There are numerous Sahasranamas. Devi herself has over ten, including Gayatri, Gauri, Ganga, Lakshmi, and others. The well-known Sahasranama praising Mahavishnu is called Vishnu Sahasranama. There are also Sahasranamas dedicated to Krishna, Shiva, and Ganesha. Traditionally, 1008 mantras are chanted. In the past, the Sahasra Gayatri Upasana was practiced during evening prayers, where the Gayatri Mantra was recited 1008 times. If time was limited, it was chanted at least 108 times, or sometimes nine or eighteen times. The chanting always followed multiples of nine, such as 9, 18, 36, 72, or 108. Why is this? Sahasra doesn’t always mean exactly 1000. In the Narayaneeya Shathakams (a hundred poems), there are a hundred Dashakams (sets of ten poems), sometimes a few more. Thus, Sahasra represents the infinite—what cannot be counted precisely.
sahasraśīrṣā-puruṣaḥ-sahasrākṣaḥ-sahasrapāt
sa-bhūmiṃ-viśvato-vṛtvātyatiṣṭhaddaśāṅgulam
[The Purusha (Universal Being) has Thousand Heads, Thousand Eyes and Thousand Feet (Thousand signifies innumerable which points to the omnipresence of the Universal Being), He envelops the World from all sides (i.e. He pervades each part of the Creation), and extends beyond in the Ten Directions ( represented by Ten Fingers )]
(Purusha Suktham – 01)
In the Purusha Suktha, the Purusha (the cosmic being) is extolled as having a thousand, or an infinite number of heads, eyes, and legs, symbolizing His vast, all-encompassing presence. Similarly, in the Lalitha Sahasranama, Devi is praised as…
sahasrākṣī
[She who has a thousand eyes]
(Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – 283)
sahasrapāt
[She who has a thousand feet]
(Sri Lalitha Sahasranama – 284)
…as the one with a thousand eyes. Here, the word Sahasra signifies that all the eyes in the world belong to Devi, and she holds dominion over every leg in existence. Her cosmic play is eternal and boundless, with infinite forms and auspicious glory. This is the essence of Sahasra. Additionally, the number nine symbolizes the word “br̥hat” in Sanskrit, meaning great, vast, or significant.
nālpe sukhamasti bhūmaiva sukhaṃ
[There is no happiness in the finite. Happiness is only in the infinite.]
(Chandogya Upanishad 7.23.1)
In the Upanishads, it is written that all sensual pleasures are fleeting. They are of little worth and short-lived, offering only temporary satisfaction.
There are six Bhava-Vikaras or modifications of the body.
1. asti – existence
2. jāyatē – birth
3. vartatē – growth
4. vipariṇāmatē – change
5. apakṣiyātē – decay
6. vinaśyati – death
Even our physical bodies are not permanent. They are born, grow, mature, age and ultimately perish. “bhūmaiva sukhaṃ” which means, Happiness is only in the infinite. But there is a lasting happiness that transcends our senses, found in God, the source of eternal bliss. God, who resides within us, is the eternal truth. Knowledge is God’s true nature, as is consciousness and everlasting joy. True happiness lies in union with God. In the Lalitha Sahasranama, Devi is addressed as br̥hati, symbolizing her immensity, enfolding all of existence. She is the absolute, vast and significant. The number nine embodies all these connotations, which form the reasoning behind the Sahasranama.
There is also the Ayut Sahasranama, which contains ten thousand mantras and serves as a Namavali in praise of Lord Shiva. Regardless of where we are—whether in a village or a town, engaged in daily activities, eating, sleeping, or even dreaming—we must constantly remember and remain absorbed in Devi. The length of our spiritual practices can be adjusted according to the time available and the intensity of our spiritual quest.
If pressed for time, we can chant the Ashtothara Shathanamavali (108 names). Those with more time may chant the Trishathi (300 names), and those with ample time can chant the Sahasranama, repeating it as many times as they wish. However, the key is to always remain mindful of Devi, Amma, the Goddess of the Universe.
Though Sandhya is traditionally the time for prayer, the impact of our prayers should extend into all our actions. A person’s spiritual growth is best measured by their behavior, as any spiritual practice that doesn’t influence one’s actions is neither sincere nor meaningful. The depth and sincerity of one’s spiritual practices will naturally be reflected in their faces, words, and deeds.
There is no strict time limit for chanting the Sahasranama, as the infinite glory of Devi cannot be confined to words. Chant it with mindfulness, and it will greatly transform our lives. As we continue to hear the mantras about the slaying of the demon Bhandasura, we shall learn more in the coming episodes.
To be continued….
#Lalita #LalithaSahasranamam
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