LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
महाभोगा महैश्वर्या महावीर्या महाबला ।
महाबुद्धिर् महासिद्धिर् महायोगेश्वरेश्वरी ॥ ५५॥
Mahabhoga Mahaishvarya Mahavirya Mahabala Mahabuddhi Maha Siddhir Mahayogeshvareshvari 55
महासिद्धि (224)
Mahasiddhir (224)
Meaning:
Devi is the ultimate form of attainment. The Namah can also be understood to mean she is the ultimate destination of liberation (mukti) and grants it to those that seek it.
Interpretation:
As far as this Namah of Devi is concerned, Maha means the greatest one, the Supreme one, beyond which nothing exists.
Siddhi has several meanings but in this context, it stands for the liberation (mukti) obtained through penance. Devi has been described as the supreme form of such liberation (mukti) and confers it on her devotees.
Some scholars are of the view that the term Siddhi stands for Ashtama Siddhis or eight forms of supernatural powers by which one can grow himself into a gigantic size or reduce into a tiny one. The names of the eight Siddhis are Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Isitva, Vasitva. Each siddhi governs certain character or certain aspect of nature and mastering each gives one distinct ability unique to other siddhis. Lord Hanuman was an expert in using these Siddhis.
Siddhidaatri
Devi is worshiped on the ninth day of Navaratri in the form of Siddhidatri. It is believed she fulfills all the divine aspirations. Legend has it that one side of Lord Shiva’s body is that of Goddess Siddhidatri. According to Vedic scriptures, Lord Shiva attained all the siddhis by worshiping this Goddess.
मणिमुकुट विचित्र अलंकृत कल्प जाले; भवतु भुवन माता संत्ततम सिद्धिदात्री नमो नम:।
Lord Shiva as Siddheshwara
The origin of the term Siddhi is not exactly known but in Skanda Purana we find the fo verse:
श्रीमहादेव उवाच ।
एकोनषष्टिकं विद्धि देवं सिद्धेश्वरं प्रिये ।
यस्य दर्शनमात्रेण सिद्धिः पुंसां प्रजायते ॥ १ ॥
Lord Mahadeva said (to Devi Parvati)
O my beloved one (प्रिये) , know that Siddheshvara Linga is the fifty-ninth (एकोनषष्टिः तम) form of Linga. By seeing it men acquire Siddhi.
It may be noted that King Ashvasiras was a great devotee of Bhagwan Vishnu who sought advice from sage Kapila seeking Mukti. The sage directed him to worship Lord Siddeshwara (Lord Shiva in Linga form) located at Mahakalavana (Avanti). But being a staunch devotee of Vishnu, he merged with the Siddheshvara Linga in Vishnu form.
We have several temples for Lord Siddheshvara spread across the country but the one located in Hanamkonda near Warangal, Telangana is the most popular destination.
Author's Notes:
Very interestingly we find the following quote in the popular text Brihad Bhagavata Amrita composed by Sri Narayana Goswami Maharaj
या महा-सिद्धिवत् तासु सर्व-सम्पद्-अधीश्वरी।
मुमुक्षु-मुक्त-भक्तानाम् उपेक्ष्या सैव भूतिदा ॥
Among the different forms of Devi, there is one who is the controlling deity of all types of wealth and the one who gives Siddhi - liberation / Mukti to her devotees. This particular form of Devi is shunned by the seekers of liberation or those who have already achieved liberation.
The term उपेक्ष्या - Upekshya is a very strong expression which literally means to neglect, to shun etc.
Perhaps the composer wanted to attach such a great importance to the term Maha Siddhi or liberation / Mukti that he has mentioned about devotees shunning / neglecting worship of Devi. Another view could be that once a devotee gets Mukti he gets himself absorbed at the lotus feet of Devi (aikyam is the appropriate word) that he doesn't feel the need to worship Devi anymore.
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