As we explored in The Origin of Lalitha Sahasranamam, the Goddesses of Speech composed this beautiful hymn at the direct command of the Divine Mother. Now, let’s take a journey to see exactly where and how it was chanted for the very first time.

After the composition was complete, Goddess Lalitha ordered it to be recited before a grand assembly. This spectacular event took place in the glowing Chintamani Hall of Mani Dweepam (the divine realm of the Sri Chakra).

The Grand Assembly

The Divine Mother sat gracefully on her majestic lion-throne, known as the Panchabrahmasana. To worship her, divine beings gathered from millions of universes (brahmandas).

The gathering was beyond human imagination: there were crores of Brahmas with their Brahmanis (Saraswatis), crores of Narayanas with their Lakshmis, and crores of Rudras with their Gauris. The mighty Shaktis, including Mantrini (Shyamala devi) and Dandini (Varahi devi), were present in innumerable numbers, alongside a vast multitude of Devas, Siddhas, and humans. Devi Lalita graciously allowed everyone assembled to have her divine darshan.

The First Recitation

Vasini and the other Vagdevis rose from their seats with folded hands and immense devotion, began to recite the thousand names they had just woven together.

As the magnificent hymn filled the hall, the Great Empress, Lalitha Tripura Sundari, was overjoyed. The entire assembly sat in sheer amazement, completely captivated by the profound wisdom and power embedded in the verses.

Then, Goddess Lalitha addressed the assembly of Gods and made a powerful declaration:

“The Goddesses of Speech composed this incomparable hymn at my command. Declare these thousand names to my devotees. If a devotee recites these thousand names of mine even once, they should be known as most dear to me, and I shall grant them all that they desire.”

A Mother’s Accessible Grace

What makes this stotram even more beautiful is that the Divine Mother made her grace accessible to everyone.

She explained that a devotee doesn’t need to be an initiated Upasaka (practitioner) of the Sri Chakra or Sri Vidya. She promised: “Whether he worships me in the Sri Chakra or not, whether he performs the Japa of Panchadasi or not, if he only always recites these thousand names to please me, without a doubt, he will obtain all his desires by my grace.”

From that exact moment, following her divine command, the supreme deities: Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwara, along with powerful Shaktis like Mantrini and others, have continuously recited these thousand names with deep devotion. Because of this, we too should chant this sacred stotram to easily invite the compassionate grace of Lalitha Devi into our lives.

The True Meaning of Rahasya

Unlike many other ancient stotrams composed by great Rishis, this one is entirely unique. It was composed by the Goddesses of Speech under the direct instruction of the Goddess herself, making it extraordinarily powerful and a true Rahasya.

As we learned previously, Rahasya doesn’t simply mean “secret” in the sense of being hidden away. It means that these thousand names are a master key. Hidden within their syllables is the entire knowledge of the Shastras, the Sri Vidya mantras, and the profound secrets of the Sri Chakra. It holds the ultimate truths of the Vedas and Upanishads.

By learning, understanding, and chanting these thousand names, we are given a direct and beautiful path to experience the limitless grace of Goddess Lalitha.