LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
सर्व-यन्त्रात्मिका सर्व-तन्त्ररूपा मनोन्मनी ।
माहेश्वरी महादेवी महालक्ष्मीर् मृडप्रिया ॥ ५३॥
Sarva Yantratmika Sarva Tantrarupa Manonmani Maheshvar Mahadevi Mahalakshmir Mrudapriya – 53
महादेवी (209)
Mahadevi (209)
Meaning:
Devi is described in this Namah as the Greatest Goddess.
Interpretation:
In this Namah Maha refers to being the Greatest and Devi refery to goddess. Thus the Namah literally means the greatest goddess.
Again, Devi gets her name from Lord Shiva who is addressed as Mahadeva and Mahadevi is the feminine aspect of Mahadeva.
Reference to Lord Shiva (Rudra) being addressed as Mahadeva is found in the Gayatri mantra dedicated to Him:
ॐ तत्पुरुषाय विद्महे महादेवाय धीमहि
तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात्॥
In Taittiriya Upanishad, Chapter IV called Maha Narayana Upanishad, the same Gayatri appears in a slightly different way:
पुरुषस्य विद्महे सहस्राक्षस्य महादेवस्य धीमहि । तन्नो रुद्रः प्रचोदयात् ॥
We find mention of Maha Deva in Sri Rudram also:
नमस्तेअस्तुभगवन् विश्वेश्वराय महादेवाय...
…..त्र्सर्वेश्वराय सदाशिवाय श्रीमन्महादेवाय नमः
Why Shiva is called Maha Deva and Parvati as Maha Devi?
From various readings, it is found that it was Sri Veda Vyas who assigned the names MahaDevi and Maha Devi to Shiva and Parvati.
Origin of the word Deva:
Again, the oldest reference to the term Deva is found in Rig Veda which mentions that the number of prime Devas (demigods) such as Indra, Varuna, Agni etc.is Eleven. Lord, Shiva the Supreme one, is Maha Deva:
Quote from Rig Veda
ये देवासो दिव्येकादश स्थ पृथिव्यामध्येकादश स्थ ॥ अप्सुक्षितो महिनैकादश स्थ ते देवासो यज्ञमिमं जुषध्वम् ॥
Deities who are eleven in heaven; who are eleven on earth; and who are eleven dwelling with glory in mid-air; may ye be pleased with our offerings made during Yajna.
Devi independently is referred to as Maha Devi in several texts, at several places, chief amongst them being in the Devi Mahatmyam
नमो देव्यै महादेव्यै शिवायै सततं नमः।
नमः प्रकृत्यै भद्रायै नियताः प्रणताः स्म ताम्॥
Adi Shankara
Adi Shankara Bhagavatpada has also applied the term Maha Deva and Maha Devi several times in his variy compositions. Here is a quote from Veda-sara Shiva Sthava
पशूनाम् पतिम् पाप-नाशम् परेषाम्
गजे कृत्तिं वासनाम् वरेण्यम् |
जट्टाजुत्त-मध्ये स्फुरद-गंगगा-वारिम
महादेवम-एकम स्मरामि स्मरामि ||
Author's Notes
In this section let's discuss about various temples dedicated for Mahadevi
The Mahadevi Tirth Mata Temple is one of the most significant temples of Kullu District, Himachal Pradesh. The local people call this temple by the name Vaishno Devi Mandir.
The Mamanikkunnu Mahadevi Temple is dedicated to Shakti and is located in Irikkur, Kannur District, Kerala, India. This Temple is situated on the eastern bank of Irikkur River. The major offering to the temple are Coconut breaking and other vazhipadu (offerings) which are quite unique and very special to this temple, are Sathrusamharam, Mrithunjaya Homam, Santhana sooktham etc.
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