Lalita Sahasranaama Stotra, like any other sahasranaam stotra, is divided into three major parts. First part is a dialogue between Sage Agastya and Lord Hayagriva (incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu). Second part is actual stotra i.e. 1000 names of Lalita Devi and final part is phalasruti i.e. benefits of chanting Lalitasahasranama.
Second part i.e. stotra consisting of 1000 names is further divided into sixteen parts.
First part i.e. first three slokas - श्रीमाता, श्रीमहाराज्ञी, श्रीमत्सिंहासनेश्वरी - describe how mother is incarnated - Srimata (denotes creator), Sri Maharagnyi (denotes great ruler) and Srimat Simhasaneshwari (denotes destroyer, or more aptly, keeping balance between birth and death of jivas).
Second part i.e. slokas 4 to 21 describe the beauty of Lalita Devi from head to foot. People who are spiritually advanced can understand esoteric meanings of these descriptions.
Third part i.e. slokas 23 to 24 describe Sri Nagaram i.e. abode of Lalita Devi. Sri Nagaram consists of 25 forts and inside Sri Nagaram there is Chintamani Gruha where Lalita Devi resides.
Fourth part i.e. slokas 25 to 34 describe Lalita Devi’s war against demon Bhandasura. When Manmatha threw an arrow of love on Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva glanced with anger on Manmatha through his third eye which burnt Manmatha. However, due to Manmatha’s death the creation stopped. Ratidevi, wife of Manmatha, prayed to Mother Parvati and after Parvati’s intervention Lord Shiva revived Manmatha. However when Manmatha was originally burnt, from his ashes arose a demon named Bhandasur. Gods invoked Lalita Devi who arose from the fire pit (chidagnikunda) and helped gods in annihilating Bhandasura. She used mahapashupastra as well as kameshwarastra for killing Bhandasura.
Fifth part i.e. slokas 35 to 36 describe her subtle form divided into three kutas - vagbhava kuta (her face), madhya kuta (her body from throat till waist) and shakti kuta (her body beneath waist).
Sixth path i.e. slokas 37 to 40 describe secrets of kundalini yoga.
Seventh part i.e. slokas 41 to 43 describes Lalita Devi’s grace towards her devotees.
Eighth part i.e. slokas 43 to 45 describe her nirguna upasana i.e. meditating her in formless stage without any attributes.
Ninth part i.e. slokas 45 to 46 describe benefits obtained by seeker when they travel through formless stage
Tenth part i.e. slokas 46 to 51 describe benefits of nirguna upasana i.e. worship her formless and slokas 51 to 60 describe her saguna upasana i.e. worshiping her form
Eleventh part i.e. slokas 61 to 75 describe divine manifestation of Lalita Devi as an abode of five divine acts - pancha kritya, each act devoted to each of pancha brahma. Pancha brahmas gain their power of action (life) through Lalita Devi. Devoid of life they are pancha-pretas i.e. lifeless. Pancha brahmas and their acts are - Brahma (creation), Vishnu (sustenance), Rudra (destruction), Ishwara (hiding) and Sadashiva (blessing). Lalita Devi’s quality of being abode of five acts is described in sloka
सृष्टिकर्त्री ब्रह्मरूपा गोप्त्री गोविन्दरुपिणी |
संहारिणी रुद्ररूपा तिरोधानकरिश्वरि |
सदाशिवाऽनुग्रहदा पञ्चकृत्य परायणा ||
She is an abode (paraayana) of five acts (pancha krityas). She is the aspect of Brahma while creating i.e. Srishti, aspect of Vishnu (Govindarupini) while sustaining – Goptri, the aspect of Rudra while performing destruction i.e. samhar, aspect of Ishwara (Ishwari) when hiding (tirodhana) and aspect of Sadashiva when offering blessings (anugraha).
Twelfth part i.e. slokas 76 to 80 describe body and soul i.e. kshetra kshetradnya rupa
Thirteenth part i.e. slokas from 81 to 91 describe the deities and their abodes. In nine chakras of Sri Chakra all the gods reside.
Fourteenth part i.e. slokas 98 to 110 describe yogini rahasya i.e. meditating Lalita Devi in seven chakras in seven forms. As Dakini in vishuddhi chakra, as Rakini in Anahat chakra, as Lakini in Manipur chakra, as Kakini is Swadhishthan chakra, as Sakini in Muladhara chakra, as Hakini is Agnya chakra and as Yakini in Sahasrar chakra.
Fifteenth part i.e. slokas 111 to 180 describe supreme powers of Lalita Devi. इच्छाशक्ति ज्ञानशक्ती क्रियाशक्ती स्वरूपिणी. Her three primary powers are power of desire, power of knowledge and power of action or to put it in other way, she is the power of desire, power of knowledge and power of action
Sixteenth part i.e. slokas 180 to 182.½ are concluding slokas that describe united form of Shiva and Shakti.
It is a belief that, reading or meditating on the meaning of sahasranaam will fulfill all the wishes of the devotees.
It’s a feeble attempt by us to narrate and explain that which is beyond our reach. Hence we pray to her to give strength and knowledge and benefits to all those who recite, read or hear Her Sahasranaam.
Second part i.e. stotra consisting of 1000 names is further divided into sixteen parts.
First part i.e. first three slokas - श्रीमाता, श्रीमहाराज्ञी, श्रीमत्सिंहासनेश्वरी - describe how mother is incarnated - Srimata (denotes creator), Sri Maharagnyi (denotes great ruler) and Srimat Simhasaneshwari (denotes destroyer, or more aptly, keeping balance between birth and death of jivas).
Second part i.e. slokas 4 to 21 describe the beauty of Lalita Devi from head to foot. People who are spiritually advanced can understand esoteric meanings of these descriptions.
Third part i.e. slokas 23 to 24 describe Sri Nagaram i.e. abode of Lalita Devi. Sri Nagaram consists of 25 forts and inside Sri Nagaram there is Chintamani Gruha where Lalita Devi resides.
Fourth part i.e. slokas 25 to 34 describe Lalita Devi’s war against demon Bhandasura. When Manmatha threw an arrow of love on Lord Shiva, Lord Shiva glanced with anger on Manmatha through his third eye which burnt Manmatha. However, due to Manmatha’s death the creation stopped. Ratidevi, wife of Manmatha, prayed to Mother Parvati and after Parvati’s intervention Lord Shiva revived Manmatha. However when Manmatha was originally burnt, from his ashes arose a demon named Bhandasur. Gods invoked Lalita Devi who arose from the fire pit (chidagnikunda) and helped gods in annihilating Bhandasura. She used mahapashupastra as well as kameshwarastra for killing Bhandasura.
Fifth part i.e. slokas 35 to 36 describe her subtle form divided into three kutas - vagbhava kuta (her face), madhya kuta (her body from throat till waist) and shakti kuta (her body beneath waist).
Sixth path i.e. slokas 37 to 40 describe secrets of kundalini yoga.
Seventh part i.e. slokas 41 to 43 describes Lalita Devi’s grace towards her devotees.
Eighth part i.e. slokas 43 to 45 describe her nirguna upasana i.e. meditating her in formless stage without any attributes.
Ninth part i.e. slokas 45 to 46 describe benefits obtained by seeker when they travel through formless stage
Tenth part i.e. slokas 46 to 51 describe benefits of nirguna upasana i.e. worship her formless and slokas 51 to 60 describe her saguna upasana i.e. worshiping her form
Eleventh part i.e. slokas 61 to 75 describe divine manifestation of Lalita Devi as an abode of five divine acts - pancha kritya, each act devoted to each of pancha brahma. Pancha brahmas gain their power of action (life) through Lalita Devi. Devoid of life they are pancha-pretas i.e. lifeless. Pancha brahmas and their acts are - Brahma (creation), Vishnu (sustenance), Rudra (destruction), Ishwara (hiding) and Sadashiva (blessing). Lalita Devi’s quality of being abode of five acts is described in sloka
सृष्टिकर्त्री ब्रह्मरूपा गोप्त्री गोविन्दरुपिणी |
संहारिणी रुद्ररूपा तिरोधानकरिश्वरि |
सदाशिवाऽनुग्रहदा पञ्चकृत्य परायणा ||
She is an abode (paraayana) of five acts (pancha krityas). She is the aspect of Brahma while creating i.e. Srishti, aspect of Vishnu (Govindarupini) while sustaining – Goptri, the aspect of Rudra while performing destruction i.e. samhar, aspect of Ishwara (Ishwari) when hiding (tirodhana) and aspect of Sadashiva when offering blessings (anugraha).
Twelfth part i.e. slokas 76 to 80 describe body and soul i.e. kshetra kshetradnya rupa
Thirteenth part i.e. slokas from 81 to 91 describe the deities and their abodes. In nine chakras of Sri Chakra all the gods reside.
Fourteenth part i.e. slokas 98 to 110 describe yogini rahasya i.e. meditating Lalita Devi in seven chakras in seven forms. As Dakini in vishuddhi chakra, as Rakini in Anahat chakra, as Lakini in Manipur chakra, as Kakini is Swadhishthan chakra, as Sakini in Muladhara chakra, as Hakini is Agnya chakra and as Yakini in Sahasrar chakra.
Fifteenth part i.e. slokas 111 to 180 describe supreme powers of Lalita Devi. इच्छाशक्ति ज्ञानशक्ती क्रियाशक्ती स्वरूपिणी. Her three primary powers are power of desire, power of knowledge and power of action or to put it in other way, she is the power of desire, power of knowledge and power of action
Sixteenth part i.e. slokas 180 to 182.½ are concluding slokas that describe united form of Shiva and Shakti.
It is a belief that, reading or meditating on the meaning of sahasranaam will fulfill all the wishes of the devotees.
It’s a feeble attempt by us to narrate and explain that which is beyond our reach. Hence we pray to her to give strength and knowledge and benefits to all those who recite, read or hear Her Sahasranaam.
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