Subsequently one day Devi sitting on her throne, gave the opportunity of her Darshan to all those who were present in the court, including countless Brahma’s, Countless Vishnu’s, Rudra’s and Sakthi’s such as Mantrini, Dandini and the other inhabitants of heaven. Accordingly Vasini and the other dieties of speech composed the Lalitha Sahasranama consisting of the most secret mantras. Lead the way to let my devotess obtain My grace by chanting it!”. Once Lalitha Devi addressed Vasini and the other vagdevathas (goddesses of speech): “I command you – who know the secrets of Srichakra, and of Sri Vidya and other Mantras to compose a hymn of a thousand names that reveal my greatness. On repeated questioning of the anxious student, Agastya maharishi, Hayagriva first explains the reasons why Lalitha Sahasranama is so divine and sacred, and why it can be imparted only to the highly potent and exalted and that the reasons why it was not imparted in the first place. Though he described every thing so far, Hayagriva did not mention any thing about Lalitha Sahasranama. He then describes the city of Sripura, Her abode, the greatness of Her Mantra, the panchadasakshari, the essential oneness of Sri Yantra, Sri Vidya, Lalitambika and Sri Guru, and initiates Agastya into the Sahasranamas of Devi’s attendant deities. Hayagriva tells Agasthya the story of the incarnation of Lalitha Devi and describes her sports. It is presented in the form of instructions imparted to the sage Agasthya by Hayagriva who is the horse headed incarnation of Lord Sri Maha Vishnu. That man who hears these 1000 names every day or who recites them every day, never meets with any evil in his life and is ever happy and blessed by the Lord.Lalitha Sahasranama is in the 36th chapter of Lalitopakyana in Brahmanda Purana. Bhisma said, "Even thus have I recited to thee, without any exception, the thousand excellent names of the high-souled Kesava whose glory should always be sung. It is believed that regular chanting of these 1000 names of the Lord yields a lot of benefits like - avoiding evil, succeeding in battle/ against any obstacles in life, gaining affluence, pleasure, happiness, and good offspring. Vishnu Sahasranaamam was recited by Bhisma on the bed of arrows during the Mahabharata war. Sankara then understood that Goddess Ambal wanted him to write commentaries on Vishnu Sahasranamam and he completed the divine task. The disciple replied "Revered Sir, I went to bring Lalita Sahasranamam only but there is a cute little girl in there who told me to take Vishnu Sahasranamam every time." Sankara again advised the disciple to bring Lalita Sahasranamam only and in the third time also the disciple returned with Vishnu Sahasranamam.Ī little annoyed, Sankara asked the disciple "Didn't you understand properly, I told you to bring Lalita Sahasranamam." When the disciple returned, Sankara found that it was again Vishnu Sahasranamam. He again asked the disciple to go back and bring Lalita Sahasranamam.
When Sankara opened, he found that it was Vishnu Sahasranamam. The disciple went to the room where it was kept and returned with the manuscript. He asked one of his disciples to bring palm-leaf manuscripts of Lalita Sahasranamam. Sankara actually wanted to write commentaries on Lalita Sahasranamam.
The commentaries on Vishnu Sahasranamam was first written by Adi Sankara.