Lalita Sahasranama Archana:
Calling Out to The Divine Mother

A few years ago the Lalita Sahasranama (1,000 Names of the Divine Mother) was not being chanted by the devout. Many believed if the Sahasranama was not chanted properly, it would result in the Goddess being angry and great harm would befall them. Amma reassured Her devotees that it is not necessary to call one's own mother according to musical principles.

The mother doesn't mind if the child's cry is not in the proper musical pitch or tone; what She is listening to is the intensity of the feeling, in Her child's heart, resonating in the cry. Apart from saying this, Amma has made sure that Her children are thoroughly exposed to the benefits of chanting the Lalita Sahasranama. At all the Brahmasthanam festivals, thousands of devotees chant the 1,000 names five times a day.

As a result we can see thousands of Amma's children from various countries chanting the Lalita Sahasranama daily.

In Amritapuri, there is dawn-to-dusk chanting of the Lalita Sahasranama. This practice is followed in many of the ashram branches. Apart from this all the monastic members and other inmates of Amritapuri chant the Lalita Sahasranama at least once a day as part of their personal sadhana (spiritual practice). Amma also encourages Her householder devotees to chant the Sahasranama daily.

Amma says the following about the importance of worshipping the Divine Mother and Lalita Sahasranama archana at the present time: "In the present age, the instincts of the heart and the motherly instinct have been lost. Motherhood is the symbol of love, compassion and forbearance.

Feminine qualities like compassion and love should become stronger in men and masculine qualities like steadiness and courage should grow in women. Devi will always protect those who chant the Lalita Sahasranama with devotion every day.

They will never face a shortage of food and basic necessities, and will also gain spiritual growth." Amma also says, "In olden days, a Lalita Sahasranama book would also be given while getting initiated into Krishna's mantra. Do you know why? So that the initiate should not be in want of food and clothing. Devi will look after that. Motherhood is predominant in God as the Divine Mother.

"Children will have a natural attraction to their mother and a mother will be naturally loving and compassionate towards her children and will look after their needs. This is the case with the Divine Mother also. To get your bread, Devi should be satisfied. That is why She is known as "Bhukti-Mukti-Pradayani" or the One who bestows both material happiness and Liberation."

Mantras

Archana

Lalita

Initiation

Manasa Puja

Seeing Within

Mass Puja