Glorious Alchemy: Living the Lalitā Sahasranāma

$17.50
by Kavitha Chinnaiyan MD

Shop Now
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 “This masterful illuminating book is a gift from Devi Herself as manifested through a brilliant contemporary practitioner, Yogini and householder, Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan. It is a timely, accessible and empowering resource that elucidates the rich, often complex and esoteric doctrine of Śrīvidyā and opens the multivalent portals of Devi Lalitā’s 1000 names in intelligent, refreshing and relatable ways. Scholars, practitioners, spiritual seekers, and laypeople within and outside the non-dual Tantric and Vedic lineage streams will all delight in the wealth of knowledge and practical applications this precious work offers. Chinnaiyan offers the reader myriad opportunities to directly access and understand the Divine Mother and the infinite nuances and emanations of Her Reality through both knowledge and experience. In short, LSN 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 “The recitation of the thousand names of the Divine Mother known as the Lalitā Sahasranāma is one of the most powerful and popular spiritual practices among devotees of the Goddess. The background for these names is the sophisticated system of nondualistic Tantra known as Śrīvidyā. Because of its complexity and the secrecy of many of its lineages, Śrīvidyā has remained mostly an enigma to the uninitiated. In Living the Lalitā Sahasranāma, Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan introduces the esoteric philosophy, metaphysics, mythology, devotional sentiment, and yogic discipline of this profound tradition with elegant clarity. With the humility and respect of a devoted practitioner and the rationality of an educator, she makes the divine names come alive, showing how the Lalitā Sahasranāma reveals a path back the Great Mother. This book is an invaluable blessing to those interested in tantra, yoga, nonduality, the divine feminine, and the Hindu worship of the Goddess. This is the book I wish I could have written.”Rev. Dr. Swami Bhajanananda Saraswati, Head Priest and Dean of Seminary, Kali Mandir Ramakrishna Ashram, Laguna Beach, California Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan (Saundary

Customer Reviews

No ratings. Be the first to rate

 customer ratings


How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Review This Product

Share your thoughts with other customers