LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
शांभवी (122)
Shambhavi (122)
Meaning:
One of the many names of Lord Shiva is Shambhu and his consort, the Devi, gets the name Shambhavi. The literal meaning of both the names is ‘the one who gives pleasure to the devotees’.
Interpretation:
In Sri Rudram (chapter 8) we find a mention about the name Shambhava नम॑श्श॒म्भवे॑ च मयो॒भवे॑ च॒ Nama Shambhave cha mayo bhave cha
Salutations to him who appears as pleasure of this world and to
him who appears as a pleasure of salvation.
From this we get the name Shambhu refers to Lord Shiva and Shambhavi to Devi.
According to some other scholars, devotees of Lord Shiva are collectively referred to as Shambhava and the term Shambhavi should, therefore, be understood as the mother of Shambhavas or Devi Maa is the Mother of all Shiva devotees.
Adi Shankara's Quotes
Adi Shankara makes a mention about the name Shambhavi at several places in his works and here we refer to two such instances - one from Soundarya Lahari and the other from Raja Rajeshwari Ashtakam.
In verse # 34 of Soundarya Lahari the holy sage addresses Devi as, Shariram Tvam Shambho meaning You are the physical body of Lotd Shiva. Such narrations are in plenty to affirm that Devi always remains as a part of Shiva, both physically and mentally.
In the opening verse of Sri Rajarajeswari Ashtakam, another composition of Adi Shankara, the sage describes Devi as Amba Shambhavi Chandramouli-rabhala Aparna Uma Parvathi.
Of the various names mentioned in the verse one is Shambhavi the consort of Lord Shiva (Shambhu).
Author's Notes:
Apart from the above, there are plenty of other references to the name Shambhavi in ancient Indian Literature and a few are presented herein below:
1 of 4 Kalidasa
Mahakavi Kalidasa was a devotee of Devi Shambhavi. Apart his famous
literary works such as Meghadootam, Raghuvamsam, Kumara sambhavam etc.,he also wrote five stotras praising Goddess Shambhavi. Laghu Stavam is the first of those Devi Panchastavi.
2 of 4 Vishnu Sahasranamam
In Vishnu Sahasranamam also we find the Lord bring addressed as Shambhu the meaning, in this context, is ‘the one who gives comforts to devotees'
स्वयम्भूः शम्भुरादित्यः पुष्कराक्षो महास्वनः ।
Swayambhu Shambur Adithya
Pushkaraksho Mahasvanaha.
Perhaps it is the only instance of both Lord Shiva and Lord Vishhu beit addressed by the same name Shambhu.
3 of 4 Types of Deeksha
There are three types of Deekshas (initiations) and one among them is Shambhavi Deeksha The other two are Shakti Deeksha and Mantri Deeksha.
4 of 4 Kumari Puja
It is believed that Goddess Durga had taken the form of a kanya (young girl) to defeat the demon Kalasura. Hence during Navratri a ritual called Kanya Puja or Kumari Puja is observed during which nine young girls are worshiped. The names of the nine forms of Kanya are Kumarika, Subhadra, Shambhavi, Chandika, Trimurti, Rohini, Kali, Kalyani and Durga.
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