Lalita Trishati

Book excerpt: Shri Lalita Trishati, like Lalita Sahasranama is discussed in Lalitopakhyana of Brahmandapurana, which is in the form of conversation between Shri Hayagriva (an incarnation of Vishnu and is considered as the presiding God for knowledge) and sage Agastya, who is a great worshiper of Parashakti through his own Panchadashi mantra which is different from the regular Panchadashi mantra (composed by Manmatha, who is also known as Cupid). Trishata means three hundred. Shri Lalita Trishati consists of three hundred namas, carved out of fifty nine couplet verses. Shri Lalita Devi has four forms viz. gross form, Kamakala form, Kundalini form, and mantra form. All these forms are explained in Lalita Sahasranama such as kamakala rupa (322), kundalini (110), mantra-sara (846), mahamantra (227). She is worshiped in various gross forms such as Kali, Tara, Gayatri (420), Mahalakshmi (210), etc. Kamakala is Her subtler form, where She remains intimately with Shiva. Her kundalini form is the subtlest of all and if She is made to ascend, She rushes to the top of the head, sahasrara, where She spends intimate moments with Her Lord Shiva. Worshiping Her mantra form is known as Shri Vidya. She represents all letters and words in the form of Shabdabrahman (Lalita Sahasranama 204 sarvamantra-svarupini). Each of Her gross form, such as Kali, Tara, etc as mentioned in Dashamahavidya, is worshipped with different mantras and these worships are known as Tantras. All the three hundred namas have been explained in detail by drawing references from Lalita Sahasranama , Upanishads, Saundaryalahari, Bhagavad Gita, etc. The namas are printed both in English and Sanskrit. Standard IAST format is used throughout this book.