Lalita sahasranama is a sahasranama to Devi or Lalita and praises God as the Divine Mother or God's Shakti or Power.

Lalita Sahasranama is a hymn described in the Brahmanda Purana and is one of the most sacred stotras in Hinduism. It was recited as a result of a conversation between Hayagriva, a minor avatara of Vishnu and the great sage Agastya.

Lalita sahasranama is famous for the internal organization of its text and the rhythmic sound vibrations it can produce. Usually, in a sahasranama, if the same name repeats, the commentators use their scholarship and inspiration to give different meanings to different occurrences of the same name. Lalita sahasranma has the unique distinction, among all the sahasranamas, of not repeating even a single name. Further, in order to maintain the metre, sahasranamas use the artifice of adding words like tu, api, ca, and hi, which are only conjunctions not necessarily needed for the meaning except in rare cases of interpretation. Lalita sahasranama has again the unique distinction of not having even a single such innocuous word in its texture.

Lalita Sahasranama chanting as a daily practice is intended to give relief from the perils in life. Among the many hymns, mantras and devotional songs available, this Sahasranama is specially suitable for worship in the morning. While Sahasranamas giving material well-being and salvation are prescribed for all castes and in all stages of life, Lalita Sahasranama is generally applied for houseowners.

The main items in the phalashruti on Lalita Sahasranama given in the Brahmanda Purana are summarised below.

• Women having pregnancy problems can recite this prayer in attempt to obtain the gift of children by taking ghee that has been made potent by reciting Lalita Sahasranama.
• This hymn may be recied instead of various expiatory rituals.
• Devi is believed to protect those who recite this hymn daily from dangers and from attacks by enemies.
• Daily recitation of the Sahasranama is believed to augment prosperity, eloquence and fame. This practice is believed to be enhanced when recited on the Friday of a week.
• There are many Sahasranamas dedicated to Devi including Gangastava, Bhavanistava, Gayatristava, Kalistava, Lakshmistava, Sarasvatistava, Rajarajeshvaristava, Balastava, Syamalastava and Lalitastava. Of these Lalita Sahasranama is held the most sacred.

See also

• Devi Mahatmya
• Sahasranama
• Shiva sahasranama
• Vishnu sahasranama
• Mantra

Related links

• Lalitha Sahasranamam in telugu
• http://www.geocities.com/srigant/shaktham.html
• http://www.sreelalitha.org/index.asp
• Lalitha Sahasranamvali
• Lalitha Sahasranama Pdf document.
• http://www.geocities.com/profvk/gohitvip/1208page2.html
• Audio Recording of a Reading
• The Chinmaya Mission Page on Lalita Sahasranama

Hindu Worship | Shaktism