The Lalita Sahasranama, a revered text in the worship of the Divine Mother, encompasses a thousand names that reveal the manifold aspects of Lalita Tripurasundari. Among these names, "योगिनी योगदा योग्या योगानंदा युगंधरा" (yōginī yōgadā yōgyā yōgānandā yugandharā) form a beautiful sequence that delves into her relationship with the profound spiritual practice of Yoga, depicting her as the ultimate source, goal, and sustainer of the yogic path.
योगिनी (Yōginī) – The Supreme Embodiment of Yoga
The name Yōginī signifies Lalita as the supreme embodiment of Yoga. A Yōginī is one who has mastered the path of Yoga, transcending the limitations of the kaya, manas and ahmkara to merge with the universal consciousness. Lalita Tripurasundari, as Yōginī, is the very essence of divine union, the state where the jiva merges with the paramatma. She is the guiding light for all practitioners, leading them from the realm of ignorance to the blissful realization of their true, infinite nature.
As Yōginī, she is the force behind every aspect of the yogic journey—pranayama, dhyana, samadhi, and beyond. She resides in the innermost sanctum of the heart of every aspirant, silently directing them towards self-realization. Her presence in this name encourages the devotee to transcend the mundane and aspire for the higher, to transform one's life into a sacred sadhana aimed at attaining the ultimate union with the divine.
योगदा (Yōgadā) – The Giver of Yoga
Yōgadā depicts the goddess as the bestower of Yoga, the divine grace that grants the seeker the opportunity and capability to tread the path of Yoga. It is through her boundless compassion that the knowledge, techniques, and inner strength required for Yoga are bestowed upon the aspirant. Lalita, as Yōgadā, provides not only the teachings but also the inner calling and desire for spiritual awakening.
She is the one who kindles the flame of aspiration in the heart of a seeker, awakening them to the deeper purpose of life. Through her, the seeker receives the guidance of a guru, the discipline of a sādhaka, and the wisdom of the scriptures. She is the initiator of the journey, imparting the sacred knowledge that paves the way for the soul's return to its source. Yōgadā signifies that it is only through her grace that one can hope to understand and practice the profound principles of Yoga.
योग्या (Yōgyā) – The Worthy One
Yōgyā means the one who is worthy, fitting, or deserving of worship and adoration. Lalita Tripurasundari, as Yōgyā, is the epitome of divine perfection, embodying all the qualities and virtues that make her the supreme object of devotion. She is the ideal that all yogis and yoginis aspire to attain, the embodiment of purity, wisdom, compassion, and beauty.
As Yōgyā, she is worthy not only of external worship but of the deepest internal surrender. She represents the ultimate goal of Yoga—complete union with the divine, where the jiva realizes its oneness with her. This name also reminds us that she is the most suitable recipient of all our love, devotion, and spiritual aspirations. By making her the focus of our sadhana, we align ourselves with the highest and most sacred purpose of existence.
योगानंदा (Yōgānandā) – The Bliss of Yoga
Yōgānandā describes Lalita as the personification of the bliss that arises from the union of the jiva with the supreme consciousness. This state of Yōgānanda is the ultimate fruit of the yogic path—the transcendental joy that is beyond all worldly pleasures and sorrows. It is the bliss of samadhi, the peace that surpasses all understanding, the state of divine ecstasy that is experienced when the mind is stilled, and the heart is merged with the infinite.
As Yōgānandā, Lalita is the very essence of this bliss. She is the ananda that the yogi experiences in the deepest meditative absorption, the joy that comes from realizing one's true nature as sat-chit-ananda (existence, consciousness, and bliss). She is both the goal and the experience of Yoga, the sweet nectar that fills the soul when it is freed from the bondage of the mind and senses.
युगंधरा (Yugandharā) – The Bearer of the Yugas
Yugandharā signifies Lalita as the sustainer and bearer of the cycles of time, the yugas. She is the eternal, unchanging substratum that supports the ever-changing play of creation, preservation, and dissolution across the epochs. As Yugandharā, she holds the entire universe in her being, witnessing the rise and fall of civilizations, the dawn and dusk of ages, and the dance of time itself.
This name portrays her as the supreme ruler of time and destiny, the one who weaves the fabric of cosmic order and dharma throughout the yugas. Despite the flux of creation, she remains the changeless witness, the timeless presence that endures beyond the limitations of time and space. She is the one who maintains the balance and continuity of the cosmic cycle, ensuring that the divine play unfolds according to the eternal principles.
She is the supreme mistress, the giver, the worthy object of devotion, the blissful experience, and the eternal sustainer. Understanding these names invites the devotee to delve deeper into the yogic path, to seek her guidance, grace, and ultimately, to merge with her boundless, blissful presence that sustains all existence through the ages.
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