SRI LALITA SAHASRANAMA-EXPLANATION PART 1- Introduction

Sree Lalita Sahasranamam, as indicated by the name, is a hymn mentioning 1000 names of Sreematha. Each of the deities we worship, we have 108, 300 and 1000 names called Ashottara ,Trishati and Sahasranama.These are used for parayana as well for archana suffixing namah. Sreematha, is the earlier most Shakti without any form.

 Sound is the origin of the entire universe. The letters form the sound. Sound or letter either directly or symbolically indicates the supreme being and hence these namas also indicate the same supreme.

Sri Vishnu sahasranama is taken from Mahabharata, Sree Lalita Sahasranamam is taken from Brahmanda purana, Rudra Trishati from Rudra namaka.  

The greatness of Samskrit language is mentioned in the name itself (Samskritam – done in a perfect way). Each word has lots of meanings. In the same manner splitting of each word differently will provide different meanings. This makes different people split the words differently and convey different meanings. If splitting of words is not done properly and the names read individually, then count of 1000 may change. 

Out of 51 letters in Samskrit only 32 letters have been chosen  to begin the 1000 names in this hymn. This and number of names beginning with each of the letters have all been calculated. The 25^th name Shuddhavidyonkurokara dvijapakti­ dwayojjwa/a seems to explain the reason why only these 32 letters have been used. 

While chanting, the splitting of words has to be done very carefully. A small mistake may affect greatly. This much care is needed because this hymn forms part of Brahmanda Purana as a continuous verse and since the written format was not earlier available it was passed on by word of mouth to the disciples by the teachers. 

Another specialty of this hymn is that the main part of 182.5 verses, has no fillers like Cha, Vai, Tu, Hi, Eva, etc. 

There is no repetition of names. If such duplication is seen, or seems to be of same pronunciation, proper splitting the names those names can be considered as a new one. Hence there is no flaw of such duplication of names. 

All these 1000 names contain mantras, and hence it is as good as chanting 1000 mantras

It has been reiterated more than once, in the beginning as well as at the end that this hymn is very secret and has to be learnt through proper teacher.

Sree Hayagreeva, has not told this to Agastya easily. How many questions and replies for this purpose were discussed? Then only Sree Hayagreeva told this to Agastya This itself  convey the greatness of this hymn. 

The last part explains the various results/ fruits that can be reaped and also the methods of chanting this hymn. The method of chanting this hymn, specifically to get a particular wish satiated, is also mentioned. Further it has been mentioned that the worshipper has to chant it as a daily chore, without any specific wish. The interesting fruit of this hymn is that it acts as expiation for all kinds of sins done. But if a flaw is found in doing one particular action that also needs expiation. Thus, if this hymn is chanted as expiation for other sins and a flaw is found during that chanting, which can be the expiation for this? The chanting of this hymn acts as expiation for various sins including the flaws that happen during the chanting of this, This is the specialty of this hymn.

Among all the worships of Shaktis, Sree Lalita is predominantly main. With Her order only we got this hymn. According to various puranas,different form of Devees have different places – for instance, Kancheepuram for Kamakshee, Madurai for Meenakshi, Kasi for Visalakshee, etc. But, there is a doubt that Sree Lolita, who is above all these forms of Devees, does not seem to have a dedicated place for Her. After getting Sree Lalita Sahasranama and Sree Lalita Trishatee told by Sree Hayogreeva, Agostya got excited and asked “Where I can have sight of Sree Lalita”? Sree Hayagreeva replied to this question that there is a temple for Sree Lalita at the holy place called Thirumeeyochoor, wherein Aruna (chariot driver of Sun) and Sun wor­shipped her. If you go there you can be fortunate to have a Darshan of Sree Lalita. Accordingly, Agastya visited Thirumeeyachoor and had wor­shipped her with this hymn and got satisfied, says the history of Thirumeeyachur. This village called Thirumeya choor is at a distance of one kilometre from Peralam, Tiruvaroor District, Tamilnadu. This very old temple is now being renovated.