Description

Lalitha is the name of the goddess and means, She who canbeeasily attained or She who is simplicity personified. AdiShankarahas written a bhashyam. He also has contributed toShakteyaliterature by writing a book called Soundarya Lahari.

In the Lalithopakyanam chapter, Hayagreeva teaches Agasthyathefamous Lalitha Sahasranamam. But Agasthya does not getsatisfiedbecause he feels that his teacher has not taught him oneanotherimportant Stotra.

Hayagreeva hesitates because that one stotra is extremelysecret.Then Lalitha herself appears before Hayagreeva and asks himto teachAgasthya, the most secret of the stotras called LalthaTrishati. Shealso tells him that this is the Sarva Poorthikarastotra meaning“that stotra which completes everything.” ThenHayagreeva thanks hisdisciple for giving him an opportunity ofseeing the Goddess Lalithaherself and teaches him The LalithaTrishathi stotra.

This stotra recounts the 300 names of the goddess.

Lalitha Sahasra Namam:

This stotra (hymn which praises) occurs in Brahmanda purana(Oldepic of the universe) in the Chapter on discussionbetweenHayagreeva and Agasthya. Hayagreeva is an incarnation ofVishnuwith the horse head and is believed to be the storehouseofknowledge. Agasthya is one of the great sages of yore who is oneofthe stars of the constellation great bear. At hisrequestHayagreeva taught him the most holy 1000 names of Lalitha.