Lalitā Sahasranāma
The Lalitā Sahasranāma is the collection of one thousand names of Lalitā Mahātripurasundarī. It is kept in Chapter 43 of the Lalitopākhyāna, the great narrative in the Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa. Hayagrīva tells it to the ṛshi Agastya.
It comes at the end of the Lalitopākhyāna. Before it, the narrative has told how Lalitā appeared, how she married Kāmeśvara, and how she destroyed Bhaṇḍāsura. The thousand names are the last part, and they describe who she is.
Where it comes in Chapter 43
The Sahasranāma stands in Chapter 43, which is also the chapter on dīkshā (initiation). Hayagrīva first teaches five kinds of dīkshā: sparśa, dṛg, śāmbhavī, māṇasī and kriyā. Then he gives the thousand names as the highest anushṭhāna (practice), which holds the whole of Śrī Vidyā. Reciting the Sahasranāma is a complete upāsanā (worship) in itself.
How the names are given
Hayagrīva explains each name with its nirvachana (derivation). Each name comes with its meaning as one quality of Lalitādevī. The names cover her whole nature.
Her place as the highest reality. Parāśakti, Paramātmikā, Mahāmāyā, Mahālakshmī, Mahāvidyā, Viśvabhāvanī, Anantā and Ameyā (the one who cannot be measured).
Her powers to create and to dissolve. Sṛshṭikartrī (the creator), Brahmarūpā (of the nature of Brahmā), Gotrāmbā (mother of all lineages), Saṃhāriṇī (the one who dissolves) and Mahāpralayasākshiṇī (the witness of the great dissolution).
Her bond with Kāmeśvara. Kāmeśvarī (the śakti of Kāmeśvara), Kāmakotilayā (the one whose home is Kāmakoti), Kāmākshī (the one with kāma-eyes) and Kāmeśvaraprāṇanāthā (the very life of Kāmeśvara).
Her glory in war. These names praise the killing of Bhaṇḍāsura: Bhaṇḍāsuravadhotsāhā, Daṇḍanāthāpuraskṛtā, Śyāmalāparicishkṛtā and Cakrarājaratharuḍhā (the one who rides the chariot Cakrarāja).
Her link with Śrī Vidyā. These names show her as the Śrī Cakra: Śrīcakrarājanilyā, Śrīmad-vāgbhava-kūṭaikasvarūpa-mukha-paṅkajā, Kaṇṭhādhaḥkati-paryanta-kāmarāja-kūṭarūpiṇī and Śaktikūṭaikatāpanna-kaṭyadho-bhāgadhāriṇī. These names describe the three kūṭas (parts) of the Pañcadaśī mantra as the three sections of her body.
Her forms at Kāñcīpura. Kāmākshī, Kāmakotisthā, Kāñcīnagara-nivāsinī and Kampā-nadī-taṭavasā.
The fruit of reciting it
When it is recited with devotion and śraddhā (faith), and after proper dīkshā, the Lalitā Sahasranāma gives:
- the fulfilment of all wishes (sarvābhīshṭa-prāpti)
- freedom from the cycle of rebirth (moksha)
- direct darśana of Lalitādevī
- the grace of the whole Śrī Vidyā tradition
Reciting the Sahasranāma is like offering flowers (arcana) with each of the thousand names. It holds a full shoḍaśopachāra pūjā (worship with sixteen offerings) in one practice.
Sources
- Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 43