Listen and chant along
Play the audio or the video and follow the stotra text below.
Sri Lalitha Ashtottara Shatanamavali
1. Om Shivaayai Namah
2. Om Bhavaanyai Namah
3. Om Kalyaanyai Namah
4. Om Gauryai Namah
5. Om Shreekaalyai Namah
6. Om Shiva Priyaayai Namah
7. Om Kaatyaayanyai Namah
8. Om Mahaadevyai Namah
9. Om Durgaayai Namah
10. Om Aaryaayai Namah
11. Om Chandikaayai Namah
12. Om Bhavaayai Namah
13. Om Chandrachoodaayai Namah
14. Om Chandramukhyai Namah
15. Om Chandramandalavaasinyai Namah
16. Om Chandrahaasakaraayai Namah
17. Om Chandrahaasinyai Namah
18. Om Chandrakotibhaasaayai Namah
19. Om Chidroopaayai Namah
20. Om Chitkalaayai Namah
21. Om Nityaayai Namah
22. Om Nirmalaayai Namah
23. Om Nishkalaayai Namah
24. Om Kalaayai Namah
25. Om Bhavyaayai Namah
26. Om Bhavapriyaayai Namah
27. Om Bhavyaroopinyai Namah
28. Om Kalabhaashinyai Namah
29. Om Kavipriyaayai Namah
30. Om Kaamakalaayai Namah
31. Om Kaamadaayinyai Namah
32. Om Kaamaroopinyai Namah
33. Om Kaarunyasaagaraayai Namah
34. Om Kaalyai Namah
35. Om Samsaaraarnavataarikaayai Namah
36. Om Doorvaabhaayai Namah
37. Om Dushtabhayadaayai Namah
38. Om Durjayaayai Namah
39. Om Duritaapahaarinyai Namah
40. Om Lalitaayai Namah
41. Om Raajyadaayinyai Namah
42. Om Siddhaayai Namah
43. Om Siddheshyai Namah
44. Om Siddhidaayinyai Namah
45. Om Sharadaatryai Namah
46. Om Shaantyai Namah
47. Om Avyaktaayai Namah
48. Om Shankhakundala Manditaayai Namah
49. Om Shaaradaayai Namah
50. Om Shaankaryai Namah
51. Om Saadhvyai Namah
52. Om Shyaamalaayai Namah
53. Om Komalaakrityai Namah
54. Om Pushpinyai Namah
55. Om Pushpabaanaayai Namah
56. Om Ambaayai Namah
57. Om Kamalaayai Namah
58. Om Kamalaasanaayai Namah
59. Om Panchabaanastutaayai Namah
60. Om Panchavarnaroopaayai Namah
61. Om Sarveshvaryai Namah
62. Om Panchamyai Namah
63. Om Paramaayai Namah
64. Om Lakshmai Namah
65. Om Paavanyai Namah
66. Om Paapahaarinyai Namah
67. Om Sarvajnyaayai Namah
68. Om Vrishabhaaroodhaayai Namah
69. Om Sarvalokaikashankaryai Namah
70. Om Sarvasvatantraayai Namah
71. Om Sarveshyai Namah
72. Om Sarvamangalakaarinyai Namah
73. Om Niravadyaayai Namah
74. Om Neeradaabhaayai Namah
75. Om Nirmalaayai Namah
76. Om Nishchayaatmikaayai Namah
77. Om Nirmadaayai Namah
78. Om Niyataachaaraayai Namah
79. Om Nishkaamaayai Namah
80. Om Nigamaalayaayai Namah
81. Om Anaadibodhaayai Namah
82. Om Brahmaanyai Namah
83. Om Kaumaaryai Namah
84. Om Gururoopinyai Namah
85. Om Vaishnavyai Namah
86. Om Samayaachaaraayai Namah
87. Om Kaulinyai Namah
88. Om Kuladevataayai Namah
89. Om Saamagaanapriyaayai Namah
90. Om Sarvavedaroopaayai Namah
91. Om Sarasvatyai Namah
92. Om Antaryaaga Priyaanandaayai Namah
93. Om Bahiryaaga Varaarchitaayai Namah
94. Om Veenaagaana Rasaanandaayai Namah
95. Om Ardhaanmeelitalochanaayai Namah
96. Om Divyachandananaagdhaangyai Namah
97. Om Sarvasaamraajya Roopinyai Namah
98. Om Tarangee Kritaapaanga Veekshaarakshita Sajjanaayai Namah
99. Om Sudhaapaanasamudvela Helaa Mohita Dhoorjatyai Namah
100. Om Matangamuni Sampoojyaayai Namah
101. Om Matangakula Bhooshanaayai Namah
102. Om Makutaangada Manjeera Mekhalaadaama Bhooshitaayai Namah
103. Om Oormikaakinkineeratna Kankanaadi Parishkritaayai Namah
104. Om Mallikaa Maalatee Kunda Mandaaraanchita Mastakaayai Namah
105. Om Taamboola Kabalodanchatka Polatala Shobhinyai Namah
106. Om Trimoorti Roopaayai Namah
107. Om Trailokya Sumohana Tanu Prabhaayai Namah
108. Om Shree Machchhakraadhi Nagaree Saamraajya Shree Svaroopinyai Namah
Iti Shree Lalita Ashtottara Shatanaamaavali
Meaning
One hundred and eight names of Lalita Tripurasundari, opening Om Shivaayai Namah, Om Bhavaanyai Namah, Om Kalyaanyai Namah. This is the Lalita Ashtottara, not the Lalita Sahasranama — the two are constantly mistaken for each other. Both name the same goddess; this one is short enough to be used for a Friday archana at home, which is how most people meet it.
Significance
Three names in, the list has said what it is doing. Shiva in the feminine, Bhavani, Kalyani: she is named first by her relation to Shiva and only later as Tripurasundari, Kameshwari, Rajarajeshwari — the goddess of Srividya, worshipped through the Sri Chakra and the fifteen-syllabled mantra. That is the background this text sits against, and it explains why the archana is offered to a yantra as often as to an image. Tradition holds that the full Srividya practice needs initiation from a guru; the ashtottara does not, and that is the point of having it. In Karnataka the Srividya line runs through Shringeri, where Shankara is held to have installed the Sri Chakra before Sharadamba, and through Kollur Mookambika. Kumkuma is the offering, red the colour, Friday the day.
How and when to chant
Friday, morning after a bath or at the evening lamp, facing east. Red flowers and kumkuma at each name; some do the whole archana with kumkuma alone, which is the usual practice before a Sri Chakra. Naivedya is simple — payasa, or jaggery and coconut. During Sharada Navaratri it is offered daily through the nine nights, and on the Friday and the Ashtami of that fortnight most of all. If you keep a Sri Chakra at home, the names are said facing it; if not, an image or a kumkuma-marked plate serves. Those who have taken initiation add their mantra japa after; those who have not, stop at the names.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the Lalitha Ashtottara that begins Rajatachala shringagra madhyasthayai?
How is the Lalitha Ashtottara Shatanamavali different from the Lalitha Sahasranamam?
Why do names 13 to 18 of the Lalitha Ashtottara all begin with Chandra?
Which names in the Lalitha Ashtottara link her to Matangi and the veena?
What does the last name of the Lalitha Ashtottara mean?
Comments
Please login to leave a comment
Loading comments...