1

I have seen several 'anecdotal' sources on the internet that claim that the The Lalita sahasranama popularly attrituted to the Lalitamahatmya of the Brahmanda purana grants material and spiritual benefits to the practitioner when chanted.

However, When I did some personal research on the Brahmanda purana, it turned out that The Entire Lalita Mahatmya which is popularly attributed to the Brahmanda Purana itself is a later day accretion/interpolation!

enter image description here

enter image description here

As Shown above, there are multiple signs that the Lalita mahatmya is A LATER INTERPOLATION and not a part of the Original Brahmandapurana.

  1. Original Brahmandapurana Concludes with the 4th chapter of the Upasamhara pada that lies just before the Lalita mahatmya.

  2. Lalita Mahatmya Begins with a fresh mangalacharana.

  3. Naarada Purana, While recounting the Contents of Brahmanda purana, Does not even mention Lalita mahatmya at all.

  4. The Javanese Manuscript of the Brahmandapurana Too makes no mention of Lalita Mahatmya.

This means This Lalita mahatmya is not a bonafide work of Vyasa or Any Rishi. Which makes everything from the stories of Devi Lalita fighting Bhandasura to the thousand Names of Goddess Lalita to be completely fictional since it's the work of some later day author, and not that of any sage.

My Question Is really it possible for anyone to actually get any benefits, be it material or spiritual while chanting a completely fictional work like this? Are the claims of the Sahasranama granting material or spiritual benifits just a hoax or an exaggeration or Is there any element of truth to them?

Improve this question
1

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
1
  • one should understand what is mantra, how to use it correctly so that it helps you in your life.
  • what is Mantra ? Mantra are the abstract text which contains very useful information/knowledge which has been given by our ancient people.
  • purpose of mantras ? one should first has to learn to chant the mantras fluently even though without knowing its meanings. that mantra shall have solutions to many problems in your life, which you might have not come across those problems yet. As soon as start facing the problem, your sub-conscious mind will look at bits and pieces of the text in mantras and tries to research itself without your conscious effort. slowly it encourages you to know its inner meaning and go in search of elaborate details (opposite of abstraction) in scriptures, gurus or anywhere in the world. Then certainly you are set in right direction to solve the problem.
  • example ? For childrens/kids if you teach mantra like 'taitriyya upanishad mantras' etc. later in their youth if they want to be a good student and seek good teacher and in case they knew mantra, it is very easy to know what qualities needed for better knowledge in better way. Else they end up searching the right way itself.
  • hope this answer helps you.
Improve this answer
1

Let's See.:

  • Narada purana talking about Brahmanda Purana doesn't talks about its contents but only about it's excellence. Plus, Narada Puana already have it's own version of Lalita Sahasranama.

"Sri Lalita Sahasranama from Narada Purana."

  • Sri Lalita Mahatmya is considered as an appendix of Brahmanda Purana. Same as Harivamsha is the appendix of Mahabharata. Or the Gautami Mahatmya is of Brahma Purana. And if you see see Skanda Purana it has many Samhitas in it.

"Sri Lalita Mahatmya from Brahmanda Purana."

  • If you see in case of Krishna Bhagwatam it's said to be written post Ramanuja and is a full interpolated purana written by Bopadeva and not Vyasa. But Vaishnavas follows it right and hold it im high regard.

enter image description here

So, people will just keep on nonsensical things. Devotion is about faith and spirituality whereas Science is about proofs. So, follow both but don't mix things up.

I hope this helps your queries. Prd..

Improve this answer
8
  • 1
    Tbh the view of bhagavata being post ramanuja has been refuted as it is quoted by Gaudapada , the param guru of adi shankara in his uttara gita bhasya. Not to mention a Jaina text of about 4th to 5th century mentions the vishnu bhagavatam too.
    – user34398
    Commented Apr 23 at 1:19
  • That Gaudapada is said to be different Gaudapada not the guru of Adi Shankaracharya. Some say both have just borrowed words from the same source. As for jaina text it mostly just mentions the name Bhagawata Purana which can also mean Devi Purana. So, it's just a heresay and nothing less. But the fact of the matter is Ramanuja never ever mentioned it. Now, as i have already mentioned in my answer a believer should follow his beliefs with devotion. Tbh for everyone that view should be more than enough. I guess we are done. Goodbye. Tc..
    – Viṣṇu _Deva _Śrī.
    Commented Apr 23 at 3:04
  • 1
    No, not really. The jaina text mentions Bhagavata as a text of Vaishnavas so it is talking of the Krishna Bhagavata. Btw how do we know there are two Gaudapadas?
    – user34398
    Commented Apr 23 at 3:12
  • Yes thats true man. We have, however, an independent source of a definite date which can be regarded as the lowest limit of the date of the Bhāgavata Purāṇa The Nandī Sūtra, a work of the Śvetambara Jaina canon, was composed by Devardhi Gaṇi, the president of the finalredaction (Vācanā) of the Śvetāmbara Jaina Canon, held at Valabhī (Saurāṣṭra) in 980 or 993 after Vīra i.e. 453-466 A.D. or 512-525 A.D., as the History and Culture of the Indian People Vol. III, p. 415, takes it.
    – Viṣṇu _Deva _Śrī.
    Commented Apr 23 at 3:15
  • In giving a list of heretical texts (mithyā śruta i.e. non- Jaina literature), the Nandī Sūtra gives the following list of works and authors (standing for their works): Bhārata (Mahābhārata), Rāmāyaṇa, Kauṭalīya (Artha Śāstra), Kanaka-Sattari (Īśvara Kṛṣṇa’s Sāṅkhya Kārikās), Vaiśeṣika, Buddha-Vācanā, Kāpālika, Lokāyata, Ṣaṣṭi Tantra, Māṭhara, Purāṇa Bhāgavata, Patañjali etc.
    – Viṣṇu _Deva _Śrī.
    Commented Apr 23 at 3:15
0

It is ultimately faith that is the key behind the results of all worship, mantra chanting and so on. As long as one recites with faith, anything may yield results even if it be meaningless and absurd.

Faith alone is highly beneficial in the case of all pious acts. It is only through faith that the achievement of power is possible by men in both the worlds.

If one worships with faith, even a stone yields good results. Even a fool adored devoutly becomes a preceptor bestowing great power.

A Mantra recited with faith may yield good results even if it be meaningless and absurd. A Deva faithfully adored, yields fruits even to a mean one.

If performed without faith, a worship, monetary gift, sacrifice, penance, vow, everything becomes futile like the (sprouting of) flower in a barren tree.

Skanda Purana -Book 3 - Brāhma-khaṇḍa - Section 3 - Brāhmottara-khaṇḍa - Chapter 17

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.