LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM - Namah # 71

LALITHA SAHASRANAMAM 

         @ S. Subramaniam

ज्वालामालिनि काक्षिप्त वह्नि प्राकार मध्यगा (71) 

Jwalamalini Kakshipta Vahni Prakara Madhyaga  (71)

Meaning:

Devi Lalithambika resides  in the Sri Chakra at the middle of five Shakti konas and four Shiva konas. 

Interpretation:

Jwalamalini literally means the one who wears a garland (mala) of  flames (jwala). In the current context, however, it should be construed to mean as she represents the five Shakti konas (or triangles) in Sri Chakra. Vahni also means fire. Prakara here refers to the four Shiva konas (triangles),  Akshipta means connecting or linking and Madhyama means at the center. Now it can be easily understood as Devi resides at the center of the Sri Chakra which is connected both by the four triangles of Shiva and five triangles of Shakti. 

Jwalamalini, the readers need to know, is one of the Tithi-devata. From Amavasya to Purnima each of the fourteen thithi is represented by a Devi and Jwalamalini is the Devi for the 14th tithi - Chaturdashi. These fourteen tithi Devis, together with Sri Lalithambika (who represents both Amavasya and Purnima) and the tithi less Chitra Devi make up the elite group of sixteen Nitya Devis - or the sixteen letters of the Shodashi mantra. 

Nitya Devi Jwalamalini  is depicted with six faces (Shanmukhi) holding items such as Trident, Conch, Sword, Armour, Noose, Bow, Arrow, ankusham, Fire, Mace and Javelin  (Eetti ஈட்டி in Tamil). 

The Battle with Bhandasura

In the battle with Bhandasura, Devi Lalithambika evokes Jwalamalini and directs her to create a wall of fire - for two reasons - (1) to protect the  Devi sena from the onslaught of Bhanda's army and to (2) provide light during night.

The battle continued beyond the sunset and being night time it was to the demons' advantage. It was pitch dark and only the astras meeting the counter astras provided some illumination like a flash. The three senapatis of Bhanda were directed to attack Lalitha Devi directly. The demons  using their Maya Shakti, managed to get as close as to the chariot of Devi. 

It was here that Lalitha Devi decided to use the Shakti of Jwalamalini to  create a wall of flames. 

Author's Note

It is very interesting to note that in Jainism too there is a Jwalamalini very different from the Jwalamalini of Hinduism. In Jainism, she is the Yakshini or guardian spirit of the eighth Tirthankara Bhagwan Chanrapeabhu. Worship of Jwalamalini among Jain sect is very popular in Kerala and Karnataka. 

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