Lalita Sahasranama

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(the person reciting the Sahasranama) as meditating upon the form of Lalita and describes the 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 is the verse composed by the eight Vaag Devis. The second verse beginning with "arunam karuna-tarangatakshim" is said to have been composed by Dattatreya. The fourth, beginning with "sakumkuma-vilepanam" was probably composed by Adi Sankaracharya. No known information is available on the origins of the third verse beginning with "dhyayet padmasanastham."[3] 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.

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.

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, ashoka, punnaga and saugandha flowers (13), having a musk tilak on her forehead (16), and having eyebrows which appear as if they are the arch gates of Kamadeva'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 (23), having beautiful white teeth resembling the shodasakshari mantra (25), and having a voice sweeter than the sound emanating from Kachchapi, the veena of Saraswati. 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).

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 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). As per Hindu philosophy, 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.

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'sLalithastavaratna, saying that Sri Nagara was constructed by celestial architect Visvakarma. The other, in the Rudra Yamala (as told to Parvati by Shiva), says that Sri Nagara is in the midst of an ocean of milk 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.[4]

Sri Nagara is surrounded by twenty five walls, each wall representing a tattva. 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 (60). On the fifteenth street resides the eight directional guardian deities. In the sixteenth resides Varahi(alias Dandini or Dandanadha) who was Lalita's commander in chief in her battle with Bhandasura. In the seventeenth street resides the different Yoginis. In the eighteenth street resides Maha Vishnu. In the nineteenth street resides Esana, in the twentieth resides Tara Devi, in twenty first resides Varuni, 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 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, 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 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.

One of the main events extolled in the Lalita Sahasranama is Devi's battle with the asura Bhandasura. 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 shaktis and devis 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 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 (Kamadeva) for the good of the world (84).

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), protection (sthiti), destruction (samharam), hiding (tirodhanam) and blessing (anugraham). The mantras preceding name 274 describe Devi in reference to the Hindu trinity:

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 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 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 Ishvar(i).

272: Om Sada Shivayai Namah // ...who causes the disappearance of all things.

273: Om Anugraha dayai Namah // ...who confers blessing (in the form of liberation).

Devi is therefore described as an aspect of Brahma while creating (srishti), an aspect of Govinda (Vishnu) while sustaining (sthiti), an aspect of Rudra (Shiva) during dissolution (samhara), an aspect of Ishvara while concealing (thirodana), and an aspect of Sadashiva 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. 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 first 60 names from 475 to 534 discuss the seven chakras of kundalini and sahasrara. 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 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 yoginis have their own mantras describing their complexion, armories, qualities, and sacred foods within the Lalita Sahasranama as a whole.[5]