Lalita Sahasranama
Its first name is "Shri Mata" — the auspicious Mother. Taught by Hayagriva to the sage Agastya, the Lalita Sahasranama describes the Goddess from her crown to her feet, and from her form to the formless. It is the heart of the Shri Vidya tradition.
The verse
Mother first
The Lalita Sahasranama begins with three names: Śrīmātā, the auspicious Mother; Śrīmahārājñī, the great empress; Śrīmatsiṃhāsaneśvarī, the queen on the lion throne. Before she is power, before she is the destroyer of demons, she is Mother. Many families recite it on Fridays and during Navratri.
A secret taught to a sage
The text is found in the Lalitopakhyana section of the Brahmanda Purana. Hayagriva, the horse-headed form of Vishnu, teaches it to the sage Agastya, and the text says these names were composed by the Vagdevis — the goddesses of speech — at the Mother's own command. It was meant to be kept secret…
The journey continues for members
- Why it was kept secret — and how it was shared
- The structure of the names
- Traditional practice
- A note on what mantras promise
Sources
- Brahmanda Purana — Lalitopakhyana
- Saubhagya Bhaskara — Bhaskararaya