Lalitha Sahasranama names 112-120
Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
112. Bhavānī
Meaning - As the wife/ energy of Bhava (Shiva) She takes on the name Bhavānī.
Bhavānī is one of the very special names of the Supreme Mother. Just thinking of Her as Bhavānī grants immense merit. Ksheerbhavani Devi temple is very famous in Kashmir.
Bhavānī is the energy that helps us cross this ocean of samsara (cycle of births and deaths). To achieve this, people undertake ‘Bhavānī deeksha’. In other words, Bhavānī is nothing but the energy otherwise known as ‘Rudra’.
To emphasize this point, the Vedas declare -
Om bhavasya devasya patnyai namah / Om śarvasya devasya patnyai namah
Meaning - The energy (wife) of Bhava or śarva is Bhavāni.
Sri Adi Shankaracharya extols the merit of Bhavāni in His composition Soundarya Lahiri in the stanza -
bhavāni tvam dāse mayi vitara drshtim sakarunām..
Meaning - O Divine Mother Bhavānī! I am your servant. Please cast your compassionate eyes in my direction. Even before the person utters the word Bhavānī completely, you bless him with aikya (state of complete merger into the Absolute). Please also absorb me into you. Bless me with feelings of oneness with you.
113. Bhāvanāgamyā
Meaning - She can be reached easily only through right bhāvana.
(Bhāvana is a combination of intense deep feelings, mental perceptions and imagination. This feeling has an emotional quality to it. Healthy bhāvanās pave the way for connecting with the Supreme).
She who is incomprehensible and far beyond reach can be reached purely through proper, deep intense feelings (bhāvanās) of love, care and devotion.
A mind devoid of such feelings and which uses pure logic cannot take the person towards the goal. When there are no feelings of devotion, even if God were to come and stand directly in front, the mind would refuse to believe.
Such feelings of love and devotion can be developed towards Her physical manifestation (roopa bhāvana), towards Her as a form of supreme energy (shakti bhāvana), towards Her as a form of Brahma, as a yogic power residing within us or in any other way that is appealing to the mind. All of these paths lead towards Her. Most important pre-requisite is to give up ahamkara (ego) because ego and bhāvana cannot co-exist.
Bhāvana gives a form (within the mind) to the formless Lord; gives an ability to visualize the otherwise unfathomable energy. It converts the unmanifest (avyakta) into manifest (vyakta).
The fruits, flowers, water and every other offering inherently belong to that Lord. We offer, what belongs to Him, back to Him. We add merely our feelings of love and devotion (bhāvana) to it. In the naivedya (offering of food during puja), the Lord takes only our bhāvana (feelings of love and devotion) and leaves the food for us as a prasad. External worship, decorations and arrangements are only aids to strengthen the bhāvanas but are not an end in themselves.
Bhāvana differs from Kalpana. In Kalpana there is a component of imagination that is useful as in art, design, science etc. Yet it lacks the deep emotional feelings that exist in bhāvana.
114. Bhavāraṇya-kuṭhārikā
Meaning - She axes away the forest called bhava (bondages that entrap the being in continuous cycle of births and deaths, samsara).
By axing away these bondages that are like a thick forest, She is paving the way for our spiritual growth.
11.) Bhadra-priyā
Meaning - She who loves auspiciousness is Bhadra-priyā.
Auspiciousness (soubhagya, kalyana, bhadra) means developing good traits and good habits. She is pleased when devotees develop such qualities.
116. Bhadra-mūrtih
Meaning - She is a personification of auspiciousness (bhadra).
Aśubhāni nira chaste tanoti śubha santatiṃ
Smṛti mātreṇa yat punsaṃ brahma tan mangalaṃ vibuh.
Meaning - She drives away that which is inauspicious and blesses abundantly with that which is auspicious (shubha). She is pleased when the being even casually thinks about Her.
117. Bhakta-saubhāgya-dāyinī
Meaning - She rains down auspiciousness (soubhāgya, kalyāna) on her devotees.
Aiśwaryasya samagrasya viryasya yashaha sriyah
jnāna-vairagyayos caiva śannam bhaga itingana
Meaning - The 6 attributes of prosperity, beauty, fame, power, knowledge and dispassion are together are known as Bhaga (soubhagya). The Goddess who showers these is known as Bhagawati.
The Supreme Mother as Bhagawati showers auspiciousness on Her devotees.
118. Bhakti-priyā
(This is also read as bhakta priya).
Meaning - The trait of devotion (bhakti) is very dear to Her.
Bhakti means devotion and intense love towards divinity. It also incorporates an active involvement by the devotee in the worship of this divinity.
Bhakti comes from the root word ‘bhaj’, which means ‘to share’ and ‘to belong to’. Bhakti also means giving up differences of every kind and uniting collectively in the path of devotion. In other words it emphasizes that there should be no vibhakti (differences/ split of any kind or form) amongst the people.
119. Bhakti-gamyā
Meaning - She can be reached only through true devotion.
There are 9 paths in devotion (bhakti). They are -
śravanaṃ kirtanaṃ viśnoḥ smaranaṃ pāda-sevanaṃ
arcanaṃ vandanaṃ dāsyaṃ sakhyaṃ ātma-nivedanaṃ
Meaning - The paths to reach the Lord are -
1) śravanam - hearing about the Lord
2) Keertanam - singing about Him
3) Smaranam - thinking about Him
4) Pāda sevanam- offering service at His feet
5) Archanam - offering Him worship
6) Vandanam - offering Him obeisance
7) Dāsyam - becoming His servant
8) Sakhyam - friendship &
9) Atma nivedanam - self surrender
The primary pre-requisite while abiding by these paths is to ensure that the mind is devoid of ego (ahamkara). Bhakti means, the mind should be fixed on the feet of the Lord devoid of any other thought, want and intent (sankalpas).
Sri Adi Shankara Bhagavatpādāchārya in His hymn ‘Shivānanda Lahiri’ gives 5 examples that explain the relationship that a true devotee has with His Lord.
Ānkolaṃ nija beeja-santatiḥ ayaskāntopalam sūchika
Sādhvee naija vibhum latā kśitiruham sindhuh sarid vallabham
Prāpnoteeha yathā tathā paśupateḥ pādāravindādvyam,
Chetovrittir-upetya tiśthati sadā sā bhaktirityuchyate.
Meaning- Bhakti is a state of mind wherein all thoughts of the devotee automatically go and attach themselves to the lotus feet of the Lord just as the relationship that is maintained between the ankolam seeds and its tree; the needle and the magnet; the pativrata and her husband; the creeper and the tree; the river and the ocean.
Let us understand how these 5 examples explain true bhakti.
a) Ankolam is a forest tree. When the fruits of this tree fall to the ground, its seeds liberate from the fruit, gradually climb up and get inseparably attached to the tree trunk.
b) A needle that is kept in the proximity of a magnet (ayaskānta), always rushes and attaches to it. The mind of a true devotee likewise runs to thoughts about the Supreme.
c) A pativrata (chaste woman, sādhvee who strictly adheres and follows her husband) without any deviation, eternally focuses her mind upon her husband, who to her is her God.
d) A creeper (latā), attaches and winds itself around a tree (kshitiruha); likewise the mind of a real devotee always looks for ways in which it can wind and attach to the Lord.
e) A river always flows fast and is restless, trying to reach the ocean, which is its Lord.
120. Bhakti-vaśyā
Meaning - She is under the vaśa (control, grip) of bhakti (devotion).
She gives herself away completely to the devotee who possesses total bhakti (devotion). She fulfils all their requests and aspirations.