LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
[ 44 Nirguna Nishkala Shanta Nishkama Nirupaplava ]
निष्कामा (142)
Nishkama (142)
Meaning:
Devi is without any desires.
Interpretation:
The word Kama in this namah refers not to sexual desire but all types of desires and cravings. With the prefix Nish negating it, Nishkama refers to the person who has no desires of any kind. Devi is described by the writers of LSN, the Vaag-Devi-s, as Nishkama.
For a higher level of understanding, it would be amply clear that Devi, being the Supreme power, is beyond the bounds of these qualities such as desires etc. Nishkama actually is meant for the devotees who worship her.
To have the full effects of meditation, the sadhaka has to give up all sorts of desires. Being a human being, it is simply not possible for the sadhaka to do it on his own. He needs the divine blessings and it's Devi who bestows upon him the mind to denounce desires. Therefore the namah should be correctly understood as Devi helps the sadhaka to give up all desires or simply it's Devi who makes her devotee Nishkama.
Adi Shankara and the word Nishkama.
As an eight year old boy, Sri Shankara walks all the way from Kalady, Kerala to the banks of river Narmada to meet his guru Sri Govinda Acharya. When the Guru asks him to give his introduction, Shankara spontaneously composes the Nirvana Shatakam in which he says:
न धर्मो न चार्थो न कामो न मोक्षः
चिदानन्दरूपः शिवोऽहम् शिवोऽहम् ॥३॥
Na Dharmo Na Cha-Artho Na Kaamo Na Mokssahn Chid-Aananda-Rupah Shivoham Shivoham ||3||
I am Not within the bounds of Dharma (Righteousness), neither I am fond of Artha (Wealth), I have no craving for Kama (Desire) and neither do I seek Moksha (Liberation). I am the Ever Pure Blissful Consciousness; I am Shiva, I am Shiva,
It may be noted Adi Shankara mentioning it as Na Kama instead of Nishkama.
Author's Notes:
Quote from Upanishad
The namah Nishkama is in line with Brihadaranyaka Upanishad which says ‘neti neti’ meaning not this is, not this. The expression insists upon giving up desires. The Upanishad mentions zeroing on the Brahman by negating many known qualities, one of them is Kama - the desire. Finally this verse says ‘satyasya satyaṃ’ meaning “The Truth of truth” in which Brahman is identified as the ultimate, eternal truth.
Quote from Vedanta
Every time we listen to Vedanta we seem to hear, “Give up your desires and cravings.” It should be understood here that what the Vedanta says is about growing out of desires rather than giving up desires. As human beings it is simply not possible to completely detach oneself from all kinds of desires. The same is well explained by Lord Krisha in the Bhagvat Geeta.
Quote from Bhagvad Geeta
According to Lord Krishna, practicing Nishkama Karma Yoga is the true path for realizing the truth. This yoga is also known as ‘Yoga of Selfless Action’. Nishkama Karma refers to doing selfless service (seva), without the expectation of receiving an acknowledgement or a reward.
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