LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
निर्मला (135)
Nirmala (135)
Meaning
Devi is the personification of clarity.
She is without any blemish, without any spots.
Interpretation:
Nir stands for Not / Without and Mala stands for impurity. Therefore Nirmala should be understood as the one who is without any impurities or the one who is absolutely clear, pure and spotless. Vag Devi-s describe Lalithambika to be of such a trait.
Some scholars are of the view that Mala means embodied soul. Devi is without that soul (i.e., She is Upadhi Yukta atma) and therefore she is addressed as Nirmala.
Ignorance is caused by ego which is called mala or anava-mala. Presence of mala causes avidya which leads to confusion, impurity and darkness. This darkness can be dispelled ONLY by meditation on Devi who grants the devotee absolute knowledge and wisdom. Thus mala (ignorance) gets replaced by Nirmala (pure consciousness).
Adi Shankara & Soundarya Lahari
Adi Shankara, for a change, adopts an indirect route to explain that Devi is devoid of any impurities. Says the holy sage:
I worship You in your Vishuddhi chakra, in which you appear to be as clear as crystal, O Devi, the Creator of akasha - the sky.
विशुद्धौ ते शुद्धस्फटिकविशदं व्योमजनकं
Vishuddhou the shuddha sphatika visadham vyoma janakam
Author's Notes:
I am quoting here three instances where the word Nirmala has been used in other Hindu holy scriptures - one referring to Lord Shiva and the other two to Devi.
In the opening verse of Lingashtakam, Lord Shiva is referred to as Nirmal or the one who is very pure:
ब्रह्म मुरारि सुरार्चित लिङ्गं निर्मल भासित शोभित लिङ्गम् ।
Brahma Muraari Suraarchita Lingam
Nirmala Bhashita Shobhita Lingam
Now we move on to Kalidasa who, in Shyamala Dandakam uses the word Nirmala in two different slokas in two different contexts.
श्यामले, पूरिताशेषलोकाभिवाञ्छाफले ! निर्मले श्रीफले!
Devi who is of dark blue complexion, who fulfills the desires of all the people, who is without blemish and who gives riches as the fruit (of worshiping her) says the Mahakavi.
कुन्द्पुष्पद्युति स्निग्धदन्तावली निर्मलालोलकल्लोल सम्मेलन-स्मेर-शोणाधरे ! चारुवीणाधरे ! पक्वबिंबाधरे !
Victory to the Divine Mother who carries the beautiful veena, whose lips are red like the ripe bimba fruit and whose teeth shine like jasmine buds and the red of her lips mixes with the pure white of her teeth when she smiles.
Kalidasa describes the smile of Devi and says her crystal clear, shining, glittering white teeth adds beauty to her smile. What an imagination! That's the reason why he is called Mahakavi.
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.
Kommentare