Lalita (The Vibrant One)

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Lalita is the joy, vibrant, scintillating expression of the Self. A free consciousness, without craving and aversions, well-founded in the self, is naturally joyful and vibrant. This is the space of Lalita. In the Lalita Sahasranama, we chant the thousand names of the Divine mother. Lalita, aims to share with the reader, an insight into the different qualities describes in the sahasranama. When read with awareness and sharaddha, Lalita will bring refinement in the consciousness and make us a storehouse of positivity, dynamism and joy.

Bhanumathi Narasimhan is the sister of Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. Gurudev is a Spiritual and Humanitarian Leader, and Founder of The Art of Living Foundation, a multi-faceted NGO with a presence in over 155 countries. Since the inception of the Foundation in 1981, Bhanumathi Narasimhan has been a key person, guiding its activities. She is the Director of all Child & Women Welfare Programmes undertaken by the Foundation.

Sharing the vision of her brother and Master, to globalise wisdom and spirituality, she has been teaching meditation to thousands of people around the world.

Though at home, she is a mother of two sons, her care and concern extend to people from all over the world. She is a role model for living the ancient ideology of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam' or a 'One World Family'.

Her penchant for sharing wisdom inspired by her Master, has resulted in the two publications, Tejasvini and Lalita. Tejasvini, begins the inward journey and Lalita, takes the seeker further in to the realm of the Self.

The journey is of truth, inner peace and beauty.

The journey is from a limited, narrow-minded perception to a vast, broad vision.

The journey is from small likes and dislikes to unconditional love.

The journey is within.

The seeker is not alone. The Master is there at every step. His wisdom guides every action. It is on such a journey that Bhanumathi Narasimhan would like to take the reader.

In my younger days, i used to be a silent spectator for all the rituals (pujas and chants) that my mother would do with great joy. Now I realise the significance of these practices. Being in the presence of the Master, rituals can be appreciated and carry a deeper meaning. They are a source of joy and not just a routine. They bring a sense of gratitude and deeper spiritual understanding.

When we have a pleasant state of mind, full of joy, enthusiasm and compassion, it brings the same positivity in the atmosphere. People around us also become happy. When our cup is full, sharing becomes natural. The presence of the Master in our lives fills us with divine qualities.

I feel very grateful to my mother for introducing this beautiful tradition to me. I am also grateful to my Master, Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, for initiating me into this wonderful inward journey of spiritual dimensions. It gives me joy to share this wonderful gift that I have received with everyone. Special thanks to my husband and all my children as well.

Lalita is the joyful, dynamic and scintillating expression of the Self. A free consciousness, without cravings and aversions, well-founded in the Self, is naturally joyful and vibrant. This is the space of Lalita. In the Lalita Sahasranama, we chant a thousand names of the Divine Mother. Names have significance. If we remember a sandalwood tree, we carry the memory of its perfume. Each name of the divine in the Sahasranama refers to a different quality or attribute of the divine.

Our needs and desires change in every stage of our life from infancy to adolescence to youth and so on. Along with it, the quality of our consciousness undergoes a sea change. When we chant each name, it enlivens those qualities in our consciousness and they manifest in us according to the need of the hour.

Having enlivened the qualities within us by chanting the many names, we also gain the ability to cognise and appreciate them in the world around us. This leads to a full and prosperous existence. We are grateful to our ancient seers who by worshiping the divinity in all its diverse qualities showed us the way to lead a full life.

Chanting the Sahasranama is a ritual by itself. It purifies the mind and uplifts the consciousness. These chants capture our wandering mind. Even if for half an hour, the mind is one-pointed and focused on one divinity and its attributes, it stops wandering. This is a natural form of relaxation.

The Sahasranama has Bhasa saundarya. The language is beautiful and has both a deeper meaning and Laukika (transliteration). For example: Lotus-eyed signifies beautiful and pure vision. A lotus grows in the mud. Yet it is beautiful and pure. The lotus-eyed one can live in this world and see beauty and purity in spite of all its challenges.

Lalita aims to share with the reader an insight of the different qualities described in the Sahasranama with a glimpse into both layers of meaning. The various references to a particular quality have been threaded together. This will help to present multiple dimensions of each quality in continuity.

Let us know that we have come to this planet for a beautiful and higher purpose. When read with awareness and Sraddha, Lalita will bring refinement in the consciousness and make us a storehouse of positivity, dynamism and joy. So let us enjoy and become a joy to the world.