So they approached the great sage Hayagriva—the one with a horse’s head and the mind of a scholar. Hayagriva was an avatar of Lord Vishnu himself, the preserver of knowledge.
As the Devas chanted the Sanskrit lyrics together, something miraculous occurred. With every name, a petal of light unfolded in the cosmos. When they chanted Om Shree Matre Namah (Salutations to the Mother), the universe felt nurtured. When they chanted Om Maha Lakshmyai Namah (Salutations to the great Lakshmi), abundance rained down. When they chanted Om Sarva Mangala Mangalye (She who is the auspiciousness of all auspicious things), every sorrow in the three worlds paused. sri lalitha sahasranamam lyrics sanskrit
But the Devas, led by Indra, were not merely grateful; they were awestruck. They had witnessed the Goddess ride into battle on the Kameshwari chariot, wielding her bow of sugarcane and arrows of flowers. They had heard the thunderous hum of her Panchadasi mantra. Yet, the essence of her glory, they felt, was too vast for ordinary praise. So they approached the great sage Hayagriva—the one
He taught it to the Devas, beginning with the very first lyric: With every name, a petal of light unfolded in the cosmos
("The Holy Mother, the Great Empress, the One who sits on the magnificent lion-throne...")
Hayagriva closed his eyes. In deep meditation, he traveled to the abode of the supreme couple—Kameshwara (Shiva) and Kameshwari (Lalitha). There, seated on a throne of wondrous gems, the Goddess smiled. From her lotus mouth, a stream of Sanskrit syllables began to flow—perfect, resonant, and alive with meaning. Each name was not just a description; it was a mantra , a key to unlock a specific facet of her being.
Thus, the story concludes where it began: with the eternal resonance of the Sanskrit verses. To this day, those who chant the Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam with devotion are not just praising a goddess; they are aligning their consciousness with the cosmic vibration from which the hymn first emerged—from the playful, loving, and all-powerful lips of the Divine Mother herself. For those seeking the authentic sound, here is the beginning of the hymn as revealed in the Brahmanda Purana :