GROUP S
Under this group, such names have been included as to give a greater understanding to help the aspirant to make his progress through the most common way of righteousness and simple devotion without any elaborate practices of yoga, scriptural proficiency or any extra-ordinary special measures.
(701) Niyantri नियन्त्री - The Leader. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 568
(702) Mahati महती - The harp of Naarada नारद . ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 774
(703) Medhaa मेधा - ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 538
That supreme intelligence which has a very subtle discrimination of good and evil, action and omission, religion and irreligion, eternal and evanescent, imperishable and perishable, primary and secondary, essential and non-essential, regeneration and degeneration, sinlessness and sinfulness etc.
This supreme is intelligence is one of the aspects of Mother.
One would ask what is the propriety of explaining the working of evolution through the instrument of a series of names. Some superficially thinking people have questioned me, " Is it not a crooked way that the explanation of philosophy should be done by a number of names ". The natural should have been that of a book of philosophy like Gitaa or any of the modern books dealing with what is to be inculcated, chapter by chapter.
The hidden idea behind the repetition of the Maai names is that very truth has to be realised. By repetition of names, you establish the personal relations between Mother, yourself and the truth. A description is something like a third person's voice, whereas, in the case of a book of names, different aspects of the Truth are abbreviated into different names and when each name is repeated with devotion and with an appeal to Mother, that helps the devotee to realise the truth embodied in that name. That truth is grasped and impressed most concentratedly and assimilated.
To be hearing after a full banquet dinner while rolling in a bed, " Man must have discrimination ", and giving a half-attentive affirmation to it, is one thing. To be directly addressing Mother with a flower offering in a devotional posture after fasting in a divine atmosphere of solitude, and unified beatitude as "Mother", Thou art the discrimination", is another thing. This is one explanation only.
Another point which readers of the vast ocean of scriptures should have clearly before their mind is that they should not get confused because of the repetitions of the same names. To be a master of a subject, the student has so often to return again and again to the first point. It should, however, be born in mind that his returning to the first point after one, or more revolutions is entirely different from his first reading. Similarly even regarding the sequential order, after one reading and understanding, the repetition has not only a new importance but it is in a way necessary to obtain mastery in a matter of the recognition of each truth by itself. Mere knowing is nothing.
The very first thing is the clear and correct understanding of the life, universe, soul, relations with one another, natural tendencies, the relation of action and reaction, working forces, and Mother's supremacy over every element and every action.
(704) Punyalabhyaa पुण्यलभ्या - She that creates in the heart of the aspirant, the desire of accumulating the greatest merit. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 543
(705) Punya-shravana-kirtanaa पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तना - She that does what is stated above, by prompting Her devotees to perform several religious actions, including hearing Mother's greatness and repeating the same before others. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 544
Shravan श्रवण or hearing is generally of Kathaa कथा or scripture- reading or scripture-lecturing and is generally conducted by religious preceptors. The Kathaakaar कथाकार or scripture-reading preceptor reads a particular scriptural text work, mostly with the determination of finishing it within a certain auspicious period. Religious persons silently and devoutly hear him, some of them observing fasts and some few observing celibacy and possible purity of thought, word and deed. On completion of the work, the preceptor is worshipped and given donations.
Kirtan कीर्तन is glorifying, The Kirtankaar कीर्तनकार selects some masterpieces of religious events or of the live saints and devotees etc. and imparts religious education through such discourses lasting for few hours. The Kirtan कीर्तन is usually a literary intellect religious treat and is mostly accompanied with vocal music and devotional musical instruments. The Kirtan कीर्तन is usually made more attractive with criticisms, references to current topics, illustrations for impressing certain truths, laughter anecdotes and traditional stories.
Kathaakaar कथाकार and Kirtankaar कीर्तनकार usually lead a religious simple life of contentment and maintain themselves on donations and helps given to them by peoples for their noble and religious work. ( Please read VIPRA-ROOPAA विप्ररूपा Serial No. 784).
(706) Punya-kirti पुण्यकीर्तिः She whose glorification helps the amassment of merit. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 542
Several methods of acquiring merit (Punya पुण्य) are charity, suffering for others, fasting, undertaking ceremonial sacrifices, self-mortifying, self-denying, abstaining from enjoyments, serving others, controlling desires, going on pilgrimages, saints-serving, parents-serving, feeding the needy, providing constructional works to serve humanity, exerting oneself to serve society in its struggle to gain godliness, religiosity, etc., etc., etc.
It is Mother who creates and kindles the desire of amassing the merit. For them that have no means for the above and are of another mentality, the other avenue of gaining merit is through the hearing of the greatness of Mother and discoursing and making others to hear. Although only two words of Shravana (hearing) and Kirtana are mentioned here in this name, these two words are supposed to include all different measures as Lotus Feet service, worship, saint-companionship, self-surrendering, etc., which go to form the mental attitude of devotion.
Punya-kirti पुण्यकीर्ति is the glorification of Mother. This idea has not been well realised and is held at a great discount compared with the other two avenues. We are generally of such a pigmy-like outlook that we have certainly limited notions. A Kirtankaar कीर्तनकार means one who gives a particular discourse in a particular dress in a particular place in the meeting of a particular class of people in a particular manner. This name Punyakirti should convey the idea in any place, in any condition, at any time and to any people whoever talks about the glory of Mother has been accumulating merit. This is true even while he is talking to a fellow passenger on a bus or when he is in a dancing hall.
Mother's name does not require the sanction of any circumstances to make it creative of merit. Mother's name and Mother's glorification are by themselves the highest sin-annihilators.
Every Mother's Lodge member, just the reverse of the old idea, should be much above the selfish idea of eating one's sweet selfishly and seclusively.
Secrecy and seclusion of vices through which often Satan creeps in with the external appearance of godliness, sublimity, divinity, etc. Satan often fosters ignorance, immorality, imbecility, exclusive possessiveness, etc.
This name Punyakirti conveys a command. Glorify Mother. Spread and out-spread Mother's Glory in all publicity.
Secrecy and seclusion should be avoided as far as possible in activities of true religiosity.
Mother is more pleased by the spread of Her glory than self-evolution alone, even though desire-less and spiritual.
(707) Satyavrataa सत्यव्रता - Mother, who after the creation of the desire of amassing merit by all possible avenues, creates the desire of living out a righteous life. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 817
The greatest virtue which gives a lift in spirituality is Satya or Truthfulness. The usual outlook about the "Truth" of the routine religionist although he repeats that word hundred times is extremely narrow. Few have explained "Truth" except by some small definition of " Conformity of word, thought and action".
To realise the importance of this virtue, the ant out-look should be made elephant-outlook. "Satya" must be taken to mean "Arjavam", i.e., straightforwardness. Giving a more practical aspect, I interpret "Satya" as the absence of crookedness of heart, thought and action in practical routine life. This definition may be applied to oneself, in dealings with others and the universe as a whole.
I say with experience that the degenerating influence of the highest sins is not that as great as that of the routine crookedness. The degenerating influence of constantly keeping yourself concealed from others as to what you are, utilising your speech and influence and action to give the wrong scent of your motives and further move, etc. is the violation of the truth.
I say by experience that crookedness and violation of truth are much worse than highest sin because it deadens the conscience and closes all doors against even the best saviours. No patient can be cured by even the most celestial doctor if the very history he gives the false one. If you are unreliable, you are incorrigible and untouchable as well. Impurity of other sins soils you but the impurity of crookedness murders your higher self.
(708) Satya-rupaa सत्यरूपा - Truthfulness incarnate. ललिता सहस्रनाम स्तोत्र, नाम क्रमांक 818
Satyarupaa is a higher form than the Satyavrataa which is again higher than Satyapriyaa. You are on the other side of truth. You side with people, customs, action and conduct in the right, that is Satyapriyaa. You yourself trying to best keep yourself in the right is Satyavrataa. When you cannot feel easy yourself because you are not in the right, you are Satya-rupaa.
Satya-rupaa is the stage when the righteous living becomes so interwoven with one's thought and action that any casual observer can mark you out whenever you speak an untruth or twist the truth or make the slightest departure from the right conduct. You are then Satyarupaa. There is so much of uneasiness, confusion and guiltiness stamp on your face, that even the dullest person can detect you. You are then Satya-rupaa. You can not remain composed till you have vomited out your crime, sin, fault or folly.
As an instance of Satyarupaa, I quote a wonderful instance of actual happening of a young man. He having fallen a prey to weakness with a young woman in solitude, went direct to the woman's husband and spoke to him thus: " I and your wife succumbed now, being young and in solitude. We both are fools and uncontrolled. I do leave this place tonight so that the sin may not be repeated but our best saviour can be you. I, therefore, pray to you to do all the needful to save us both from direct hell." Whatever he is another field, he is a Satyarupaa.
A similar instance I know of another person. For his service done someone came one night to him and in spite of flat refusals left a fifty rupee note. As soon as that man left, this Satyarupaa began to get a headache and vomiting and after two hours he called his son and said, " I know our poverty but if you wish I may not die before morning, please take this money and return to its owner."
Satyarupaa सत्यरूपा are those who cannot bear the burden of any secret or the fact of having dabbled with truth or having hurt anyone by unpleasant feeling, thought word or deed.
Satyavrataa सत्यव्रता may also be taken to mean She that is pleased by a vow of speaking and living truth or She that becomes Satya, i.e., more known or manifested on observing Vrataas (religious vows) sincerely and not hypocritically. Satya also means giving quick and lasting results, and Satyavrataa means She that gives quick and lasting results. Satyavrataa may also mean She that makes Her promises true in the matter of conferring all that is necessary for evolution till the attainment of salvation, on him who surrenders himself to Her.
In Devi Bhaagvat there is a story of an illiterate and foolish Brahmin by name Satyavrataa who on repeating the sound "Ai" - ए which he heard from the mouth of a boar by whom he was frightened became the king of poets. Mother taking pity on him completed his "Ai" ए to be "Aim" एम and "Aim" एम become "MAI" by continuous repetition.
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