''Lalita Sahasranama'' (IAST: lalitāsahasranāma;
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; attributively , ; nominally , , ) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in South Asia after its predecessor languages had diffused there from the northwest in the late ...
: ललिता सहस्रनाम) is a sacred
Hindu
Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...
text from the
Brahmanda Purana
The ''Brahmanda Purana'' ( sa, ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण, ) is a Sanskrit text and one of the eighteen major Puranas, a genre of Hindu texts. It is listed as the eighteenth Maha-Purana in almost all the anthologies. The text ...
which lists the thousand names of the Hindu mother goddess
Lalita Devi, a manifestation of the
Divine Mother (
Shakti
In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and rep ...
), and is therefore recited in the worship of Devi according to Srikula Sampradayas.
A principal text of
Shakti worshipers, it describes the goddess' various attributes in the form of names organized in a
hymn
A hymn is a type of song, and partially synonymous with devotional song, specifically written for the purpose of adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification. The word ''hymn'' ...
. This ''sahasranama'' is used in various modes of worship of the Divine Mother such as ''parayana'' (recitations),
archana, and
homa
Homa may refer to:
Places Ethiopia
* Homa (woreda), a district in Oromia Region, Ethiopia
Kenya
* Homa Bay, a town and a bay on the shore of Lake Victoria in Kenya
* Homa Mountain, a volcano near Homa Bay, Kenya
Iran
* Chal Homa, Mark ...
.
A different but less popular version of the Lalita Sahasranama can also be found in the purva bhaga of the Narada Purana.
Etymology and structure
The names are organized as hymns, or ''
stotras
''Stotra'' (Sanskrit: स्तोत्र) is a Sanskrit word that means "ode, eulogy or a hymn of praise."Monier Williams, Monier Williams' Sanskrit-English Dictionary, Oxford University Press, Article on 'Stotra'' It is a literary genre of In ...
'', but are often broken into
mantra
A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...
s to represent all 1000 names. Therefore, the ''Sahasranama'' can be chanted in stotra form, or namavali form. ''The Lalita Saharanama'' is one of the only ''sahasranamas'' that has exactly 1000 names without repetition, an aspect which cannot be seen in other Sahasranamas of gods like
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
,
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
(where the total names are either less or more than 1000).
Generally, ''sahasranama''s use the artifice of adding words like ''tu'', ''api'', ''ca'', and ''hi'', which are conjunctions that do not necessarily add to the meaning of the name except in cases of interpretation. The ''Lalita Sahasranama'' does not use any such auxiliary conjunctions and is unique in being an enumeration of holy names that meets the metrical, poetical and mystic requirements of a ''sahasranama'' by their order throughout the text.
Etymologically, ''Lalita'' means "She Who Plays". In its root form, the word ''Lalita'' means "spontaneous" from which the meaning "easy" is derived and implicitly extends to "play".
Composition
The ''Lalita Sahasranama'' is said to have been composed by the eight ''vaag''
devi
Devī (; Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism.
The conce ...
s (''Vasini'', ''Kameshvari'', ''Aruna'', ''Vimala'', ''Jayani'', ''Modini'', ''Sarveshvari'', and ''Kaulini'') upon the command of the goddess Lalita herself. The ''sahasranama'' says that "''One can worship Lalita only if she wishes us to do so.''" This ''stotra'' occurs in the
Brahmanda Purana
The ''Brahmanda Purana'' ( sa, ब्रह्माण्ड पुराण, ) is a Sanskrit text and one of the eighteen major Puranas, a genre of Hindu texts. It is listed as the eighteenth Maha-Purana in almost all the anthologies. The text ...
(history of the universe) in the chapter of discussion between
Hayagriva
Hayagriva, also spelled Hayagreeva ( sa, हयग्रीव IAST , ), is a Hindu deity, the horse-headed avatar of Vishnu. The purpose of this incarnation was to slay a danava also named Hayagriva (A descendant of Kashyapa and Danu), who ...
and Sage
Agastya
Agastya ( kn, ಅಗಸ್ತ್ಯ, ta, அகத்தியர், sa, अगस्त्य, te, అగస్త్యుడు, ml, അഗസ്ത്യൻ, hi, अगस्त्य) was a revered Indian sage of Hinduism. In the I ...
in Kanchipuram. Hayagriva is an incarnation of
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
with the head of a horse and is held to be the storehouse of knowledge. Agastya is one of the sages of yore and one of the stars of the constellation
Saptarishi
The Saptarishi () are the seven rishis of ancient India who are extolled in the Vedas, and other Hindu literature. The Vedic Samhitas never enumerate these rishis by name, although later Vedic texts such as the Brahmanas and Upanisads do so. ...
. At the request of Agastya, Hayagriva is said to have taught him the thousand holiest names of Lalita. The
temple at Thirumeyachur, near
Kumbakonam
Kumbakonam (formerly spelt as Coombaconum or Combaconum) or Kudanthai is a city municipal corporation in the Thanjavur district in the States of India, Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located from Thanjavur and from Chennai and is the headq ...
, is said to be where Agastya was initiated into this ''sahasranama''. An alternative origin is that the ''Upanishad Bramham Mutt'' at
Kanchipuram
Kanchipuram ('; ) also known as ''Conjeevaram,'' is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu in the Tondaimandalam region, from Chennaithe capital of Tamil Nadu. Known as the ''City of Thousand Temples'', Kanchipuram is known for its temple ...
is where this initiation happened.
Key concepts
Dhyana
The start of the ''Lalita Sahasranama'' is characterized by the ''Dhyana'', which are descriptive verses for visualization. There are four ''dhyana'' verses. It describes the
yogi
A yogi is a practitioner of Yoga, including a sannyasin or practitioner of meditation in Indian religions.A. K. Banerjea (2014), ''Philosophy of Gorakhnath with Goraksha-Vacana-Sangraha'', Motilal Banarsidass, , pp. xxiii, 297-299, 331 Th ...
(the person reciting the ''Sahasranama'') as meditating upon the form of Lalita and describes many of the qualities of the goddess. The ''Dhyana'' is said before chanting the thousand names.
The first verse starts with "''sinduraruna-vigraham"'' and is most likely the verse composed by the eight ''Vaag Devi''s. The second verse beginning with "''arunam karuna-tarangatakshim"'' is said to have been composed by
Dattatreya
Dattatreya ( sa, दत्तात्रेय, ), Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as a Hindu god. In Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya ...
. The fourth, beginning with "''sakumkuma-vilepanam"'', was probably composed by
Adi Sankaracharya
Adi Shankara ("first Shankara," to distinguish him from other Shankaras)(8th cent. CE), also called Adi Shankaracharya ( sa, आदि शङ्कर, आदि शङ्कराचार्य, Ādi Śaṅkarācāryaḥ, lit=First Shanka ...
. No known information is available on the origins of the third verse beginning with "''dhyayet padmasanastham."'' In all the ''dhyana'' verses there is a recurring theme on Devi's red complexion, which is said to resemble the sun at dawn, and her compassionate nature.
Lalita
The ''Lalita Sahasranama'' is organized in such a way that Devi is described from "Head to Toe" (''Kesadi Padam''). The names then go on to extoll Devi in all her achievements, powers, and forms.
Physical description
The ''Lalita Sahasranama'' goes into great detail describing the physical aspect of the goddess. The beginning of the ''Sahasranama'' describes Lalita in her female form, ''Kameshvari'', along with her consort, ''Kameshvara''. ''Kameshvari'' is described as extremely beautiful, having dark thick long hair adorned with
champaka
''Magnolia champaca'', known in English as champak (), is a large evergreen tree in the family Magnoliaceae. , ''ashoka'', ''punnaga'' and ''saugandha'' flowers (13), having a musk
tilak
In Dharmic culture, the ''tilaka'' ( sa, तिलक) () is a mark worn usually on the forehead, at the point of the Ajna chakra, or sometimes another part of the body such as the neck, hand, chest or arm. ''Tilaka'' may be worn daily or for ...
on her forehead (16), and having eyebrows which appear as if they are the arch gates of
Kamadeva
Kama ( sa, काम, ), also known as Kamadeva and Manmatha, is the Hindu god of love and desire, often portrayed alongside his consort, Rati.
The Atharvaveda, Atharva Veda regards Kamadeva as the wielder of the creative power of the universe ...
's abode (17). The next few mantras continue describing Lalita Devi as the ideal feminine form whose splendor is unmatched by any other celestial: with cheeks that shine like a mirror of
Padmaraga
Sapphire is a precious gemstone, a variety of the mineral corundum, consisting of aluminium oxide () with trace amounts of elements such as iron, titanium, chromium, vanadium, or magnesium. The name sapphire is derived via the Latin "sapphi ...
(23), having beautiful white teeth resembling the ''shodasakshari'' mantra (25), and having a voice sweeter than the sound emanating from ''Kachchapi'', the
veena
The ''veena'', also spelled ''vina'' ( sa, वीणा IAST: vīṇā), comprises various chordophone instruments from the Indian subcontinent. Ancient musical instruments evolved into many variations, such as lutes, zithers and arched harps.< ...
of
Saraswati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
. The last mantra describing Devi's physical appearance is the 46th name, "''sinjana mani majira mandita sripadambuja''" (whose feet are adorned with musical anklets filled with gem stones).
Kameshvara and Kameshvari
The next few names then continue to focus on the union between Lalita as ''Kameshvari,'' and ''Kameshwara''. Devi is described as having a beautiful smile (28), beautiful breasts (33), and perfect thighs (39) which steal the heart of Kameshvara; she wears a
mangal sutra
A mangala sutra (), or thaali (ISO: ''tāḷi''), is a necklace that the groom ties around the bride's neck in the Indian subcontinent, in a ceremony called ''Mangalya Dharanam'' (). The necklace serves as a visual marker of status as a ma ...
and necklaces (30), with succeeding names describing the lower half of Devi's body to her feet. This divine couple continues to stay united throughout the ''Sahasranama''; the penultimate name is "''sivasakti aikya rupini"'' (who is the unification of
Siva and
Shakti
In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and rep ...
). As per
Hindu philosophy
Hindu philosophy encompasses the philosophies, world views and teachings of Hinduism that emerged in Ancient India which include six systems ('' shad-darśana'') – Samkhya, Yoga, Nyaya, Vaisheshika, Mimamsa and Vedanta.Andrew Nicholson (20 ...
, it is understood that there is nothing beyond this union of Siva and Shakti, or the Absolute form, except the true goddess Lalita herself. This is why the last name of the ''Sahasranama'' is "
''Lalitambika''''"'' effectively showing that Devi's form as ''Lalitambika'' is her most absolute form.
The City of Sri Nagara
Origins
At the behest of name 57, the divine city of ''Sri Nagara'' is described in all its splendor. The origins of the city can be traced to two different texts. One is in
Durvasa's ''Lalithastavaratna'', saying that ''Sri Nagara'' was constructed by celestial architect
Visvakarma. The other, in the ''Rudra Yamala'' (as told to ''
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
'' by ''
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
''), says that ''Sri Nagara'' is in the midst of an
ocean of milk
In Hindu cosmology, the Ocean of Milk (',', ''Malayalam: Pālāḻi'') is the fifth from the centre of the seven oceans. It surrounds the continent known as Krauncha. According to Hindu scriptures, the devas and asuras worked together for a mil ...
as an island called ''Ratnadvipa'' (island formed out of precious gems). This description fits name 61, "''sudha sagara madhyasta,''" which describes Devi as residing in the middle of the ocean of nectar.
Description
''Sri Nagara'' is surrounded by twenty five walls, each wall representing a
tattva
According to various Indian schools of philosophy, ''tattvas'' () are the elements or aspects of reality that constitute human experience. In some traditions, they are conceived as an aspect of deity. Although the number of ''tattvas'' varies ...
. ''Sri Nagara'' has 25 streets circling it, made of elements, gems, and precious stones. In the eighth street is a forest of
kadambas presided by ''Mantrini (
Matangi
Matangi ( sa, मातङ्गी, ) is a Hindu goddess. She is one of the Mahavidyas, ten Tantric goddesses and an aspect of the Hindu Divine Mother. She is considered to be the Tantric form of Saraswati, the goddess of music and learning. ...
)'' (60). On the fifteenth street resides the eight directional guardian deities. In the sixteenth resides
Varahi
Varahi ( sa, वाराही, )) is also used as the name of the consort of Varaha, who is identified with Bhumi (the earth goddess). This consort is depicted in a human form., group=note is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother go ...
(alias Dandini or Dandanatha) who was Lalita's commander in chief in her battle with
Bhandasura
Bhandāsura is an asura who appears in Hindu texts, Hindu literature, most prominently in Shaktism. He is featured in the ''Lalita Mahatmaya'' of the Brahmanda Purana, where he is slain by the goddess Tripura Sundari, Lalita.
Legend
The batt ...
. In the seventeenth street resides the different ''Yoginis''. In the eighteenth street resides
Maha Vishnu
Mahavishnu (Sanskrit: महाविष्णु) is an aspect of Vishnu, the principal deity in Vaishnavism. In his capacity as Mahavishnu, the deity is known as the Supreme Purusha, the absolute protector and sustainer of the universe, th ...
. In the nineteenth street resides ''Esana'', in the twentieth resides
Tara Devi, in twenty first resides
Varuni
Varuni () is the name of multiple goddesses associated with the Hindu god Varuna — his wife (also known as Varunani), his daughter (the goddess of wine), and the personification of his shakti (A matrika or mother goddess). Sometimes, these god ...
, in the twenty second resides
Kurukulla who presides over the fort of pride, in twenty third resides
Marthanda Bhairava, in twenty fourth resides the moon, and in the twenty fifth resides
Manmatha
Kama ( sa, काम, ), also known as Kamadeva and Manmatha, is the Hindu god of love and desire, often portrayed alongside his consort, Rati.
The Atharvaveda, Atharva Veda regards Kamadeva as the wielder of the creative power of the universe ...
presiding over the forest of love.
In the center of ''Sri Nagara'' is the ''Maha Padma Atavi'' (59), the forest of the Great Lotuses, and within it the ''Chintamani Griha'' (57), a palace constructed out of
Cintamani
Cintāmaṇi (Sanskrit; Devanagari: चिंतामणि; Chinese language, Chinese: 如意寶珠; Pinyin: ''Rúyì bǎozhū''; Japanese Romanization of Japanese, Romaji: ''Nyoihōju; Tamil language, Tamil:சிந்தாமணி''), also ...
, the wish fulfilling gem. The palace is said to be on the northern side of ''Sri Nagara;'' to its north east is the ''Chid-agni kunda'' and on both sides of its eastern gate are the houses of ''Mantrini'' and ''Dandini''. On its four gates stand the ''Chaduramnaya'' gods for watch and ward.
The
Sri Chakra
The Sri Yantra, Shri Yantra, or Shri Chakra is a form of mystical diagram (''yantra'') used in the Shri Vidya school of Hinduism. It consists of nine interlocking triangles - four upward ones which represent Shiva, and five downward ones represen ...
and Lalita herself are said to reside within the ''Chintamani Griha''. The chakra is said to be made up of the following components, all represented in its decorative features: the square representing ''Trilokya Mohanam'' (Devi as the most beautiful in the three worlds), the sixteen petaled lotus called the ''Sarvasa paripoorakam'' (Devi as the fulfiller of all desires), the eight petaled lotus called the ''Sarvasamksopanam'' (Devi as the cleanser), the sixteen cornered figure representing ''Sarva Saubhagyam'' (luck), the external ten cornered figure called the ''Sarvartha Sadhakam'' (Devi as the giver of all assets), the internal ten cornered figure called ''Sarva Raksha Karam'' (Devi as the protector), the eight cornered figure called the ''Sarva Roga Haram'' (Devi as the cure to all diseases), the triangle called the ''Sarva Siddhi Pradam'' (Devi as the giver of all powers), and the central dot known as the ''Sarvananda Mayam or the Bindu'' (Devi as pleasure). In the center of the Chakra, on the throne of the ''Pancha Brahmas'' (58) on the ''Bindu Peeta'' (380) sits
Maha Tripura Sundari.
Bhandasura
One of the main events extolled in the ''Lalita Sahasranama'' is Devi's battle with the
asura
Asuras (Sanskrit: असुर) are a class of beings in Indian religions, Indic religions. They are described as power-seeking clans related to the more benevolent Deva (Hinduism), Devas (also known as Suras) in Hinduism. In its Buddhism, Buddhi ...
Bhandasura
Bhandāsura is an asura who appears in Hindu texts, Hindu literature, most prominently in Shaktism. He is featured in the ''Lalita Mahatmaya'' of the Brahmanda Purana, where he is slain by the goddess Tripura Sundari, Lalita.
Legend
The batt ...
. According to the story, the
''devas'' prayed to Devi to kill Bhandasura. As she started for war, the ''Sahasranama'' describes her as being accompanied by the powers of various
shakti
In Hinduism, especially Shaktism (a theological tradition of Hinduism), Shakti (Devanagari: शक्ति, IAST: Śakti; lit. "Energy, ability, strength, effort, power, capability") is the primordial cosmic energy, female in aspect, and rep ...
s and
devi
Devī (; Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for 'goddess'; the masculine form is ''deva''. ''Devi'' and ''deva'' mean 'heavenly, divine, anything of excellence', and are also gender-specific terms for a deity in Hinduism.
The conce ...
s whose accomplishments are extolled in different names. Names in the ''Sahasranama'' describes ''Sampatkari Devi'' as the captain of the elephant regiment (66) and ''Aswarooda Devi'' as the captain of the cavalry (67). Lalita as
Para Shakti herself is described as riding in the
Sri Chakra
The Sri Yantra, Shri Yantra, or Shri Chakra is a form of mystical diagram (''yantra'') used in the Shri Vidya school of Hinduism. It consists of nine interlocking triangles - four upward ones which represent Shiva, and five downward ones represen ...
Chariot (''chakraraja'' or the king of chariots) in name 68. After descriptions of the battle with respects to the various shaktis, Lalita is described as decimating Bhandasura's army using the ''Paashupathastra'' weapon (81), and destroying him and his city with the ''Kameshvarastra'' weapon (82). After praises from the devas (83), she is said to have then gave life back to
Manmatha
Kama ( sa, काम, ), also known as Kamadeva and Manmatha, is the Hindu god of love and desire, often portrayed alongside his consort, Rati.
The Atharvaveda, Atharva Veda regards Kamadeva as the wielder of the creative power of the universe ...
(Kamadeva) for the good of the world (84).
The Five Works of God and the Trimurti
In the ''Lalitha Sahasranama'', Devi herself has been described as "''pancha krtya parayana''" (274). This is in reference to the five works of God (''pancha krtyam''): creation (''
srishti
Hindu units of time are described in Hindu texts ranging from microseconds to trillions of years, including cycles of cosmic time that repeat general events in Hindu cosmology. Time ( ) is described as eternal. Various fragments of time are des ...
''), protection (''
sthiti
A Sanskrit Dictionary gives more than eighty meanings of the Sanskrit word, Sthiti (स्थिति), but this word mainly refers to position, rank or dignity, staying, or permanence, permanent or continued existence in any place.
Hindu interpr ...
''), destruction (''samharam''), hiding (''tirodhanam'') and blessing (''anugraham''). The mantras preceding name 274 describe Devi in reference to the
Hindu trinity
The Trimūrti (; Sanskrit: त्रिमूर्ति ', "three forms" or "trinity") are the triple deity, trinity of Para Brahman, supreme divinity in Hinduism, in which the cosmic functions of creation ex nihilo, creation, Conservation ...
:
264: ''Om Srishti Kartryai Namah'' // ...who is the Creator.
265: ''Om Brahma Rupayai Namah'' // ...who is in the form of Brahma
266: ''Om Goptryai Namah'' // ...who protects.
267: ''Om Govinda Rupinyai Namah'' // ...who has assumed the form of Govinda
Govinda (), also rendered Govind and Gobind, is an epithet of Vishnu which is also used for his avatars such as Krishna. The name appears as the 187th and the 539th name of Vishnu in '' Vishnu Sahasranama''. The name is also popularly addresse ...
for the preservation of the universe.
268: ''Om Samharinyai Namah'' // ...who is the destroyer of the universe.
269: ''Om Rudra Rupayai Namah'' // ...who has assumed the form of Rudra
Rudra (; sa, रुद्र) is a Rigvedic deity associated with Shiva, the wind or storms, Vayu, medicine, and the hunt. One translation of the name is 'the roarer'. In the Rigveda, Rudra is praised as the 'mightiest of the mighty'. Rud ...
for the dissolution of the universe.
270: ''Om Tirodhana Karyai Namah'' // ...who causes the disappearance of all things.
271: ''Om Isvaryai Namah'' // ...who protects and rules everything as Ishvara
''Ishvara'' () is a concept in Hinduism, with a wide range of meanings that depend on the era and the school of Hinduism.Monier Monier Williams, Sanskrit-English dictionarySearch for Izvara University of Cologne, Germany In ancient texts of H ...
.
272: ''Om Sada Shivayai Namah'' // ... ONE WHO IS ALWAYS AUSPICIOUS Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
.
273: ''Om Anugraha dayai Namah'' // ...who confers blessing (in the form of liberation).
Devi is therefore described as an aspect of
Brahma
Brahma ( sa, ब्रह्मा, Brahmā) is a Hindu god, referred to as "the Creator" within the Trimurti, the trinity of supreme divinity that includes Vishnu, and Shiva.Jan Gonda (1969)The Hindu Trinity Anthropos, Bd 63/64, H 1/2, pp. 21 ...
while creating (''srishti),'' an aspect of
Govinda
Govinda (), also rendered Govind and Gobind, is an epithet of Vishnu which is also used for his avatars such as Krishna. The name appears as the 187th and the 539th name of Vishnu in '' Vishnu Sahasranama''. The name is also popularly addresse ...
(
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" within t ...
) while sustaining (''sthiti),'' an aspect of
Rudra
Rudra (; sa, रुद्र) is a Rigvedic deity associated with Shiva, the wind or storms, Vayu, medicine, and the hunt. One translation of the name is 'the roarer'. In the Rigveda, Rudra is praised as the 'mightiest of the mighty'. Rud ...
(
Shiva
Shiva (; sa, शिव, lit=The Auspicious One, Śiva ), also known as Mahadeva (; ɐɦaːd̪eːʋɐ, or Hara, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the Supreme Being in Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hindu ...
) during dissolution (''samhara),'' an aspect of
Ishvara
''Ishvara'' () is a concept in Hinduism, with a wide range of meanings that depend on the era and the school of Hinduism.Monier Monier Williams, Sanskrit-English dictionarySearch for Izvara University of Cologne, Germany In ancient texts of H ...
while concealing (thirodana), and an aspect of
Sadashiva
Sadasiva ( sa, सदाशिव, , ta, சதாசிவம் ), is the Supreme Being, also known as Paramashiva, in the Shaiva Siddhanta tradition of Shaivism. Sadasiva is the omnipotent, subtle, luminous absolute, the highest manifestation ...
while blessing (liberating). These five entities (Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Isvara and Sadashiva) are known as "''pancha-brahma''" and "''pancha-preta."'' The goddess is described as "''pancha-brahma swarupini''" (she whose form is composed of the five Brahmas) in name 250. Such mantras are interpreted by many ''Shakti-ite'' scholars to show that Devi's power is at par with, if not superior, to the powers of the
trimurti
The Trimūrti (; Sanskrit: त्रिमूर्ति ', "three forms" or "trinity") are the trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism, in which the cosmic functions of creation, maintenance, and destruction are personified as a triad of de ...
. This idea is furthered by other mantras like "''Om panca preta manchadi sayinyai namah''" (who reclines on a couch made of the Five Corpses) in mantra 947; this most likely references the concept of the five ''Brahmas'' as lifeless bodies when Devi performs all the five tasks, mentioned previously, herself.
The Yoginis
The first 60 names from 475 to 534 discuss the seven
''chakra''s of ''
kundalini
In Hinduism, Kundalini ( sa, कुण्डलिनी, translit=kuṇḍalinī, translit-std=IAST, lit=coiled snake, ) is a form of divine feminine energy (or ''Shakti'') believed to be located at the base of the spine, in the ''muladhara'' ...
'' ''and
sahasrara
Sahasrara ( sa, सहस्रार, IAST: , en, "thousand-petalled", with many alternative names and spellings) or the crown chakra is considered the seventh primary chakra in some yoga traditions.
Hatha yoga
The Sahasrara is described ...
''. Each ''chakra'' is presided over by a deity called a ''yogini'' (with seven in total)''.'' Lalita herself is described as being present in the form of the ''kundalini'' energy (the divine feminine energy at the
muladhara
Muladhara ( sa, मूलाधार or मूलाधारा; IAST: , lit. ''"root of Existence." Mula'' means root and ''dhara'' means flux.) or the root chakra is one of the seven primary chakras according to Hindu tantrism. It is s ...
chakra at the bottom of the spine). Since the ''kundalini'' energy has to transcend the other chakras to reach ''the sahasrara'' chakra (a representation of Siva or the divine masculine energy) from the ''muladhara chakra'', worshipping the respective ''yoginis'' of each chakra is paramount. Each of these ''yogini''s have their own mantras describing their complexion, armories, qualities, and sacred foods within the ''Lalita Sahasranama'' as a whole.
See also
*
Devi Mahatmya
The ''Devi Mahatmya'' or ''Devi Mahatmyam'' ( sa, देवीमाहात्म्यम्, devīmāhātmyam, Glory of the Goddess) is a Hindu philosophical text describing the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the universe. It is ...
*
Mantra
A mantra (Pali: ''manta'') or mantram (मन्त्रम्) is a sacred utterance, a numinous sound, a syllable, word or phonemes, or group of words in Sanskrit, Pali and other languages believed by practitioners to have religious, ma ...
*
Lakshmi
Lakshmi (; , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism. She is the goddess of wealth, fortune, power, beauty, fertility and prosperity, and associated with ''Maya'' ("Illusion"). Alo ...
*
Parvati
Parvati ( sa, पार्वती, ), Uma ( sa, उमा, ) or Gauri ( sa, गौरी, ) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood. She is a physical representation of Mahadevi i ...
*
Saraswati
Saraswati ( sa, सरस्वती, ) is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, speech, wisdom, and learning. She is one of the Tridevi, along with the goddesses Lakshmi and Parvati.
The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a go ...
*
Tripura Sundari
Tripura Sundari (Sanskrit: त्रिपुरा सुन्दरी, IAST: Tripura Sundarī), also known as Rajarajeshwari, Shodashi, Kamakshi, and Lalita is a Hindu goddess, worshipped as a principal aspect of supreme goddess Mahadevi m ...
References
Further reading
*S.K. Ramachandara Rao, ''Lalitaarchana-Chandrika, Hymns to Lalita, Form of Tripurasundari'', Delhi: Devine Books, (Lala Murari Lal Chharia Oriental Series.)
*
V. R. Prabodhachandran Nayar
V. R. Prabodhachandran Nayar (also spelled Prabodhachandran Nair), popularly known as VRP Nayar, is a Phonetics expert of Kerala. He is the pioneer in the study of the phonology of the Malayalam language. Apart from phonology, he is also interes ...
's reader-friendly annotations of Lalithaasahasranaamam, "Kaithiri" published b
Thunchan SmarakaSamithi Trivandrum in 2011, offers word-by-word meaning of the Sanskrit scripts.
* C.S. Moorthy, ''The Thousand Names of Lalita Ambika- In a New Light'', Notion Press. Chennai, India, 2019.
* Nellore Sri T.V. Ramanaiah, ''Lalitha Sahasranamam Yoga Annotations'', Ganesh & Co. T. Nagar, Chennai, India, Dec 1965.
External links
* Read and play Lalithasahasranama and other Devi Stotras at http://www.astrojyoti.com/devimp3list.htm
* Lalithasahasranama sthothram comment ry by Dr BC Balakrishnan recited in audio cd by K Mahendran http://www.authenticbooksindia.com/new-01.html
Word by word- Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotra Mālā in
IAST
The International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration (IAST) is a transliteration scheme that allows the lossless romanisation of Indic scripts as employed by Sanskrit and related Indic languages. It is based on a scheme that emerged during ...
script.
Lalitha Sahasranamam in Sanskrit - The Lalithaa Sahasranaamam in Sanskrit Script
- The Lalitha Sahasranamam Stortra in Malayalam
Description of all the 1000 names of this sloka - Meaning of each of the names mentioned in this script.
- Meaning of each of the names in English.
Lalita sahasranama - An Overview. - Lalita sahasranama - An Overview.
Lalitha Sahasranamam– A complete overview of 1000 NAMES OF DIVINE MOTHER
{{DISPLAYTITLE: ''Lalita Sahasranama''
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Sahasranama
Shaktism