Faculty: Acharya Mrityunjay Mani Trivedi

Lalitha Sahasranama Stotram – Part 2

Course Description

The course on Lalitha Sahasranama stotram, will prepare students to chant the slokas with clear pronunciation.  And furthermore, explore the meaning and essence of thousand names of Goddess Lalitha expressed in the 182 verses in the stotra. This Stotram will be covered in two parts in two courses back to back. Part 1 will cover Nyas, Dhyan and sloka from 1 to 90.

Part 2 will cover sloka 91 to 182. A brief background of Lalitha Sahasranama and the benefits of chanting will also be discussed during the course.

Course Content

Lalitha Sahasaranama is considered to be a sacred hindu text from the Brahmanda Purana. This stotra  contains  1000 names of the Hindu Goddess Lalitha Tripura Sundari manifestation of Devi, the Divine Mother Shakthi. This stotra is recited in the worship of Devi. It is said that this famous stotra is taught by Hyagreeva to Agasthya during one of their discussions that takes place in the Brahmanda purana. At the request of Agasthya Hyagreeva teaches the 1000 holiest names of Goddess Lalitha.

The sloka is organized in a way that it starts from Dhyana which describes the form of Devi from head to toe for the reader to visualize and meditate upon.

Course Learning Objectives

In this course students will –

1. Systematically learn chanting of 10-15 slokas weekly, completing the Lalitha Sahasranamam with correct sanskrit pronunciation
2. Understand the brief historical background of this great ancient Sanskrit stotra
   
3. To understand the geometric design of Shri Chakra and its connection to  Lalita Sahasaranamam. 
4. Examine and discuss  the meaning and essence of  thousand names of Goddess Lalitha 
5. Gain meditative quality to daily chanting of Lalitha Sahasaranama with the above understanding.
6. Chanting Lalita Sahasaranamam benefits to fulfill worldly desire & also take to enlightenment (Moksha). 

Class Structure

The course is a 90-minute weekly class hour with a 75-minute chanting/lecture interaction and 15-minute Q&A, pertinent to the course content. Students’ evaluation will be tri-weekly on the level of their ability to chant and understand the meaning of the slokas.

Reading Material: Will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Prerequisites: Beginner reading level of Sanskrit and Admission into a Program of Study

Required / Elective: Elective

Program: Certificate Program in Hindu Studies (CPHS) 

Faculty / Instructor: Acharya Mrityunjay Mani Trivedi

Start Date: October 7, 2023

End Date: December 16, 2023

Day: Saturday

Time: 4:30 pm EST – 6:00 pm EST

Quarter Offered:  Fall 2023