Lalitha Sahasranama names 201 - 210
Lalita Sahasranama meanings per name
201. Sadgati-pradā
Meaning -
1) She blesses her devotees with liberation (sadgati).
She accelerates the movement of her devotees on the right path and blesses them with salvation.
2) She protects her devotee from sinking and falling to unimaginable levels (durgati). It also means that She blesses Her devotee with good birth (janma) or good position from where he/she can move upwards in the spiritual journey. Such protection is true sadgati.
202. Sarveśvarī
Meaning - She is the Supreme Empress (Eshwari) who rules everyone and everything in the creation.
The first stanza of the Ishavasya Upanishad declares -
Iśavāsyam idam sarvaṃ yat kim ca jagatyam jagat,
tena tyaktēna bhunjithā, ma grudhah kasyasvid dhanam
Meaning - It is Lord Iśa who pervades this entire universe. He is the sole independent entity. He pervades everything that is contained within this universe. Every object that we utilize in this world belongs to the Supreme Lord Isha. Use all the wealth in your position of a trustee and then hand it over to others when your time comes.
Trishati contains a name ‘Sarveshi’ which reflects the same essence.
203. Sarva-mayī
Meaning - She is all-pervading.
This is a re-iteration of the earlier name. It emphasizes that every object and everybody in this creation is filled with Her energy and Her essence. The universe is an expansion of Her form. She resides in every heart.
204. Sarva-mantra-svarūpiṇī
Meaning - She is an embodiment of mantras in entirety. All mantras converge in Her.
It has the same meaning as ‘Mūla mantrātmika mūla kūtatraya kalebara’
A mantra is composed of various alphabets (akśaras). Such alphabets have originated from sound (nāda). She manifests both as alphabets (akśara) and as sound (nāda) of the mantra. ‘Mantra’ includes the Veda mantras and Omkaara (Om).
Mantras total 7 crores in number. The word ‘Mantra’ inherently means ‘thought’ (alochana). The word Mantri (minister) originates from this and represents one who thinks, reflects deeply and acts. Mantra recitation (japa) amounts to thinking, reflecting and contemplating about the Almighty. The mind is filled with thoughts and feelings about the Lord. Mantra purifies; it is the cause of the creation of good thoughts (sadālochana) within us.
Repetition of the mantra has a tremendous effect on our body and mind. Mantras are of various types and energies. Mantras consist of Sanskrit syllables because Sanskrit is the language of Gods.
The entire creation began with a loud sound (akin to big *** theory). That sound was Omkāra!
Maheśwara sūtram states -
Nrttavasāne Naṭarāja-rājo nanāda dhakkam navapancavāram
Uddhartukāmah sanakādisiddhā netadvimarśe śivasūtrajālam
Meaning - Shiva sounded the dhakka (drum) 45 times in the assembly of eminent Maharishis. Based on individual capacity a different shastra (scripture) or stotra (hymn, incantation) resounded in the ear of each Maharishi seated there. They accepted the shastra received by them as divine order and accordingly developed that shastra (scripture). The first sound that was heard by them was Omkāra (Pranava mantra, OM).
Brahma is the ādi kavi (the first poet). For having created this wonderful universe, He is accredited with the title ādi kavi. At the initial stage when Brahma was clueless about creation and its procedure, Vishnu came to his rescue and preached him at first the Omkāra followed by the Vedas. Then with this renewed clarity Brahma could begin his task of creation. Innumerable mantras have originated from this Omkāra.
Some time ago, the Japanese scientists decided to investigate the connection that exists between water and mantras. A few people were given plates containing water. Each person was asked to recite a different syllable with the water plate in front of him. This investigation went on for many days. Sitting at a distance, the scientists were observing the on-goings. After about 4 days, the water molecules underwent a change and the images of the deities, who were being invoked, were visible in the plates of water. These images were captured on their camera. (These details are available in the internet).
205. Sarva-yantrātmikā
Meaning - She is the atma (soul) for all Yantras (mystic symbols) in the creation.
She manifests in the form of all the Yantras.
In a Yantra, various immortal seed letters (amruta mantras) are inscribed. For example, the seed letters (beejaksharas) that relate to the 8 different directions are inscribed at appropriate places; the primary mantra that pertains to the deity (moola mantra) of the Yantra and also the Gayatri mantra connected with it are inscribed on it. In the centre will be the Omkara. In addition, all the vernacular alphabets (akshara) from ‘a’ to ‘ha’ are written all around it. Thus, it helps us visualize the Divine Almighty as a form of sound (mantra, akshara).
Yantra can be described as a medium that enables us to visualize the invisible force/ energy.
There is yet another speciality about the Yantra. It is inscribed on a metal plate. At the centre is the bindu (dot). Holding this central dot, if one pulls it upwards, the Srichakra is created; push the Srichakra back and all that remains is a flat metal plate. Creation is akin to this great philosophy. Out of nothing, a great expansion takes places and everything merges back into nothing.
Yantra has a very powerful place in worship. At the time of consecration of the idol, it is the Yantra that is installed primarily at an auspicious hour and duly worshipped amidst the recitation of the holy Vedic chants. The deity to be installed at the temple is invoked into this Yantra. Subsequently the idol is installed.
Mantra is a form of sound. Yantra is a form of mystic symbols and alphabets. Worship has progressed from sound to form.
206. Sarva-tantra-rūpā
Sarva-tantra-rūpā is one name. Therefore during recitation the following practice should be adopted- Sarva-yantrātmikā (pause) Sarva-tantra-rūpā Manonmani.
Meaning - She is the composite form of all tantrās and āgamās (scriptures that deal with procedures related to worship).
The common man erroneously believes that ‘tantra’ refers to the worship that is replete with black magic and human/animal sacrifices (bali). The word ‘bali’ truly means puja.
Tantra means that which is vast and spread out. The tiny yantra and mantra now expand vastly into tantra. Elaborate and detailed worship of the Almighty that are prescribed are tantric procedures. Tantra also means knowledge (vidya).
One of the Prayers to the Supreme is as follows -
ākāśāth patitam toyam yathā gachchhati sāgaram
sarvadeva namaskārah keśavam prati gachchhati
Meaning - Just as all the water falling from the sky ultimately ends up in the ocean, all salutations (namaskaara) offered to all the Gods ultimately reach the single Supreme Almighty.
We should understand that every mantra, yantra and tantra adopted for worship, leads towards Her alone.
207. Manonmanī
Meaning - It is She who resides during the state that arises when the mind is absolutely controlled (mano nigraha).
This is a very important name and is deeply connected to yoga.
Manonmani is comprised of two words, mana + unmani. Unmani means ‘crossed over’. Manonmani thus refers to a state in which the aspirant has ‘crossed over the limitations of the mind’. It is the state that comes after the senses (indriyas) have been completely subdued, the mind rendered thoughtless and when it is completely immersed in dhyana.
Yoga should be undertaken purely to achieve ‘chitta vritti nirodah’ (cessation of all mental transformations). The mind that is habituated to run every second is gradually trained to reduce thought waves. The sacred text ‘Yoga tarāvali’ composed by Sri Shankara Bhagavad pādacharya elaborates in great detail about this Manonmani state.
208. Māheśvarī
This is read as ‘Māheśwari’, the name ‘Maheśwari’ will appear later in Sahasranama.
Meaning - As the energy (shakti) of Lord Māheśwara She is Māheśwari.
The word ‘Eśwara’ means emperor or lord. Lord Māheśwara is the greatest and most supreme emperor of this entire creation that comprises of billions of universes. He is the ruler of all the elements and of all the beings that exist within it. As His energy, She is the mother as well as the supreme ruler of these billions of universes that have been created. Therefore She is the universal mother Māheshwari.
209. Mahādevī
Meaning - As the energy of Lord Mahādeva, She is Mahādevī.
The word ‘Deva’ originates from the root ‘divu kreedāyām’ which means ‘He who is sporting’. This life that we lead is His sport. Our mind is His playfield. He is the witness within the mind. When He decides to stop the game, the body becomes a corpse. As He is thus sporting in millions of beings in this entire creation He is Mahādeva. As His shakti (energy) She is Mahādevī.
Shiva Gayatri is as follows -
Om tat puruśāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhimahī tanno rudrah prachodayāt
Meaning - I meditate on Mahādeva, the most Supreme being. May such Rudra illuminate my mind.
210. Mahālakṣmī
Meaning - As the Goddess of prosperity and sustenance, She is Mahālakshmī.
Our Vedas declare -
Lakshmi lakshyate sarvahā ani neti lakshmī
‘Lakshyate’ means goal, aim or measure. She is the goal for all beings. It is through Her that we can reach the goal. Hence She is Lakshmi.
Goddess Lakshmi is a witness to every action and to every thought. She is the energy which is the cause for sustenance and which enables the being to see, hear, talk, think, perceive and so on.
Lakshmi also refers to sampada (wealth & prosperity). Prosperity is crucial for sustenance. Hence She is addressed as the Goddess of prosperity. As the deity for sustenance, She is worshipped daily in Her 8 forms (Ashta Lakshmi), all of which bestow the essentials for living. For example, Dhānya Lakshmi is the Goddess who showers food grains, Vidya Lakshmi bestows knowledge, Dhairya Lakshmi blesses with courage etc. All these are forms that have emerged out of Her.
Sri Suktam of the Vedas praises Her as -
Siddha lakshmi moksha lakshmir jayalakshmi saraswati,
Sri lakshmir vara lakshmi cha prasanna bhava sarvada.
These are Her forms that bestow siddhi (accomplishment), jaya (victory) and moksha (liberation). Addressing Her as Saraswati re-iterates that She is the Goddess of learning (vidya). She is Sri Lakshmi, Vara Lakshmi (giver of boons).
Reciting hymns and offering puja and worshipping Her, especially with coins, during the month of Sraavana is very auspicious. Offering coins to Her is symbolic of offering that which sustains us i.e. money.