LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM
[ 49. Nirnasha Mrityu Madhani Nishkriya Nishparigraha ]
मृत्यु-मथनी (181)
Mrityu-mathani (181)
Meaning:
Devi puts an end to the fear of death from the minds of Her devotees.
Interpretation:
In this Namah, Mrityu means death and Madhani means the one who kills / puts an end to something. Literally it means the one who puts an end to death. However it would be inappropriate to understand it as killer of death as death cannot be killed or destroyed completely. Therefore we need to assign the meaning killer of fear of death from the minds of devotees.
When expanded it becomes
Mrityum Mathanaiti Yasya Sa
Devi who kills the fear of death from the minds of Her devotees.
Nashini vs Mardhini
The term Nashini literally stands for destroyer and Mardhini stands for killer as in Mahishasura Mardhini.
Author's Notes:
Some scholars are of the view that that the term Mrityu Madhani should be understood as the one (Devi) puts an end to the cycle of deaths and rebirths by granting Moksha Or Salvation to souls of her devotees. However, the author feels that it is simply a matter of opinion.
Lord Shiva as Mrityunjaya
It may be noted here that one of the many names of Lord Shiva is Mrityunjaya or the one who has conquered death. The Lord is associated with the Maha Mrityunjaya Mantra (Tryambakam Yajamahe..) which has it's origin in Rig Veda but widely used in Yajur Veda.
It is generally believed that chanting of this holy mantra regularly and praying to Lord Shiva & Devi will relieve one of the fear of death.
Lord Narasimha as Killer of death
Not just Lord Shiva - Lord Nrisimha (the man-line incarnation of Lord Vishnu) is also referred to as the one who kills death. The following is the opening verse of Narasimha Maha Mantra:
ॐ उग्रं वीरं महाविष्णुं ज्वलन्तं सर्वतोमुखम् ।
नृसिंहं भीषणं भद्रं मृत्युमृत्युं नमाम्यहम् ॥
Ugram Veeram Mahavishnum Jwalantm Savrtomukhm । Narasimha Bheeshanm Bhadram Mrityum Mrityam Namamyaham ॥
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