Sri Vidya Ratna Lalityam

Umadeva Worked as a Sanskrit Lecturer in St.Joseph’s Junior College, Hyderabad for twenty years. She got her Ph.D. degree for her work Palakurki Somanath’s Contribution to Sanskrit Literature. She delivered more than 300 lectures only on Lalitha Sahasram in India and abroad for the last 20 years.

'Sri Vidya Ratna Lalityam' by Dr. Uma Devi is a commentary in English on Lalita Sahasranama, The author is a researcher in spiritual Sanskrit Literature, a practicing devotee and an ardent follower of the religious tradition in the path of 'Saiva Marga'. The commentary is elaborate in nature taking the support form established Upanishadic literature, Vedic texts, comentaries of Adisankara, works like Saundarya Lahari of Adisankana, Puranas like Skanda, Liriga, Kalika etc. Her references cover such some-what lesser known ancient texts like 'Rudra Yarnala', 'Svacchanda Tantra' also. This widely read lady has provided substantial and highly educative commentary on this 'Lalita Sahasranarna' which is difficult to excel. She deserves all praise for this monumental work.

What is more, she has supplemented this great work with explanations on ' Hrinkara, 'Dasamahavidya', 'Sr icakra', the yogic Cakra, 'Manidvlpa', 'Gayatr!', 'Navadurqas' and an essay on Bharata Desa, All this literature is certainly relevant and allied.

It is no exaggeration to say that this work is a treatise on 'Lalita'. I heartily congratulate Dr. M. Uma Devi for this monumental contribution and I am sure the divine mother will shower her grace on her and her family.