LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
महारूपा महापूज्या महापातक-नाशिनी ।
महामाया महासत्त्वा महाशक्तिर् महारतिः ॥ ५४॥
Maharupa Mahapujya Mahapataka nashini Mahamaya Magasatva Mahashaktir Maharatih 54
महासत्त्वा (216)
Magasatva (216)
Meaning:
Devi is the embodiment of Sattva Guna in its expanded / superior form.
Interpretation:
The Namah consists of two parts Maha + Sattva - Maha referring to greatness or in a Supreme / Expanded form and Sattva referring to Sattva Guna, one of the three gunas, the other two being Rajas and Tamas.
Sattva is the quality of goodness, purity, positivity, truth, serenity, balance, peacefulness, and virtuousness that is drawn towards Dharma and jnana (knowledge). It is considered superior to the other two gunas. Hence Devi is described as the embodiment of Sattva guna.
Different colors are assigned to the three gunas such as black for Tamas indicating darkness, red for Rajas indicating activity and pure white for Sattva indicating serenity.
We find mention of the qualties of Sattva in various texts such as Yajur Veda, Brihadaranyaka Upanishad, Srimad Bhagavad Gita and Devi Mahamaya. Here we restrict our discussion to only two texts - the Soundarya Lahari and Viveka Chudamani both composed by Adi Shankara.
In SL, Shankara seems to express his deep devotion towards Devi in an excited way. He compares the colors of the collyrium (kaajal) worn by Devi around her three eyes to the three gunas and goes on to add that they respectively represent Brahma (mentioned in the shloka as Druhina), Vishnu (Hari) and Shiva (Rudra) :
विभक्तत्रैवर्ण्यं व्यतिकरितलीलाञ्जनतया
विभाति त्वन्नेत्रत्रितयमिदमीशानदयिते।
पुनः स्रष्टुं देवान् द्रुहिणहरिरुद्रानुपरतान्
रजः सत्वं बिभ्त तम इति गुणानां त्रयमिव॥
However in VC, Shankara is more realistic and underlines the importance of Sattva with more clarity.
तमो द्वाभ्यां रजः सत्त्वात्सत्त्वं शुद्धेन नश्यति ।
तस्मात्सत्त्वमवष्टभ्य स्वाध्यासापनयं कुरु ॥
Tamas is destroyed by both Sattva and Rajas, Rajas by Sattva, and Sattva dies when purified. Therefore do way with thy superimposition through the help of Sattva.
Author's Notes:
The above verses from LSN, SL and VC talk about the grandeur of Devi Parashakti. In LSN the Vaag Devi-s have deliberately linked Sattva guna to Devi. On the surface it may appear to show that just as Sattva guna is Superior of the three gunas Devi is also superior.
The inner meaning is very different. In fact the Namah is addressed towards the Devotees and not Devi directly. Devi is beyond these human qualities such as Tamas, Rajas and Sattva etc. It is meant for devotees to completely surrender before Devi, seek her blessings, her guidance to move from darkness on to eternal light - तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
The author shares here the full version of Asatoma SadGamaya Shloka:
ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ध्यानेमा स्थितम् गमय ।
कार्येमा श्रध्दम् गमय ।
क्रृत्योरमा अविघ्नम् गमय ।
विषयेमा ज्ञानम् गमय ।
विवहारेमा जयम् गमय ।
निर्वाहेमा लयम् गमय ।
व्यापारेमा लाभम् गमय ।
स्वाद्वेमा आनन्दम् गमय ।
सर्वेमा शान्तिम् गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥
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