Lalita-Kosha (Being a Collection of Texts in Sanskrit Bearing on the Cult of Lalita

The present volume is in its nature encyclopaedic: it contains an elaborate introduction dealing with several aspects of the cult of Lalita. The thousand names have been given in English translation also, with explanations wherever necessary. Illustrations are also included. The volume comprehends almost the entire literature that is available on Lalita in Sanskrit. This may serve as a companion volume to the Tantrik practices in Sri-Vidya.

The volume also contains the text of Lalita-sahasra-nama-strotra, both in the verse-form and in the form of names ar recited during worship. The portion dealing with Lalita (Lalitopakhyana) from Brahmanda-purana, and a text closely related to these two, namely Lalita-trisati are appended.

Many of the expressions like shadadgva, panchopachara, dasa-mudra, Kama-kala and so on have been explained in the author’s volumes on Agama-kosha.

The illustrations included here are from sculptures in temples and from medieval manuscripts prepared in Mysore.

Vidyalankara Prof. S. K. Ramachandra Rao (1925-2006) was a multifaceted scholar. Born in a conservative family, he learnt Sanskrit in a pathasala even in his teens, later studied psychology at the Mysore University, and became the Head of the Department of Clinical Psychology at NIMFIANS, Bangalore. He was a teacher, musician, musicologist, orator and artist. He had also been conducting classes for many decades in his residence on varied subjects like Upanishads, Brahma-sutras, Bhagavad-Gita, Indology, Agama-sastra, etc.

He had written about eighty books in Kannada, more than a hundred books in English apart from books in Sanskrit and Pali. Two of his books were given the Sahitya Academy Awards. Among his numerous publications are:

* The Encyclopedia of Indian Medicine in three volumes, published by Popular Prakashan, Mumbai;
* Tibetan Tantrik Tradition and Tibetan Meditation, published by Arnold Heinemann;
* Encyclopedia of Indian Iconography, published by Satguru Publications, Delhi;
* The Agama Encyclopedia in twelve volumes, published by Satguru Publications;
* Rg Veda Darshana in sixteen volumes, published by Kalpatharu Research Academy;
* Srividya Kosha, published by Satguru Publications.

In order to preserve his art works, reprint his books and record his lectures on CDs in order to make them available to interested people, his family members have formed a Trust, The S. K. Ramachandra Rao Memorial Trust based in Bangalore.

The Lalita kosha, which had been published more than a decade ago, has been out of print for many years. The Trust, which is desirous of reprinting all the books of Prof. S. K. Ramachandra Rao, approached Shri Sunil Gupta of Indian Books Centre, because he had already published many works of Prof. Rao. We are grateful that Shri Gupta has taken up the publication of this work.

The present volume is in its nature encyclopaedic: it contains an elaborate introduction dealing with several aspects of the cult of Lalita. The thousand names have been given in English translation also, with explanations wherever necessary. Illustrations are also included. The volume comprehends almost the entire literature that is available on Lalita in Sanskrit. This may serve as a companion volume to the Tantrik practices in Sri-Vidya.

The volume also contains the text of Lalita-sahasra-nama-strotra, both in the verse-form and in the form of names as recited during worship. The portion dealing with Lalita (Lalitopakhyana) from Brahmanda-purana, and a text closely related to these two, namely Lalita-trisati are appended.

Many of the expressions like shadadhva, panchopachara, dasa-mudra, Kama-kala and so on have been explained in the author’s volumes on Agama-kosha.

The illustrations included here are from sculptures in temples and from medieval manuscripts prepared in Mysore. I am grateful to the Director, Regional Design and Technical Centre (All India Handicrafts Board), Bangalore for permission to reproduce some drawings in their collection (from the artists Shri Appukuttan Achary, Shri M. S. Raman and Shri K.V. Bhandari), in additions to the drawings made by myself from old manuscripts and sculptures in temples and museums.