Meaning and elaboration
Meaning: The Great One, vast and exalted, whose light encompasses the universe.
Elaboration
The name Mahati is derived from the Sanskrit word "Mahat," meaning "great," "vast," "exalted," or "sublime." As applied to Kali, it emphasizes her supreme and all-encompassing nature, presenting her as the ultimate cosmic power beyond all limitation.
Cosmic Grandeur Mahati signifies the boundless and infinite aspect of the Goddess. She encompasses all creation within herself. Her greatness is not merely a matter of might, but of inherent vastness and profundity, the infinite expanse of consciousness that underlies the universe.
The Illumination of Truth The "light" mentioned in the meaning ("whose light encompasses the universe") refers not to physical radiance, but to the supreme spiritual knowledge (Jnana) and self-awareness (Bodha) that she embodies. This light dispels the darkness of ignorance (avidya), removes illusion, and reveals the ultimate truth of existence. She is the source from which all other lights, material and spiritual, arise.
Transcendence and Immanence As Mahati, she is both transcendent, existing beyond the created world, and immanent, pervading every atom of it. Her greatness lies in being at once the substratum of all being and the dynamic force that moves all phenomena. This union underscores her role as Para Shakti, the Supreme Power.
The Exalted Consciousness This name also points to her as the exalted state of consciousness, the highest spiritual truth accessible to humanity. To meditate upon Kali as Mahati is to aspire to this vast, liberating consciousness and to recognize her as the ultimate reality, beyond measure and comprehension, yet intimately present in the heart of every being.