Mother's Names 576 to 600

 

576) Mahaniyaa महनीया - 

After a few names of a bit caution and not discouragement , we now proceed to the unobstructed straight path.

Mother is Illustrious.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमामख 580

577) Mahaa-kaamesha-nayan-kumuda-aalhaada-kaumudi  महाकमेशनयनकुमुदाल्हादकौमुदी - And She becomes moonlight which gladdens the Kumuda flower pair of the eyes of the devotee. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 403

578) Mahaa-kaamesha-mahishi महाकामेशमहिषी -  The Queen of Shiva.The word Mahaa is used to distinguish this Shiva from the Shiva of Trinity. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 233

Next we consider Mother's worship as Shakti. Here She is supposed to be a wife of Shiva as per Hindu conception.

It must be very clear born in mind that this is not Maai, the Finalmost Mother.

579) Mahaakaali महाकाली - ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 751 

Mahaa means "great" and Kaala means "Time-Destroyer" or "Fate". She is called so , because She is greater than even Time-Destroyer, and Fate.

580) Mahaa-kailaasa-nilayaa महाकैलासनिलया - Residing in the great Kailaas, the abode of Shiva. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 578

581) Mahaa-ganesha-nirbhinna-vighnayantrapraharshitaa

महागणेशनिर्भिन्नविघ्नयन्त्रप्रहर्षिता - She is delighted at the great Ganesha's breaking the obstacle formed of the magic figure.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 78

Impurities, wasteful action and evil company being eliminated, if one devotes oneself to Mother, Mother showers the Grace of destruction of all doubts.The magic figure which mean insoluble problems as creation of universe, life after death, re-incarnation.etc. cease to frighten or confuse the devotee and to form barriers, in relation with or progress towards Mother.

Magic figure which forms the main obstacle is the delusion and limitedness, which confines the soul to a certain restricted field of thought, imagination, emotion and action, etc. Beyond this little square like the four sides of a well in which the frog lives, he cannot peep.Everything else that surpasses those limits is not believed as existing or even possible. It is this magic square which is responsible for so much misunderstanding,alienship, hatred, differences, atheism, quarreling and all the evils. That pitiable little worldworm finds his heaven and salvation in that little magic square. This square and infatuation of the square is broken by (1)  destruction of doubt about Mother's existence (2) the conviction about the infallibility of Karma Law (3) the conviction that there is a method and a remedy (4) practice with faith, viz., that he is capable of achieving final success through that remedy.

582) Mahaagraasaa महाग्रासा - The great devourer.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 752

583) Mahaa-chatush-shashti-koti-yogini-gana-sevitaa महाचतुःषष्टिकोटियोगिनीगणसेविता Served by great sixty four crores of bands of yoginis (energy-deities-attendants). ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 237

There are eight principal Divinities, expressed by the name of Ashtamurthi. Each one has eight Shaktis. This makes up sixty four Shaktis and each Shakti has one crore maid servants known as Yoginis.

584) Mahaa-tantraa महातंत्रा - The greatest Tantra.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र ,नाम क्रमांक 226

585) Mahaa-taandava-saakshini  महाताण्डवसाक्षिणी - ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 232

On every faculty, every power , every sinew, every nerve, every drop of blood , every pore and every hair being made perfect, capable of doing the maximum work and being immortalised, what else can there be  but that the devotee dances in the highest ecstasy, being relieved from all pains , sorrows, miseries and the whirlpools of birth and death !! Mother witness the unique dance and Herself gets absorbed in the ecstasy experienced by the devotee.

 

586) Mahaa-tripura-sundari महात्रिपुरसुंदरी - The great Tripura-sundari. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 234

The great ordainer of the three conditions of creation, preservation and dissolution. The implied meaning is "She that will again create, preserve and dissolve." Mahaa is used to convey the idea of "again and again," about creating universes after universes.

587) Mahaa-devi महादेवी -The great Mother.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 209

588) Mahaapadmaatavisamsthaa महापद्माटवीसंस्था - Residing in the great forest of lotuses.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 59

589) Mahaa-paataka-naashini महापातकनाशिनी - Destroying great sins. ललितासहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 214

The highest expiation of all sins, whether committed  knowingly or unknowingly, is brought about by the remembrance of the Lotus Feet of the Mother. In the Saubhaagya-ratnaakarसौभाग्यरत्नाकर and other works, in the chapter on expiation, the rules for repeating the Panchadashi पंचदशी mantra, according to the different nature of the sins sought to be expiated, are explained.

In the matter of expiation, the Mai-istic view is this :-

Never waste your energy on brooding over what is done. Be boldly prepared to suffer for the wrongs you have done. As soon as you refuse to resort to the remedy of expiation, you get extremely alert in daily routine (like people with little availability of doctors).Utilize the same energy, time ,money and means that you spend over expiation, towards bettering yourself with determined will.It is doubtful whether the expiation which is usually done through ceremonies and mortifications, becomes finally efficacious.As the last issue it is the mind that is required to be brought to quietude. It is the mind that has to be made strong enough, not to yield to temptations resulting in sins. If mind can to be made reconciled, no expiation ceremony is needed. If the mind after the most expensive laborious and mortifying expiation returns to the same despondency and painful brooding, every sacrifice is wasted.

Don't worry and don't go on  calculating your sins and merits. They are bound to be there , so long as there is living and imperfection. They only show where you stand. Forego the rewards of your merits and be prepared for punishments for your sins. Go ahead. Be busy with securing Grace on practising devotion, perfecting self-control, developing your outlook of temporariness of painful and pleasant conditions and circumstances, being more practical and seeing the unreality of imaginary miseries and fears, gaining spiritual wisdom, and evolving your latent  superior faculties and powers. Put your heart and soul, with all means available, to master the art of the safest and speediest running of your mechanism, rather than the art of bringing about most favorable compromises with people, whom you injure on creating repeated accidents.

590)  Mahaa-paashupata-astra-agni-nirdagdha-asura-sainikaa

महापाशुपतास्त्राग्निनिर्दग्धासुरसैनिका - She burnt up the army with the fire of the astra (weapon ) called Mahaapaashupata(महापाशुपत) . ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 81

After that the grace has been fruitful to this extent She burns away the army, which means the long lingering undetectable Vaasanaas the fundamental rootlets of different desires.

Please differentiate "vanquishing" and "burning" as the latter means total annihilation and not mere control. The army of Daityaas ( demons)means mental modifications due to ignorance. The fire of Mahaapaashupataastra महापाशुपतास्त्र means the burning power created as a result of belief and practice of the non-duality arising from and increasing with devotion.

591) Mahaa-pujyaa महापूज्या -Mighty object of worship.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 213

Mother is also worshipped, by Shiva and other deities, through images of several elements. The most prominent of these elements are: 1) Stone 2) Gold 3) Silver 4) Copper 5) Brass 6) Crystal 7) Gems 8) Pearls 9) Coral 10) Lapis 11) Lazuli 12) Tin 13) Adamant and 14) Iron, etc. Surya ( the God Sun ) worships Mother through the idol, made of gems.

To say that idolatry cannot help an aspirant is as foolish as to say that only idolatry can help. Every name needs a form for the realisation of the object represented by the name. The substance on which that form is projected may be anything. An idol can be either in the physical form of some material element, or in mind or in space outside or in heart or in the brain-stuff, etc. Two forms are however noteworthy; one in lifeless matter at one end and the other in living beings themselves, as in the case of Guru-worship , Shiva-Shakti worship,, Kumaari worship, etc.

592) Mahaa-pralaya-saakshini महाप्रलयसाक्षिणी -Witness of the great dissolution. After that the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh perishes, She is the witness of the great dance of Mahaa Shiva at the time of the great dissolution. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 571

593)  Mahaa-balaa महाबला -The great might. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 222

Bala means physical strength, Virya, physical and mental capacity as a result of the protection of semen and celibacy. Aishvarya means strength of Bala and Virya, and also the strength of thousands of others dependent for their life on Her sweet will.

594) Mahaa-buddhih महाबुध्दीः - The great intelligence. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 223

When the intelligence is directed towards Her, nothing remains to be known. "On knowing which, the whole universe is known."Or, from whom, one obtains highest (Mahat) intelligence.

595) Mahaabhairavapoojitaa महाभैरवपूजिता - ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 231 

Worshipped by great Bhairava, the deity of exertion. This names is suggestive of the triple activity of Mother, as Bha means Bharana or Creation, Ra means Ramana or protection and Va means Vamana or destruction.

596) Mahaa-bhogaa महाभोगा- The great enjoyment. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 219

Rati is the ruling emotion during enjoyment and Bhogaa is bringing about of the fructification of the emotion in suitable conditions. The bringing about of the circumstances required for enjoyment, the capacity of enjoyment and the enjoyment itself, is the making of Mother. 

In a word, the enjoyer, the enjoyed and the enjoyment, is She, the Finalmost Mother.

597) Mahaa-mantraa महामंत्रा- The greatest Mantra.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 227

598) Mahaa-maayaa महामाया - Greater than the goddess of illusion.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 215

Maa मा means 'not' and yaa या means "which". Maayaa माया means, "not what appears or as appears." Maayaa mainly works through two processes ,viz., Avaran अवरण(covering the Truth) and Viksep विक्षेप(perverting the truth). Like a mirage, She shows many aquatic scenes where there is no water, or shows unreal things as real, just as we see an additional unreal moon on pressing our eye corner. Sometimes She does not show the real thing, just as when well is covered with grass. Wine, women, wager(gambling), wealth(ill-gotten) are the best servants and residences of Maayaa. Half truth, hypocrisy, temptation etc. are the means. Maayaa is name given to that working agency, which blinds fold worldly people and makes them pursue their mad pursuits so wildly as to be lost in their own false dreams.And there are some human errors which are so universal, that spiritual man very funnily say, that Maayaa has left none without subjecting them to Herself, be it even temporarily.Funny human nature arising out of ignorance  of truths or inexperience of facts or infatuation, is said to be the working of Maayaa. Many devotees in Hindu Mythology, who got proud have been described, as most ridiculously humiliated through Maayaa and made wiser, by Mother.

Maayaa ( not Mother ) causes even deities to be baffled, " That divine Shakti Maayaa forcibly draws away the minds of even sages and leads (them)into confusion." "She, who always  always makes him who is possessed of knowledge ( of his real nature )to b devoid of knowledge and throws him into confusion,egotism,doubt;She who subsequently  compels him again and  again, to undergo the stages of anger,distress,greediness, infatuation etc.She who leads him into sensual and sexual desires and makes him burn with anxiety day and night, producing sometimes pleasure and sometimes pain, is called Maayaa (the great universal Illusion-Maker).

Maayaa is the personified form of Illusion-creating energy and Mahaamaayaa may be taken to mean the vanquisher of Maayaa, or She that deludes the deluding Maayaa to save Her devotees, or She to whom Maayaa is subordinated. As a rule, Maayaa while continually deluding the universe, entwines one and all. Looked at from an abstract view, this means that unless a protective force is there, the natural motion is downward. A man drowns and a stone falls below, unless there is contrary strenuous force. This Maayaa entangles all except Mother's devotees. Ishvar (The Creator of the Universe), himself is said to the subject to Maayaa. What then to speak of others ?

Maayaa deludes the whole universe and Mahaamaayaa deludes Maayaa, because in cases of those with whom She is pleased, She, surpassing the imaginations of Maayaa, brings about the most wonderful achievement. This achievement is, that Her devotees turn from falsity to truthfulness, from godlessness to godliness, from personal to universal outlook, and so on. Judging most subtly, Mahaamaayaa is also a Maayaa, as She makes you mad-blind, infatuated and addicted (to Shree Maayaa or Maai, i.e., the Great Mother, although not to one's self and not to the little worldly things. Maayaa also means affection and my-ness. The word Maayaa also means pride and compassion; we can therefore take Mahaamaayaa to mean" highly compassionate and remover of pride."

599) Mahaa-yantraa  महायंत्रा - The greatest Yantra. ललिता सहसनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 228

600) Mahaa-yaaga-kramaa-radhyaa महायागक्रमाराध्या  Worshiped by the method of Mahaayaaga, i.e., great sacrifice. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 230

Mother's Names 551 to 575

 551)  Manipuraabjanilayaa मणिपुराब्जनिलया --Abiding in the Manipuraa Lotus. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 495

Mani-puraa is the ten petalled Lotus in the navel. Her meditation is : " Let us meditate on Laakini, in the ten petalled Lotus of the navel , who is three  faced , and red coloured and bears the dart (Shakti) , the thunderbolt,club and abhaya in Her hands, and is attended by Daamari and other Shaktis, presiding over flash, fond of sweetmeat and doing good to all ".

552) Matih मतीः - Intelligence, of final Decision. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 445

553) Mattaa मत्ता- Uncaring for anything that comes in the way of rushing towards pleasure.Egoistic and almost as rash as if intoxicated. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 576

 554) Mada-ghur-nita-rak-taakshi मदघूर्णितरक्ताक्षी - With reddened eyes rolling with rapture. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 432

555) Madanaashini मदनाशिनी - Destroying pride by meditation or experience. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 159

556) Mada-paatala-gandabhuh मदपालगंडभूः -With cheeks blushing with rapture. Paatalaa, rose colour. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 433

557) Mada-shaalini  मदशालिनी - Shining with rapture.

Mada means a kind of bliss.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 431

558)  Madhupritaa मधुप्रीता- Fond of mead. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 510 

559)  Madhumati मधुमती - Honey or Mead-like. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 717

Mother gives to Her devotees, the sweetness of honey. They become themselves honey-like for others and enjoy the highest honey themselves. The relation between the devotees and universe will be that of  giving and taking of honey and the relation between the devotee and Mother Herself will be that of mead-drunken madness.

560) Madhyamaa मध्यमा -  Preparatory form of speech. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 370

561) Manasvini मनस्विनी -  Fanciful. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 930

562) Manuvidyaa मनुविद्या-The Mental evolutionary Path to the  attainment of Mother.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 238

563)  Manonmani मनोन्मनी The giver of the highest spiritual stage.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 207

Manonmani is the eighth stage of spirituality, reached by attainment of concentration at several centres between the eyebrows and the Brahmarandhra or the topmost point in the head.When Unmani stage is reached, there is no consciousness of time or space, nor that of tatvas (elements), or the deity.There is only perfect purity, freedom and supremacy.

When the mind, free from attachment to object, fixed on the heart, attains the state of Unmani, then the supreme abode should be known to have been reached. Manonmani is kind of Yoga achievement, and its characteristics are that the eyes neither close nor open, breath is neither inhaled or exhaled, and the mind is neither speculating nor doubting. When the process of meditation ceases, and the idea of the meditator and the object of meditation is entirely destroyed, then Unmani stage should be known to have been reached. Subsequently, the devotee enjoys the ambrosia of wisdom, and Mother is giver of wisdom and all supernatural powers and other attainments. 

Manonmani can also be taken to mean Mother that raises the minds of the devotees.

564)  Manomayi मनोमयी - Engaged in setting right the minds of Her devotees.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 941

 Mind is the chief instrument where-with She can be known and seen. Religiosity means the change of the vision angle; and unless that is done all understanding is parrot like and inexperienced. Her first work is therefor to remove wrong understanding and beliefs, debasing desires and so on. She prepares the minds of the devotees to enable them to know and see Her.

565) Manorupekshukodandaa मनोरूपेक्षुकोदण्डा - Armed with the sugar-cane bow of mind. [ ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र,नाम क्रमांक 10 ] 

Mind characterised with both Sankalpa and Vikalpa ( healthy and unhealthy, rational and irrational thinkings )

is the bow. This is in Her upper left hand. Mind has mainly four functions. {1} Covering the whole vision with thoughts of " I, my, mine, not I, not my, not mine," {2} Oscillating between several aspects of a question, {3}Discriminating and determining and {4}Unifying oneself with. These are, in one word, egoism, thinking, discriminating and being one with.

566) Manovaachaamagocharaa मनोवाचामगोचरा- Beyond mind and speech.ललिता सहस्रनाम क्रमांक 415

In Vishnu Puraan, it is stated,"I bow down to the Supreme Ishvari, Who transcends speech and mind."

Sometimes it is said, that the mind turns always fully vanquished, and convinced of the impossibility of comprehending Mother, and again sometimes it is stated that by mind alone, She should be and will be perceived. This contradiction is explained and by adding the qualifying words "Not purified" and "purified by Her Grace", respectively to the word "mind".

567) Mantrasaaraa मन्त्रसारा - Essence of Mantra is Mother.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 846

568) Mantrini-nyasta-raajya-dhoo  मन्त्रिणीन्यस्तराज्यधूः - Who has entrusted Her kingdom to Mantrini or practitioner of Mantras.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 786

There is further reference of Mother as worshipable through Mantras.

She who has entrusted Her Kingdom to Mantrini , goddess in charge of mantras. Mantrini may also be taken to mean those that worship Mother by Mantras. Mantra is a word formula which by its repetition creates a powerful protective force, which results in bringing about some manifestation or ripening out subtle elements to grosser, visible and experience-able conditions. The very desire and thought of obtaining a Mantra from the Guru is the dawning of Mother's Grace. How mere repetition brings the desired success is a secret to ordinary people, but there is the psychological and phonetic working behind it, in addition to the establishment of the link between the deity and the devotee. It is the exhibition of the general limitedness of human beings that they can not see more than one cause behind any working.

569) Mantrinyambaa-virachita-vishanga-vadha-toshitaa 

मन्त्रिण्यम्बाविरचितविषंगवधतोषिता She is delighted at the destruction of Vishanga made by mother Mantrini.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 75

Vishanga and Vishukra are the two brothers of Bhanda. Vishanga is perversion of life-conduct, poisoned judgment and craving for worldly objects. Vishukra is wasteful thinking and action. The perversion is removed by correct thinking and wasteful-ness by right action.

570) Mandasmita prabhaapura majjata kaamesha maanasaa मन्दस्मितप्रभापुरमज्जतकामेशमानसा - The mind of Kaamesha is drowned in the fulness of the glory of Her sweet smile.[ ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 28 ]

Kaamesh कामेश is Mother's primary beginner in devotion. Kaameshvar कामेश्वर is Mother's superior devotee. Kaamesh is the devotee who is desirous of conquering all desires. Kaameshvar is he who has conquered and has become master. Kaamesh is able to be above all the Kaama, desires and worries by reason of drowning his mind in the remembrance of Mother's sweet smile. The original popular meaning of Kaamesh and Kaameshvar is Shiva. The order has been changed here as the smile should precede the speech.

571) Mandaar-kusuma-priyaa मन्दारकुसुमप्रिया - Fond of Mandaara flowers.ललिता सहसस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 776

572) Mamataa-hantri   ममताहन्त्री - The destroyer of self-interest.ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 165

These doublets are to be subtly understood. It is just like an expert home teacher, so coaching up his boy, as to keep up he rank in the class, as also to be prepared in courses, both,those in arrears and those in advance. To explain one instance, (145) mean one who acts pridelessly and (146) means one who is purged out of any lingering elements that lead to pride.

573) Maraali Mandagamanaa मरालीमन्दगमना - Her gait is that of the swan. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 47

There are two gaits, one the elephant-gait and other the swan-gait for a damsel. The former results in the oscillations of the central body rightward and leftward. In swan-gait there is an up and down movement of the feet and the neck, with face. The swan-gait is referred to because Mother's devotee's full attention is rivetted on the Lotus Feet.Besides a swan is beautiful not only in its gait but even by itself.There is an idea of tenderness associated with "swan", that has no comparison.

Swan is further gifted with the natural capacity of separating  and sipping away milk though immensely adulterated with water.

574) Malayaachalvaasini मलयाचलवासिनी Residing in the Malaya mountains ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 458

575) Mahati महती- As sweet and soothing as the Veenaa or the harp of Naarada. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 774

This third part very aptly ends with Mother described as the harp of Naarada. Naarada is the dearest devotee of Lord Krishna, who raised himself to that status by serving, moving amongst the people of different worlds, and by living ever in the spirit of  unconditional self-surrender. His living is doing good to all, which he often does, going out of his way and being friendly even with sinful and evil-minded. Naarada is the repository of devotion and highest  knowledge. He keeps up he devotional strength of three worlds, breathing and blowing Divine Love, though the musical tones of his harp. He is the universal Counsellor , Inspirer and Initiator of all the lowest to highest souls in the path of spiritual attainment and salvation through the practice of the tenets of Maai-ism, viz., Universal Love, Universal Service, Devotion to God and most cheerful and unconditional self-surrender.