What are the benefits of reciting Lalita Sahasranama?

Awakening of supreme divine feminine power (Para-Shakti) within; Liberation from the cycle of rebirth (the highest aim of Sri Vidya); Removal of every mental affliction; Wealth, health, longevity, and well-being for the devotee's family; Considered equivalent in spiritual power to the Vishnu Sahasranama; Especially recited on Fridays, on Navaratri, and on the 9th, 14th, and full-moon tithis.

How long does Lalita Sahasranama take to recite?

Approximately 35 minutes at a steady pace.

Lalita Sahasranama

Q: When should I recite Lalita Sahasranama?

Best days: Friday, Tuesday. Best time: morning. Especially recited on: navaratri, durga-puja, lakshmi-puja, durga-ashtami, mahanavami, lalita-jayanti.

ललिता सहस्रनाम

Lalitā Sahasranāma

Deity

durga

Verses

Recitation

~35 min

Best Day

Friday

About this stotra

The Lalita Sahasranama ("the thousand names of Lalita") is one of the supreme texts of the Devi tradition. It appears within the Lalitopākhyāna of the Brahmanda Purana, where the sage Agastya, unable to bear separation from the Devi, is taught these names by Hayagriva (Vishnu in his horse-headed form). The names describe the Goddess Lalita Tripurasundari — the supreme reality as the divine feminine, seated on the Sri Chakra, the source of all that exists.

Each name is itself a meditation. The text is the central scripture of the Śrī Vidyā tantric tradition, and it is also recited daily by lakhs of mainstream Smārta and Vaishnava devotees as a non-tantric devotional hymn. The Sringeri Sharada Peetham, Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham, and the great Devi temples of Madurai (Meenakshi), Kanchipuram (Kamakshi), and Varanasi (Annapurna) recite it daily.

This is a foundational edition presenting the dhyana, the opening invocation, representative shlokas from across the text, and the famous phala-shruti. The complete 1000-name recitation will be added in subsequent expansions, name-by-name.

Benefits of recitation

Awakening of supreme divine feminine power (Para-Shakti) within
Liberation from the cycle of rebirth (the highest aim of Sri Vidya)
Removal of every mental affliction
Wealth, health, longevity, and well-being for the devotee's family
Considered equivalent in spiritual power to the Vishnu Sahasranama
Especially recited on Fridays, on Navaratri, and on the 9th, 14th, and full-moon tithis

Verses

Shloka 1

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

॥ अथ ध्यानम् ॥ सिन्दूरारुणविग्रहां त्रिनयनां माणिक्यमौलिस्फुरत् तारानायकशेखरां स्मितमुखीमापीनवक्षोरुहाम् । पाणिभ्यामलिपूर्णरत्नचषकं रक्तोत्पलं बिभ्रतीं सौम्यां रत्नघटस्थरक्तचरणां ध्यायेत्परामम्बिकाम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

|| atha dhyānam || sindūrāruṇa-vigrahāṃ tri-nayanāṃ māṇikya-mauli-sphurat- tārā-nāyaka-śekharāṃ smita-mukhīm-āpīna-vakṣoruhām pāṇibhyām-ali-pūrṇa-ratna-caṣakaṃ raktotpalaṃ bibhratīṃ saumyāṃ ratna-ghaṭa-stha-rakta-caraṇāṃ dhyāyet parām-ambikām

English meaning

— Dhyana — I meditate on the supreme Mother — her form red as vermillion, three-eyed, her ruby-set crown gleaming, the Moon-Lord on her head, her face smiling, her breasts full, in her two hands a jewelled goblet brimming and a red lotus, gentle, her red feet resting upon a jewelled vessel.

Shloka 2

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अरुणां करुणातरङ्गिताक्षीं धृतपाशाङ्कुशपुष्पबाणचापाम् । अणिमादिभिरावृतां मयूखै- रहमित्येव विभावये भवानीम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

aruṇāṃ karuṇā-taraṅgitākṣīṃ dhṛta-pāśāṅkuśa-puṣpa-bāṇa-cāpām aṇimādibhir-āvṛtāṃ mayūkhair- aham-ity-eva vibhāvaye bhavānīm

English meaning

Of the colour of dawn, her eyes rippling with compassion, holding the noose, the goad, the flower-arrows, and the bow, surrounded by the eight siddhis (aṇima and the rest) as her radiant rays — I contemplate Bhavani as my very self ("I am She").

Shloka 3

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

॥ नामावलिः ॥ श्रीमाता श्रीमहाराज्ञी श्रीमत्सिंहासनेश्वरी । चिदग्निकुण्डसम्भूता देवकार्यसमुद्यता ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

|| nāmāvaliḥ || śrī-mātā śrī-mahā-rājñī śrīmat-siṃhāsaneśvarī cid-agni-kuṇḍa-sambhūtā deva-kārya-samudyatā

English meaning

— The Names — 1. Sri-Mata (the Glorious Mother) 2. Sri Maha-Rajni (the Glorious Empress) 3. Srimat Simhasaneshvari (the Splendid Mistress of the Lion-throne) 4. Chid-agni-kunda-sambhuta (Risen from the fire-pit of Pure Consciousness) 5. Deva-karya-samudyata (Risen up to accomplish the gods' work).

Shloka 4

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

उद्यद्भानुसहस्राभा चतुर्बाहुसमन्विता । रागस्वरूपपाशाढ्या क्रोधाकाराङ्कुशोज्ज्वला ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

udyad-bhānu-sahasrābhā catur-bāhu-samanvitā rāga-svarūpa-pāśāḍhyā krodhākārāṅkuśojjvalā

English meaning

6. Udyad-bhanu-sahasrabha (Splendour of a thousand rising suns) 7. Chatur-bahu-samanvita (Endowed with four arms) 8. Raga-svarupa-pasha-dhya (Holding the noose which is the form of attachment) 9. Krodhakar-ankushojjvala (Brilliant with the goad which is the form of anger).

Shloka 5

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

मनोरूपेक्षुकोदण्डा पञ्चतन्मात्रसायका । निजारुणप्रभापूरमज्जद्ब्रह्माण्डमण्डला ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

mano-rūpekṣu-kodaṇḍā pañca-tan-mātra-sāyakā nijāruṇa-prabhā-pūra-majjad-brahmāṇḍa-maṇḍalā

English meaning

10. Mano-rupekshu-kodanda (Bow of sugarcane that is the mind) 11. Pancha-tan-matra-sayaka (Five arrows of the five subtle elements) 12. Nijaruna-prabha-pura-majjad-brahmanda-mandala (Whose red radiance bathes all the cosmic spheres).

Shloka 6

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

चम्पकाशोकपुन्नागसौगन्धिकलसत्कचा । कुरुविन्दमणिश्रेणीकनत्कोटीरमण्डिता ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

campakāśoka-punnāga-saugandhika-lasat-kacā kuruvinda-maṇi-śreṇī-kanat-koṭīra-maṇḍitā

English meaning

13. Champakashoka-punnaga-saugandhika-lasat-kacha (Whose hair shines with champaka, ashoka, punnaga, and saugandhika flowers) 14. Kuruvinda-mani-shreni-kanat-kotira-mandita (Adorned with a crown gleaming with rows of ruby-gems).

Shloka 7

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

अष्टमीचन्द्रविभ्राजदलिकस्थलशोभिता । मुखचन्द्रकलङ्काभमृगनाभिविशेषका ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

aṣṭamī-candra-vibhrāja-dalika-sthala-śobhitā mukha-candra-kalaṅkābha-mṛga-nābhi-viśeṣakā

English meaning

15. Ashtami-chandra-vibhrajad-alikastala-shobhita (Whose forehead shines like the eighth-day moon) 16. Mukha-chandra-kalankabha-mrga-nabhi-visheshaka (With a tilaka-mark of musk on her moon-face, like the moon's spot).

Shloka 8

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

॥ — मध्यभागात् —॥ पुण्यकीर्तिः पुण्यलभ्या पुण्यश्रवणकीर्तना । पुलोमजार्चिता बन्धमोचनी बर्बरालका ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

|| — madhyabhāgāt — || puṇya-kīrtiḥ puṇya-labhyā puṇya-śravaṇa-kīrtanā pulomajārcitā bandha-mocanī barbarālakā

English meaning

— From the central section — "Of holy renown — attainable through merit — whose hearing and chanting bestow merit — worshipped by Indrani (daughter of Puloma) — releaser from bondage — of curling locks."

Shloka 9

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

विमर्शरूपिणी विद्या वियदादिजगत्प्रसूः । सर्वव्याधिप्रशमनी सर्वमृत्युनिवारिणी ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

vimarśa-rūpiṇī vidyā viyad-ādi-jagat-prasūḥ sarva-vyādhi-praśamanī sarva-mṛtyu-nivāriṇī

English meaning

"Of the form of supreme self-awareness (vimarsha) — Wisdom itself — the source of the world from space onward — pacifier of every disease — averter of every form of death."

Shloka 10

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

महामाया महासत्त्वा महाशक्तिर्महारतिः । महाभोगा महैश्वर्या महावीर्या महाबला ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

mahā-māyā mahā-sattvā mahā-śaktir mahā-ratiḥ mahā-bhogā mahaiśvaryā mahā-vīryā mahā-balā

English meaning

"The Great Maya, the Great Sattva, the Great Power, the Great Joy, the Great Enjoyment, the Great Sovereignty, the Great Valour, the Great Strength."

Shloka 11

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सर्वमन्त्रस्वरूपिणी सर्वयन्त्रात्मिका तथा । सर्वतन्त्ररूपा मनोन्मनी माहेश्वरी ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sarva-mantra-svarūpiṇī sarva-yantrātmikā tathā sarva-tantra-rūpā manon-manī māheśvarī

English meaning

"The very form of every mantra, the very soul of every yantra, the form of every tantra, the consciousness-beyond-mind, Maheshvari."

Shloka 12

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

शिवा शिवशक्त्यैक्यरूपिणी ललिताम्बिका । एवं श्रीललितादेव्या नाम्नां साहस्रकं जगुः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

śivā śiva-śaktyaikya-rūpiṇī lalitāmbikā evaṃ śrī-lalitā-devyā nāmnāṃ sāhasrakaṃ jaguḥ

English meaning

"Shiva (the auspicious one), of the form of the unity of Shiva and Shakti — Mother Lalita." Thus they recited the thousand names of the divine Lalita.

Shloka 13

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

॥ फलश्रुति ॥ इत्येतन्नामसाहस्रं कथितं ते घटोद्भव । रहस्यानां रहस्यं च ललितां प्रीणयाति च ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

|| phala-śruti || ity-etan-nāma-sāhasraṃ kathitaṃ te ghaṭodbhava rahasyānāṃ rahasyaṃ ca lalitāṃ prīṇayāti ca

English meaning

— The Fruits of Recitation — Thus, O Pot-born sage (Agastya), have I recited to you these thousand names — the secret of secrets, which delights Lalita.

Shloka 14

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

भक्ताय शीलसम्पन्नायाधिकारिणे । शिष्याय भक्तियुक्ताय वक्तव्यं भूसुरेण च ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

bhaktāya śīla-sampannāyādhikāriṇe śiṣyāya bhakti-yuktāya vaktavyaṃ bhū-sureṇa ca

English meaning

It is to be taught only to a devotee endowed with virtue, eligible for it, a disciple full of devotion — and only by a brahmin.

Shloka 15

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

आयुरारोग्यमैश्वर्यं पुत्रपौत्रादिसम्पदः । भुक्तिं मुक्तिं च लभते पठनादस्य नित्यशः ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

āyur-ārogyam-aiśvaryaṃ putra-pautrādi-sampadaḥ bhuktiṃ muktiṃ ca labhate paṭhanād asya nityaśaḥ

English meaning

Long life, health, sovereignty, the wealth of children and grandchildren — and both worldly enjoyment and final liberation — one obtains by daily recitation of this hymn.

Shloka 16

Sanskrit (Devanagari)

सर्वार्थसाधनं चैव सर्वरोगनिवारणम् । विद्यावृद्धिकरं चैव दुःस्वप्नाशुभनाशनम् ॥

Transliteration (IAST)

sarvārtha-sādhanaṃ caiva sarva-roga-nivāraṇam vidyā-vṛddhi-karaṃ caiva duḥsvapnāśubha-nāśanam

English meaning

Accomplisher of every desired aim, averter of every disease, increaser of learning, destroyer of bad dreams and inauspiciousness.

Sources verified against

Brahmanda Purana — Lalitopākhyāna
Adi Shankaracharya — Saundarya-laharī (related Sri Vidya tradition)
Bhāskararāya — Saubhāgya-bhāskara commentary
Sringeri Sharada Peetham edition

Frequently asked questions

When should I recite Lalita Sahasranama?

Best days: Friday, Tuesday. Best time: morning.

What language is this stotra in?

The original is in Sanskrit (or Awadhi for the Hanuman Chalisa). We provide it in Devanagari script, IAST transliteration for pronunciation, and English meaning for understanding.

How accurate is the text?

Each stotra is cross-validated against multiple published authoritative sources, listed on this page under "Sources verified against". If you spot any discrepancy from your tradition, please let us know.

How long does it take to recite?

Approximately 35 minutes at a steady, devotional pace.

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All Stotras Festival: Navaratri Festival: Durga Puja Festival: Lakshmi Puja Festival: Durga Ashtami Festival: Mahanavami Festival: Lalita Jayanti All Festivals Today's Panchanga