Today, Devi will cleanse our mind and intellect just as we cleanse our bodies everyday. She will give us the fruits of all the sadhana we have performed so far and the rewards for all the reverence and salutations we have offered at the feet of Gurus and Mahatmas. The static energy of Lord Shiva that combined with the dynamic energy of Shakti in us till yesterday will rejuvenate and re-create us today.
One of the Mantras we will chant today is “OM SUMERU MADHYA SHRINGASTHAYEI NAMAHA” meaning “I offer my salutations to the One who is seated at the centre of Mount Meru.”
Devi is seated at the very centre of Mount Meru. What is Mount Meru? Devi created this mountain for a divine purpose. It is in the middle of the Ksheerasagara or Milky Ocean where Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Vishnu exists. The Gods and demons used this mountain with the serpent, Vasuki as the rope to churn the ocean for amritha or nectar.
Mount Meru is reflected in our own bodies as well. The diaphragm in the body is the base of the mountain and the Sahasrara or Crown Chakra on the fontanel of the head is its tip. The centre of the Mount is the spiritual heart or the Hridaya Padma in the chest where Devi is enthroned in all Her resplendence. Our Chit or Consciousness is Her Peetha or throne. When we chant the Lalitha Sahasranama, Her energy is churned out more and more to vanquish all our negative qualities which are the demons in us.
We have three granthis or knots in our subtle sheaths which are preventing the Kundalini Shakti in the Mooladhara Chakra at the base of the spine, from rising to the Sahasrara or Crown Chakra and taking us to a state of enlightenment. These three knots are the Rudra Granthi located at the solar plexus, the Vishnu Granthi located in the chest and the Brahma Granthi located at the crown of the head. The Rudra Granthi is the abode of Lord Shiva who is always engaged in dissolving negativity by transforming it into divinity.
Unfortunately due to our strong identification with our body, the temptations from our senses and cravings of the palate hold us in their sway. This ignorance or ajnana due to our wrong identification has created a knot that blocks the purifying energy of Lord Shiva from transforming us. When this knot is cut, we are liberated from all temptations and cravings.
The Vishnu Granthi is the abode of Lord Vishnu who is present in all of us as Chit or Consciousness. Ever engaged in the task of Sustenance, He overflows with peace, patience and tolerance. These divine qualities are also present in us, but when we compare ourselves to others and generate thoughts of envy, depression, competitiveness or sorrow, we are creating a knot of “Maya” or delusion through this kind of distorted thinking. When this knot of delusion is cut, we think clearly with clarity (Vivechana) and become founts of patience, compassion and tolerance.
The Brahma Granthi is the abode of Lord Brahma who is constantly engaged in the task of Creation at the behest of Devi using His Sankalpa Shakti or Power of Resolution which is phenomenal.
Devi has also endowed us with this kind of Sankalpa Shakti, but we are using this to generate negative thoughts, emotions and sankalpas or resolutions most of the time. So we have trapped the divine creative energy of Lord Brahma in a knot of “Avidya” or nescience. If this energy is released by cutting the knot, our Power of Resolution will become infinitely strong. These three knots have to be cut by Devi Herself.
The more sadhana we perform and the more we chant this mantra today, the more we empower the Divine Mother to cut these knots or granthis that are preventing our liberation from the cycle of repeated births and deaths.
The other Mantra we should also chant today is : “OM SHRIMANNAGARA NAYIKAYEI NAMAHA” which means, “I offer my prostrations to Devi who is the Empress of the divine kingdom called Shrinagara.”
The word “Shri” is multi- faceted. It denotes the very source of creation and auspiciousness. That is why when we look at the Shrichakra, it symbolises the whole Brahmanda or Cosmos and the Bindu at its centre is Shri Vidya or Devi Herself.
The word “Shri” adds immense strength and energy to everything. In India we add the prefix “Shri” when we address men and “Shrimati” when we address women. These days many people have the habit spelling of their names differently according to the principles of numerology and nameology. Adding the prefix of Shri or Shrimati is far more effective and powerful than this. When we address people using these prefixes, we are cognising and empowering the divine core in them.
That is why we call Mahatmas “Parama Pujya Shri Shri So and So” because they have completely dissolved their identity in divinity. When everything else is dissolved, only their feet remain. The sacred feet of the Guru contain the entire Brahmanda and are one with the Chaitanya Shakti of Devi Adiparashakti Herself. That is why their feet are called “Shri Pada” and worshipped with great reverence.
If we write “Shri” over the front door of the house and above the entrance to the puja room, it absolutely transforms the vibrations in the house and makes them divine. Writing “Shri” in a book over and over again also brings out the divine power in us.
When we chant this mantra today with total devotion, Devi will be established in all of us - in some of us as Mahakali, in some of us as Mahalakshmi, in some of us as Mahasaraswati and in a few of us as all three. A great change will take place in you. Shri Lalitha will tune you to Her own vibrations and make your life Her divine poem. Let us immerse ourselves in sadhana today and empower the Divine Mother to make our lives a feast of Bliss, Bliss and Bliss forever.
Extract from ‘The book of direct truths, subtle truths and the mystical truths of Devi Mahatmyam’ by Shri Shri Nimishananda
