nose ring (naasabharana) is advised for women. There is a close connection between the nerve endings at ear and nose. Due to the naadi differences between men and women, men need not pierce the nose.