LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
@ S. Subramaniam
[ 49. Nirvikalpa Nirabadha Nirbheda Bhedanashini ]
निर्भेदा (178)
Nirbheda (178)
Meaning:
Devi does not possess any difference.
Interpretation:
In this namah Nir stands for No and Bheda for difference. Combining the two, we get the meaning of namah as No Difference.
When expanded, from the term Nirbheda, we get the phrase Nirgatah Bhedah: Yasyah Sa which means She is without any bheda or difference. She is said to be free from difference (i.e., duality) - Shiva and Shakti are not different is the inner meaning. Their unified Shiv-Shaki form represents the Brahman which is worthy of worship.
Author's Notes:
It may be noted here that all the namha-s in Lalitha Sahasranamam are addressed towards Devi
but it should not be construed that they are addressed to Her alone. They are addressed to the Shiva-Shakti combine. When we talk of Lalithambika, we talk of Lord Shiva also. The opening verse of Saundarya Lahari Shiva Shaktya Yukto is an ideal illustration for this combine.
In his book Santa Kumara Samhita, which forms part of the Shiva Puranam, Sage Santa Kumara, one of the four mind-born sons (Manasika Putra) of Brahma, illustrates how tightly Lord Shiva embraces Devi (Gaada Alinganam) to show that there exists no difference (Nir-bhedam) between Him and Devi.
गाढालिङ्गन निर्भेदं आप्तौ तद् भङ्ग कातरौन मनस्
Gaadh Alingana Nirbhedam Aptau Tad Bhanga Katara Na Manas
The divine couple (Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati) never gave any thought in their minds about their firm embrace, indicating that there is no difference between them and the embrace can never be broken.
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