The Cowherd

Lalita Sahasranama Stotram is a hymn sung by Hindus in praise of Goddess Sri Lalita Tripura Sundari. Names like Lalithadevi, Rajarajeshwari, Tripura Sundari refer to the form of Goddess Parvati. This stotra has great importance in Shakti worship and Srividya. Devotees believe that reciting this stotra will bring all good fortune, remove all difficulties, attain siddhas and attain liberation.

This hymn is present in the Brahmanda Purana in the form of dialogue between Hayagriva and Agastya. The Lalita Sahasranama is said to have been recited by the Vasinyadi Vagdevatas (eight deities namely Vasini, Kameswari, Modini, Vimala, Aruna, Jayini, Sarveswari, Kaulini). In the hymn there is a description of Devi head to foot (Keshadipada). It is believed that many mantras, siddhi sadhanas and yogic secrets are enshrined in it. This hymn in praise of Lalita (the Sporting One) is also recited to worship other forms of the Goddess such as Durga, Kali, Mahalakshmi, Saraswati and Bhagawati. This Lalita Sahasranamastotra is chanted in many pujavidhanas like parayanam, archana, homam.

Chapter 36 “Lalitopakhyanam” of Brahmanda Purana contains the hymn Lalita Sahasranama. In this Goddess Lalita is described as Sakala Shaktisvarupini and the creator of universe. Hayagriva, an incarnation of Sri Maha Vishnu, preached this hymn to sage Agastya. In the Lalita Purana, the goddess Lalita Parameshwari is described as the one who incarnated to kill Bhandasura. In these scriptures the structure of Srichakra representing Sripuram is described. Adi Shankara, Bhaskaracharya gave commentaries on Trisati and Sahasranama.

In his Upadesha to Agastya Maharshi, Hayagriva explained Sripuram, the abode of Sri Lalitha Devi, the Panchadasakshari Mantra, the unity of Sri Yantra, Srividya, Sri Lalithambika and Sri Gurudeva. When Agastya asked him to preach Lalita Sahasranama, Hayagriva told him that it was hollow and that it was forbidden to teach it to the unqualified. But as Agastya was a qualified sage, Hayagriva instructed him in the Lalita Sahasranama.

Like all major hymns, Lalita Sahasranama Stotra has several sections. Depending on the occasion of puja, archana or recitation certain rituals are followed. Usually, first the devotees cleanly finish their bath and do the regular puja and then read the Lalita Sahasranama Stotra.

The Purva Peethika contains Hayagriva’s explanation to Agastya about the origin of the Stotra and the secrecy of the Ashtotra. Stotra Parayana Mahatmya, the rules to be followed in reciting it are explained in this section.

Hayagriva said that Lalita Devi’s Sahasranamas are a secret, and must only be learned by a qualified student from a competent guru. These Sahasranamas are the best of the Lalita Tantras. Because of this, Sri Lalitha Devi is easily pleased. Those who are incapable of performing japa puja can only perform Namasahasra parayanam. Those who recite this hymn written by Vasinyadi Devatas under the guidance of Devi will get the grace of Goddess Lalita and eternal siddhi.

Lalita Sahasranama Benefits

In the third chapter, “Uttara Pithika”, the conclusion is given. Here are some of the things Hayagriva told Agastya.

Lalitha Sahasranamam Benefits

The Phala Sruti of Lalita Sahasranamam is mentioned in a separate text. This stotra occurs in the Markandeya Purana and was taught by Sage Markandeya to Sage Agasthya. Although there are countless benefits mentioned, one interesting benefit to note is that, the devotee would get the effect of taking bath in sacred rivers like Ganga, or one crore times and also the same effect as consecrating one crore lingas, or one crore times giving in Kurukshetra on Sundays giving, one crore gold ornaments to the twice born who has learned Vedas, or doing one crore Aswa medha yagas in the shores of the Ganges, or digging one crore wells with water in the deserts, or feeding one crore Brahmins daily during the famine, or doing with great attention train one thousand children.

Significance of Lalita Sahsranama Stotram

Many people think that the various names in Lalita Sahasranama Stotram are mysterious and many secret texts as mentioned in the Uttara Peethika and Purva Peethika. They also believe that many mantras and bijaksharas are stored in names. These are very special for Shakteyas in particular. Many have commented on the meanings and meanings of the names in this hymn. Moreover, they are thematically divided into sections, each section being thought to belong to a different philosophical or tantric theme.

An explanation is that the names in these slokas are composed according to the Panchakriti – creation, status, destruction, tirodhana, anugraha. Devi is described as “Panchakrityaparayana”.

Supta Prajnatmika Turya Sarvavastha Vivarjita Srishtikartri Brahmarupa Goptri Govinakapini — 63
Samharini Rudrarupa Tirodhanakarishwari
Sadashivanugrahada Panchakritya Parayana — 64

Select Shlokas from Sri Lalita Sahsranama Stotram

That is, Devi Brahmarupini is responsible for creation, Vishnu (Govinda) is responsible for status, Rudrarupini is for destruction, Ishwari is for destruction, and Sadasivamurti is for grace. The first three names in the first sloka – Srimata, Srimaharajni, Srimatsimhasaneswari – also refer to creation, status and destruction. Similarly, the next two names – Chidagnikunda Sambhuta and Devakaryasamudyata – are said to indicate tirodhana and grace.

From “Udyadbhanusahasrabha” to “Sinjana Manimanjiramandita Sripadambuja” there is Sridevi Keshadipada’s aesthetic description. Then there are Chintamanigrihavarna, the abode of the goddess, and then Bhandasurasamhara, the names associated with Kundalini Shakti. After that many educations, worships and mantras are stored.

Lalitasahasranama recitation (mantra), Srichakra Puja (Yantra), Kundalini Yoga Sadhana (Tantra), – are important aspects of Srividyopasana. Saguna Brahmopasana and Nirguna Brahmopasana are two methods enshrined in this Vidyasadhana. Shatchakras (Muladhara Chakra, Swadhishthana Chakra, Manipuraka Chakra, Anahata Chakra, Vishuddhi Chakra, Ajna Chakra) mentioned in Yoga Sadhana are mentioned in Lalitasahasranam. The goal of Kundalini Yoga practice is to overcome these cycles and attain moksha.

Lalita Sasranama Stotram English PDF

Sri Lalita Sahasranama Sanskrit with English Meaning Download

Lalita Sahasranamam Telugu

Featured Image Credit: By Mili977 – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=110869724