LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
भयापहा (121)
Bhaypaha (121)
Meaning:
Devi removes fear from the minds of her devotees.
Interpretation:
Here Bhayam refers to the feeling of fear and Apaha means to dispel. Devi removes all kinds of fear that arise in the minds of devotees.
Among fears the most dreaded fear is the fear of death. Man knows very will that no one in this world can be immortal and those who are born have to die someday. But still the fear of death engulfed in the mind keeps disturbing the devotees.
The point elucidated by this namah is: Those who worship Devi and constantly keep reciting / chanting her name need not worry about death as Her name will dispel the fear of death.
Adi Shankara's qoutes:
Saundarya Lahari (verse 4) says, “Your feet are by themselves powerful to protect those in grip of fear.” But Shankara says that cycle of birth and death afflicted with samsara (bondage) is known as fear.
भयात् त्रातुं दातुं फलमपि च वाञ्छासमधिकं
शरण्ये लोकानां तव हि चरणावेव निपुणौ ॥ ४॥
Bhayat tratum datum phalam api cha vancha samadhikam
Saranye lokanam tava hi charanaveva nipunav..
Adi Shankara’s interpretation of fear is also confirmed by Sage Durvasa in his work Sri Shakti Mahima. He says Jaramruti Nivaraya, praying relief from the fear of birth and death.
Quotes from the Upanishads:
आनन्दं ब्रह्मणो विद्वान् ।
न बिभेति कुतश्चनेति ।
anandaṃ Brahmaṇo vidvan .
na bibheti kutascaneti .
Taittiriya Upanishad says “having known the Brahman, the sadhaka is not afraid of anything as there is none by his side. He is with the Brahman who is always a witness; therefore there is none with him.
Brhadaranayaka Upanishad says, “If there is nothing else except me, where is the question of fear? The cause of fear is the existence of a second person whose existence is felt only out of ignorance. If there is realization that there is no second person then there is no fear.
Author's Notes:
There is a funny saying in Tamil language that for the frightened one, all that appear as dark, appear to him to be a ghost.
Fear is the worst destroyer of spirituality. Though it is a product of the mind, it affects one’s health as well. Most of the fears are unfounded and a result of our imagination / ignorance.
Devi dispels all sorts of fears. A deeper understanding would make the sadhaka realize that it is Devi who first creates fear in the mind and later destroys it - It is perhaps a Thiru Vilayadal or playful act of Devi.
Disclaimer: All matters contained in this article are the property of www.templesofasia.com. The opinions expressed in this article are purely that of the author. The author alone is responsible for the accuracy, authenticity, completeness and validity of all the information in the article.
Comments