Glorious Alchemy: Living the Lalitā Sahasranāma by Kavitha Chinnaiyan MD

 

 

The treasury, known as Lalitā Sahasranāma (LSN) is a compilation of the names of the Goddess - the feminine power inherent in all creation.

Why chant the Lalitā Sahasranāma? Chanting the LSN becomes a meditation (dhyāna) where the object of concentration takes us from the superficial level of the mind to the depths of inner repose, to eventually facilitate the “turning upon itself” of attention.  The subtle inner form of the deity is visualized to become the object of meditation, bringing the mind to its Source, the One Absolute, beyond all limited concepts.

When we invite the Sanskrit nāmas into our inner landscape, the Lalitā Sahasranāma becomes a garland of mantras, where every life experience is rendered sacred, because it can be found in the velvety folds of the chant. This kind of practice opens us to uncommon wisdom and sweetness – this is Glorious Alchemy!

The commentary contained in this book is clear and straightforward. It retains the subtleties of the Sanskrit original but is accessible to a modern reader. It takes a non-traditional approach which provides a primer on the Goddess-centered path known as Śrīvidyā in Part I. Part II threads together the thousand nāmas as they relate to life and personal practice. Suggested contemplative practices are provided for further reflection on the nāmas.

A valuable resource of Vedic hymns and mantras (including the Lalitā Sahasranāma in its entirety) chanted and sung by Kavitha can be found on her website (https://kavithamd.com/chants/)
and on the New Sarum Press website.

A reader describes Kavitha’s rendering of the Lalitā Sahasranāma as “Hauntingly beautiful and emotive while being true to the ageless wisdom from which it springs”.

Endorsements:

 “To me, this book is almost beyond praise. Stunning in its perfectly balanced blend of clarity, precision, concision, erudition, and accessibility, it is simply the best book on the Lalitā Sahasranāma in the English language. This book is not merely informational, however: it is designed to have maximum impact on your spiritual life, and if you take the abundant guided meditations in this sublime work into deep practice, you may experience radical opening and transformation. Especially if you are a lover of the Goddess, this book could become the primary touchstone of your spiritual life.”

—Christopher Wallis (aka Hareesh), M.Phil., Ph.D., author of Tantra Illuminated and The Recognition Sutras

“Glorious Alchemy is more than a book; it is a living revelation that those who love Devi, those who wish to deepen their relationship with Her, and those who have yet to remember Her, have all been waiting for.”

—Laura Amazzone, Author of Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power