LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
भावनागम्या (113)
Bhavanagamya (113)
Meaning:
Devi is to be realized through constant worship in the mind by deep and concentrated meditation. This form of worship is called Internal worship or mental worship.
Interpretation:
The word Bhavana in this context can be best understood as to mean - to manifest in or calling (inviting) into existence. Gamya means "attainable" or "reachable". Thus, the namah means Devi is attainable by invoking her in the mind by meditation or performing mental worship with deep devotion.
Meditation is of two types - one is meditating by chanting the mantra and the other is meditating upon the meaning of mantra. The transition from external rituals to internal worship (meditation) is very important, without which Devi can never be realized.
Adi Shankara on Meditation:
In Soundarya Lahari we come across a series of slokas referring to meditation on various chakras of kundalini but there is no specific reference to internal worship or Bhavna.
But, in his book Aparokshanubhuti, a commentary on Vedanta, Sri Shankara mentions the importance of mental worship. The holy sage lists out 15 profound meditation techniques, such as tyaag (sacrifice) etc. for a person who intensely desires to seek enlightenment or realization of Brahman - Devi in this case.
Author's Notes:
Bhavana Upanishad, which forms part of Atharva Veda, provides complete details for worshiping Devi in Sri Chakra and her kundalini form.
In the advanced stage of Sri Vidya worship, all the external rituals such as Navavarana puja, Chandi Homa etc. are given up and the sadhaka has to worship Devi only through meditation as per the rules prescribed in Bhavana Upanishad. This Upanishad emphasizes the union of just three things, - the knower, the knowledge and the known.
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