Lalitā Sahasranāmam 76–79
Channel: Consciousness Research Centre
Date: 2020-04-11

This series is classified Vivartha-vāda | Rāja-yoga | Suśupti | Viśuddhi-cakra
76. Viśukra-prāṇaharaṇa-vārāhī-vīrya-nanditā विशुक्र-प्राणहरण-वाराही-वीर्य-नन्दिता 
Viśukra is the brother of Bhaṇḍāsura (refer the previous nāma). Vārāhī Devī slayed Viśukra and Lalitai was happy with her bravery. Nāmas 74–76 talk about Bālā, Mantrinī and Vārāhī Devīs. Stain or impurity is known as mala in Sanskrit. The three Devīs destroy the mental impurities that accrue through our sensory organs. These impurities or stains are called mala, the worst of which is ego. 

In the case of Bālā it can be interpreted as balā or strength. One needs to have sufficient physical strength to receive the divine power, which is infused through the crown cakra and back head cakra. Mantrinī possibly could mean the potency of Devī’s mantras like pañcadaśī or ṣodaśī. According to several ancient texts, each mantra is be recited up to a particular number of times, followed by other rituals called puraścaraṇa. 

Vārāhī is supposed to be the most powerful of the three Devīs.  She cannot tolerate any indiscipline. Possibly, Vārāhī could mean certain austerities to be followed in the worship of Devī. The three qualities: physical strength, control of the mind through recitation of mantra, and observing certain austerities of the sensory organs make a man realize the Supreme Self within. When such a stage is reached, the devotee uses his body merely as a sheath to get final liberation and realize Her.

77. Kāmeśvara-mukhāloka-kalpita-śrīgaṇeśvarā कामेश्वर-मुखालोक-कल्पित-श्रीगणेश्वरा 
This nāma talks about the stages that to lead to emancipation. Gaṇeśa was born out of a mere glance of Lalitai at Kāmeśvara. Gaṇeśa is the first son of Śiva and Pārvatī. Bhaṇḍāsura during the war was witnessing the destruction of his army. In order to avoid further causalities to his army he ordered a yantra by name jaya-vignaṁ to be kept in the midst of the army of Lalitai. Yantras are powerful only if impregnated with the potency of mantras. When this yantra was kept, the army of Lalitai started losing their self-confidence. 
Mantrinī Devī, who is an authority of mantras, noticed this and reported to Lalitai. 

This yantra can be removed by the one who has won over puryaṣṭaka, consisting of the following eight: 1) five organs of action (karmendriyas), 2)  five organs of senses (jñānaendriyas), 3) antaḥkaraṇa (manas, buddhi, cittam and ahaṅkāra or ego), 4) five prāṇas (prāṇa, apāṇa, etc.), 5) five elements (ākāśa, air, etc.) 6) desire, 7) ignorance and 8) karma. The total components of puryaṣṭaka are twenty-seven and with this the attributes of Śiva is added, takes the total twenty-eight. 

When all the twenty-seven components of puryaṣṭaka are destroyed, it leads to attributes of Śiva. The attributes of Śiva (saguṇa-brahman) lead to pure Śiva or nirguṇa-brahman (Śiva without attributes). The bliss of realization is attained, followed by emancipation.
Śiva-Sūtra 3.42 says, bhūtakañcukī tadā vimukto bhūaḥ patisamaḥ paraḥ: “For the yogī, the five elements are only coverings. At that very moment, he is absolutely liberated, Supreme and just like Śiva.”

78. Mahāgaṇeśa-nirbhinna-vighnayantrā-praharṣitā महागणेश-निर्भिन्न-विघ्नयन्त्रा-प्रहर्षिता 
This continues the previous nāma. Gaṇeśa was created to remove the jaya-vignaṁ yantra planted by Bhaṇḍāsura. Gaṇeśā removed that yantra and helped the army of Lalitai to regain their self-confidence. Lalitai was delighted with Gaṇeśa when he removed the yantra. 
The mūla-mantra of Mahā-Gaṇapati is twenty-eight syllables:

ॐ श्रीं ह्रीं क्लीं ग्लौं गं गणपतये वरवरद सर्वजनं मे वशमानय स्वाहा॥
āūṁ śrīṁ hrīṁ klīṁ glauṁ 
gaṁ gaṇapataye varavarada 
sarvajanaṁ me vaśamānaya svāhā ॥

We have to observe the beauty of these nāmas. All evil activities are represented by this yantra. Māyā is the cause of evil acts. This māyā is caused by Lalitai and She alone can remove the veil of māyā. Once She decides to remove the veil, pure Śiva is realized. But Lalitai will not remove the veil on Her own. She will remove the veil of māyā depending upon one’s efforts. That is why She is addressed as nāma 713, Guru later in this Sahasranāma. 

79. Bhaṇḍāsurendra-nirmukta-śastra-pratyastra-varṣiṇī भण्डासुरेन्द्र-निर्मुक्त-शस्त्र-प्रत्यस्त्र-वर्षिणी 
She counters the weapons used by Bhaṇḍāsura by using Her own. Here, two types of weaponaries are mentioned. One is astra that is thrown at the enemies in a battlefield. Modern-day bombs can be compared to this. Another is śastra, which is always held in hand, like a gun. The weaponaries of Lalitai aid our efforts in attaining bliss by destroying avidyā. 

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