Over a century back, he brought out an authoritative collection of the works of Adi Sankara, at the behest of the then Sankaracharya of Sringeri. Many of the works of Sankara were available to the masses only in the last 100 years, thanks to the efforts of T K Balasubramania Iyer who ran the Vani Vilas Press in Srirangam. The imagery of the divine mother created by Adi Sankara went on to have a deep influence in the sphere of art as well in the centuries to come. If otherwise, this God knows not even how to pulsate.” Adi Sankara makes Shakti the divine power and raises her to the level of the philosophical absolute. The importance attributed to Devi can be understood from the opening lines of this hymn, where Adi Sankara says, “Shiva, united with Shakti, becomes able to manifest. She remains in existence even when the world process has ceased to be.” Dr P K Sundaram writes in his work on Soundarya Lahiri that Sankara gives the idea of Devi an imagery: “When Devi opens her eyes, there is creation and when she closes them, there is dissolution. While Adi Sankaracharya wrote a commentary on the Vishnu Sahasranamam, Bhaskararaya wrote a commentary on the Lalita Sahasranamam.Ī major contribution of Adi Sankara to the cult of Shakti worship comes in the form of Soundarya Lahari. Over centuries, it has become a very popular text among those who follow the Shakta principles and has been used in the invocation of the mother Goddess. Lalita Sahasranamam is a part of the Brahmanda Purana and was told by Hayagriva to sage Agastya. But the most popular ones are those invoking Vishnu and Goddess Lalitha. Sahasranamas (hymns invoking the 1008 names of a deity) are an important part of ritual worship in India. In many homes, people have started chanting the Lalita Sahasranama, a lyrical exaltation of the feminine aspect of life. Over centuries, these hymns have become a part of Shakti worship. During Navaratri, many ritual offerings are made to the Mother Goddess, including chants and recitals.

Who wrote lalitha sahasranamam