Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotram

      ॥ dhyānam ॥

The Divine mother is to be meditated upon
as shining in a vermilion-red body,
with three eyes, wearing a crown of rubies
studded with the crescent moon,
a face all smiles, a splendid bust,
one hand holding a jewel-cup brimming with mead,
and the other twirling a red lotus.

I meditate on the great Empress.
She is red in colour, and her eyes are full of compassion,
and holds the noose, the goad, the bow and the flowery arrow in Her hands.
She is surrounded on all sides by powers such as aṇimā etc.
for rays and She is the Self within me.

The Divine Goddess is to be meditated upon
as seated on the lotus with petal eyes.
She is golden hued, and has lotus flowers in Her hand.
She dispels fear of the devotees who bow before Her.
She is the embodiment of peace, knowledge (vidyā),
is praised by gods and grants every kind of wealth wished for.

I meditate on the Mother, whose eyes are smiling,
who holds the arrow, bow, noose and the goad in Her hand.
She is glittering with red garlands and ornaments.
She is painted with Kunkuma on her forehead
and is red and tender like the japa flower.

Lalita Sahasranama stotram

       ॥ atha śrīlalitāsahasranāmastotram ॥

śrīmātā: Salutations to the Divine Mother, who is the Mother of all.
śrīmahārājñī: Great Empress of the whole Universe.
śrīmat-siṁhāsaneśvarī: Great Sovereign, enthroned on the lion’s back.
cidagni-kuṇḍa-sambhūtā: Who came out of the fire of Pure Consciousness.
devakārya-samudyatā: Who promotes the cause of Divine forces.

udyadbhānu-sahasrābhā: Who is radiant as a thousand suns rising together.
caturbāhu-samanvitā: Four-armed Divinity.
rāgasvarūpa-pāśāḍhyā: Who holds in her lower left hand a noose representing the power of love.
krodha-kārāṅkuśojjvalā: Who holding the flashing Ankuśa (goad) of anger in Her lower right hand for restraining the forces of evil.

manorūpekṣu-kodaṇḍā: Who wields in her upper left hand a Sugarcane bow that stands for mind.
pañcatanmātra-sāyakā: Who holds five arrows representing the five Tanmatras (Subtle elements).
nijāruṇa-prabhāpūra-majjadbrahmāṇḍa-maṇḍalā: In the rosy splendour of whose form the whole universe is bathed.

campakāśoka-punnāga-saugandhika-lasat-kacā: Whose shining locks of hair impart their fragrance to flowers like Chamka, Ashoka and Punnaga adorning them.
kuruvindamaṇi-śreṇī-kanatkoṭīra-maṇḍitā: Whose crown is shining with rows of Kuruvinda gems.

aṣṭamīcandra-vibhrāja-dalikasthala-śobhitā: Whose forehead shines, arching like the crescent moon of the eighth lunar digit (Ashtami)
mukhacandra-kalaṅkābha-mṛganābhi-viśeṣakā: The Kastūrī Tilaka adorns her moonlike face, like the spot in the moon.

vadanasmara-māṅgalya-gṛhatoraṇa-cillikā: Whose face, the auspicious home of Karma (Cupid), has eyebrows that resemble archways leading to that abode of beauty.
vaktra-lakṣmī-parīvāha-calanmīnābha-locanā: Whose eyes move like fish in the streams of beauty flowing from Her face.

navacampaka-puṣpābha-nāsādaṇḍa-virājitā: Whose shapely nose is like a freshly blown Champaka bud.
tārākānti-tiraskāri-nāsābharaṇa-bhāsurā: With a nasal ornament set with a jewel that excels the brilliance of the planet Venus.

Kadamba-mañjarī-kḷpta-karṇapūra-manoharā: Who is radiant and charming with a bunch of Kadamba flowers over her ears.
tāṭaṅka-yugalī-bhūta-tapanoḍupa-maṇḍalā: Who has the orbs of the Sun and Moon as Her pair of ear pendants.

padmarāga-śilādarśa-paribhāvi-kapolabhūḥ: Whose cheeks are far fairer than mirrors of ruby (Padmaraga)
navavidruma-bimbaśrī-nyakkāri-radanacchadā: Whose lips outshine the redness of fresh coral and bimba fruit.

śuddha-vidyāṅkurākāra-dvijapaṅkti-dvayojjvalā: Whose beauty is enhanced by her rows of teeth that resemble the sprouting of pure Knowledge (Śuddha Vidyā or Śrī – Vidyā).
karpūra-vīṭikāmoda-samākarṣi-digantarā: The fragrance of the campho limbedded betel roll in whose mouth is spreading in all directions.

nija-sallāpa-mādhurya-vinirbhartsita-kacchapī: Whose speech is more melodious than the Veena of Sarasvati known as Kachhapi.
mandasmita-prabhāpūra-majjatkāmeśa-mānasā: The radiance of whose smile inundates the mind of Kamesvara, Her consort.

anākalita-sādṛśya- cubukaśrī-virājitā: Her chin is peerless in beauty.
kāmeśa-baddha-māṅgalya-sūtra-śobhita-kandharā: Whose neck is adorned with the Maṅgala sūtra fastened thereon by Her consort Kāmeśvara.

kanakāṅgada-keyūra-kamanīya-bhujānvitā: Whose beautiful arms are decked with armlets and bracelets of gold.
ratnagraiveya-cintāka-lola-muktā-phalānvitā: Who wears a gem – set necklace having a big pearl as a pendant.

kāmeśvara-premaratna-maṇi-pratipaṇa-stanī: Whose breasts form the price she pays to Her Consort (Maheśvara) in return for the gem of love He bestows on Her.
nābhyālavāla-romāli-latā-phala-kucadvayī: Whose breasts look like fruits on the creeper of the hair – line spreading upwards from the navel.

lakṣyaroma-latādhāratā-samunneya-madhyamā: Who has a waist so slender that it can only be inferred as a base for the creeper of fine hair springing from her navel upwards.
stanabhāra-dalanmadhya-paṭṭabandha-valitrayā: Whose waist, breaking under the weight of the breasts, gets three lines like a supporting belt.

aruṇāruṇa-kausumbha-vastra-bhāsvat-kaṭītaṭī: Who wears a garment of deep red round Her hip.
ratna-kiṅkiṇikā-ramya-raśanā-dāma-bhūṣitā: Who is adorned with a girdle having many mini bells set with precious stones.

kāmeśa-jñāta-saubhāgya-mārdavoru-dvayānvitā: The beauty and smoothness of whose thighs is known only to her consort, the Conqueror of love (Kamesha)
māṇikya-mukuṭākāra-jānudvaya-virājitā: Whose two knees are like crowns shaped from the precious stone Manikya.

indragopa-parikṣipta-smaratūṇābha-jaṅghikā: Whose calf – muscles resemble the quiver of the god of love with bright glow–worm like decorations.
gūḍhagulphā: Whose ankled are well filled and therefore without protrusion.
kūrmapṛṣṭha-jayiṣṇu-prapadānvitā: The arch of whose feet rival the shapeliness and beauty of the back of a tortoise.

nakha-dīdhiti-saṁchanna-namajjana-tamoguṇā: The illumining splendor of whose tow nails dispel the darkness of ignorance in the votaries prostrating at Her feet.
padadvaya-prabhājāla-parākṛta-saroruhā: Whose feet defeat the lotus in beauty.

siñjāna-maṇimañjīra-maṇḍita-śrī-padāmbujā: Whose lotus – feet are adorned with tinkling anklets set with jewels.
marālī-mandagamanā: Whose gait is slow and gentle like that of a swan.
mahālāvaṇya-śevadhiḥ: Who is a treasure house of Divine beauty.

sarvāruṇā: Who is rose – hued all over.
anavadyāṅgī: Who is faultless in every limb.
sarvābharaṇa-bhūṣitā: Who is adorned with divine ornaments.
śiva-kāmeśvarāṅkasthā: Who is seated on the lap of Shiva, the conqueror of desire (Kamesvara).
śivā: The Consort of Shiva, whose Power She is.
svādhīna-vallabhā: Who dominates over Her Consort Siva in the creative part of the cyclic motion of time.

śumeru-madhya-śṛṅgasthā: Who dwells on the mid most peak of Mount Meru.
śrīmannagara-nāyikā: Who is the Bindu, the central circle of bliss in the Shri-chakra.
cintāmaṇi-gṛhāntasthā: Whose abode is Manidvipa the Island of Wish-yielding Gem.
pañca-brahmāsana-sthitā: Who rests on a seat formed of the five Divinities (Brahmans), Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Īśāna and Sadāśiva.

mahāpadmāṭavī-saṁsthā: Who dwells in a lotus forest, the thousand–petalled lotus of the Sahasra.
kadambavana-vāsinī: Who resides amidst a grove of Kadamba trees (which fringe the Maṇidvīpa)
sudhāsāgara-madhyasthā: Who dwells in the centre of the sea of Nectar (which is the light of the Blissful Moon of the pericarp of the Sahasrāra)
Kāmākṣī: The look of whose eyes is full of graceful
Kāmadāyinī: Who grants all the prayers of votaries.

devarṣi-gaṇa-saṁghāta-stūyamānātma-vaibhavā: Whose majesty is the subject of praise of hosts of sages and divine beings.
bhaṇḍāsura-vadhodyukta-śaktisenā-samanvitā: Whose command an army of Śaktis are intent on destroying Bhaṇḍāsura (the Āsura being Ignorance, Lalitāmbikā, the Atman, and the Śaktis, the potencies of the Ātman.)

sampatkarī-samārūḍha-sindhura-vraja-sevitā: Who is accompanied by a regiment of elephants, headed by Sampatkarī.
aśvārūḍhādhiṣṭhitāśva-koṭi-koṭi-bhirāvṛtā: Who is surrounded by a cavalry of several crores of horses under the command of Ashvarudha.

cakrarāja-rathārūḍha-sarvāyudha-pariṣkṛtā: Seated in Her chariot Chakra raja equipped with armaments of every kind.
geyacakra-rathārūḍha-mantriṇī-parisevitā: Who is attended by Her minister (Syamala) seated in Her chariot named Geya – chakra.

kiricakra-rathārūḍha-daṇḍanāthā-puraskṛtā: Who is preceded by Daṇḍa-nātha, the commander of Her armies in his chariot Kiri-chakra.
jvālā-mālinikākṣipta-vahniprākāra-madhyagā: Who has taken position in the centre of the rampart of fire constructed by Jvālāmālinikā.

bhaṇḍasainya-vadhodyukta-śakti-vikrama-harṣitā: Who rejoices at the valour of Her Saktis bent on destroying the army of Bhanda.
nityā-parākramāṭopa-nirīkṣaṇa-samutsukā: Who is delighted on seeing the aggressiveness of Her Nitya deities in their attack on the army of Bhanda.

bhaṇḍaputra-vadhodyukta-bālā-vikrama-nanditā: Who is overjoyed to see Her daughter Bala who is intent on slaying the son of Bhanda.
mantriṇyambā-viracita-viṣaṅga-vadha-toṣitā: Who feels satisfaction at the destruction of Viṣaṅga by Her chief minister Syamala.

viśukra-prāṇaharaṇa-vārāhī-vīrya-nanditā: Who appreciates the prowess displayed by Vārāhī in the destruction of Viśukra.
kāmeśvara-mukhāloka-kalpita-śrīgaṇeśvarā: Who by a mere glance at her Consort Maheśvara generates Śrī Gaṇeśa (the elephant headed deity).

mahāgaṇeśa-nirbhinna-vighnayantra-praharṣitā: Who rejoices when that Gaṇeśa destroys the magical devices placed by Bhaṇḍāsura as obstacles to Her victory.
bhaṇḍāsurendra-nirmukta-śastra-pratyastra-varṣiṇī: Who counters by Her own missiles the rain of missiles directed against Her by Bhaṇḍāsura.

karāṅguli-nakhotpanna-nārāyaṇa-daśākṛtiḥ: Who out of Her finger nails recreated all the ten Incarnations of Vishnu to destroy the Asuras slain by Him in His incarnations and now recreated magically by Bhanda out of a missile of his.
mahā-pāśupatāstrāgni-nirdagdhāsura-sainikā: Who burned to death the armies of demons with the fire of the great missile pashupata.

kāmeśvarāstra-nirdagdha-sabhaṇḍāsura-śūnyakā: Who with the flames of the missile > Kāmeśvara caused the destruction of bandha and also of his Capital Śūnyakā.
brahmopendra-mahendrādi-deva-saṁstuta-vaibhavā: Whose manifold powers (displayed in the fight with Bhanda) are praised by Brahma, Vishnu and Indra.

hara-netrāgni-saṁdagdha-kāma-sañjīvanauṣadhiḥ: The life giving herb, that revived the god of love (kama – deva) who had been burnt to death by the fire of Shiva’s eyes.
śrīmadvāgbhava-kūṭaika-svarūpa-mukha-paṅkajā: Whose lotus face represents the Vāgbhava – Kūṭa of the pañcha dāśakṣari – mantra which is subtle form of the Devi.

kaṇṭhādhaḥ-kaṭi-paryanta-madhyakūṭa-svarūpiṇī: Whose middle region from the neck to the waist is represented by the central part (Kāmarāja – Kuta) of the same Mantra.
śakti-kūṭaikatāpanna-kaṭyadhobhāga-dhāriṇī: Whose form below waist is identical with the last part (Śaktī – Kūṭa) of Pañcha – dashakshari Mantra.

mūla-mantrātmikā: Who is the original Mantra (Mūla-mantra, here Pañcha – dashakshari) itself.
mūla-kūṭa-traya-kalebarā: Whose body is identical with Pañcha – Dashakshari Mantra with all its Kūṭas or combination of letters.
kulāmṛtaika-rasikā: Who (as the Kundalini) revels in the nectar flowing from the Sahasrāra through the whole of the Kula path (i.e. the Suṣumnā).
kulasaṁketa-pālinī: Who guards the esoteric doctrine of the Kaulas.

Kulāṅganā: Who is the Female Element (Kundalini) in the Kula Path.
Kulāntasthā: Who is the innermost Reality of the Kula Path.
Kaulinī: Who is called Kaulinī, the core of the Kaula form of worship.
Kulayoginī: Who is the Deity of the Kaulas.
Akulā: Who is also the Akulā (Śiva) who is in the thousand-petalled lotus above the Kula Path.
Samayāntasthā: Who is likewise the centre of the Samaya doctrine (in which the worship is done internally through meditation and which holds Śiva-Śaktī as of equal importance in all respects).
samayācāra-tatparā: Whom the Samaya tradition of worship is dear.

Mūlādhāraika nilayā: Whose chief residence is the Mūlādhāra.
Brahmagranthi vibhedinī: Who in Her ascent from the Mūlādhāra breaks through the Brahma-granthi (the Barrier of Brahma to the subtle dimension).
maṇi-pūrāntaruditā: Who then emerges in the Maṇipura – chakra.
viṣṇu-granthi-vibhedinī: Who then breaks through the Vishnu – granthi (the barrier to still subtler dimensions).

ājñā cakrāntarālasthā: Who next abides in the centre of the Agya – chakra.
rudra-granthi-vibhedinī: Who finally breaks through the Rudra – granthi (the barrier to the subtlest dimension).
sahasrārām-bujārūḍhā: Who then ascends to the Thousand – petalled Lotus known as the Sahasrāra.
sudhā-sārābhivarṣiṇī: Who sends streams of Nectar (spiritual bliss) from the Transcendent moon in the Sahasrāra.

taḍillatā-samaruciḥ: Who shines like a steady flash of lightning.
ṣaṭcakropari-saṁsthitā: Who then establishes herself above the six Chakras.
mahāsaktiḥ: Whose immense joy consists in Aśakti (union with Shiva)
kuṇḍalinī: Who resides in the Mūlādhāra as the Kundalini (the coiled power).
bisatantu-tanīyasī: Who is as fine and firm as the fibre of a lotus stalk.

Part 2 : Śrī Lalitā Sahasranāma Stotra