The Importance of Lalita Sahasranama
Amma has chosen Lalita Sahasranama archana (and chanting)
as a daily practice for relief from the perils in life and
for spiritual progress, as She is fully aware of the unparalleled
greatness of this hymn, which is full of the power of mantras
and is capable of fulfilling all desires. Among the many hymns,
mantras and devotional songs available, this Sahasranama is
specially suitable for worship in the morning and produces
quick results. While Sahasranamas giving material well-being
and salvation are prescribed for all castes and in all stages
of life, Lalita Sahasranama is especially suitable for householders.
The aim of the Vedas and other scriptural texts
is to inspire the love of God and dispassion in human beings
and to raise them step by step to the realisation of the Self.
The object of the phalashruti -- the description of the benefits
accruing from a certain form of worship -- is to strengthen
the sense of devotion in people and to make them qualified
for higher forms of sadhana, by pointing out the way to remove
the hardships of life and to gain prosperity. The main items
in the phalashruti on Lalita Sahasranama given in the Brahmanda
Purana are summarised below.
1. This Sahasranama, which is most secret, is most pleasing
to Lalita Parameshvari. There is nothing to equal this in
the Vedas or Tantras.
2. The daily chanting of this hymn gives the same merit as
that obtained from bathing in holy rivers and giving gifts
of wealth, food, land and cows.
3. Barren women get the gift of children by taking ghee that
has been made potent by chanting Lalita Sahasranama.
4. By daily chanting of the Sahasranama, the effects of evil
spells are removed.
5. All the faults arising from not completing puja rituals
or from not observing various rites on time are removed by
the chanting of this hymn. This hymn may be chanted instead
6. If this hymn is chanted while picturing Lalita Devi as
residing in the ocean of nectar, one obtains relief from the
effects of poison.
7. Relief from afflictions due to the influence of planets
or evil spirits can be removed by chanting the Sahasranama
while holding some water and then pouring that water over
8. Chanting this prevents untimely death and grants long life
and good health. Relief from fever is obtained if this hymn
is chanted with a hand held on the head of the one who is
suffering. The person who is suffering can do this himself.
Depending on the severity of the disease, it may be necessary
to chant the hymn several times. The holy ash used for Sahasranama
archana brings immediate relief from all diseases.
9. Devi protects those who chant this hymn daily from dangers
and from attacks by enemies. Victory in battle is gained through
10. Daily chanting of the Sahasranama augments prosperity,
eloquence and fame. Chanting on Fridays is especially good
11. The Sahasranama may be chanted by those who are in any
of the four stages of life (brahmacharya, grihastha, vanaprastha
and sannyasa). Chanting it while wishing fame brings fame
and wishing wealth brings wealth. Chanting this hymn with
love and without any desire brings the knowledge of Brahman.
12. One name of Shiva is equal to a thousand names of Vishnu.
One name of Devi is equal to a thousand names of Shiva. Of
a thousand Sahasranamas dedicated to Devi, Lalita Sahasranama
is the most exalted.
13. By holding yagnas of Lalita Sahasranama (worship in large
groups), the consolidation of dharma becomes possible in the
Kali Yuga. Chanting this hymn is most beneficial for individuals
also, for eliminating the ill effects of Kali Yuga. There
is no barrier of country, caste or religion in this regard.
14. It is difficult to please Devi without the chanting of
Lalita Sahasranama. Through this hymn, the sins accrued in
many births are removed.
15. There are many Sahasranamas dedicated to Devi. The following
10 are the chief among these: Gangastava, Bhavanistava, Gayatristava,
Kalistava, Lakshmistava, Sarasvatistava, Rajarajeshvaristava,
Balastava, Syamalastava and Lalitastava. Of these, the most
exalted is the last one, Lalita Sahasranama.