Lalitha Sahasranamam is the only Sahasranamam composed by vagdevatas under Lalitha’s direction. This has been conveyed to us by the sage Vyasa Maharishi. At the request of Agasthya, Hayagriva is said to have taught him the thousand holiest names of Lalitha. Agasthya is one of the sages of yore and one of the stars of the constellation Saptarishi (Ursa Major). Hayagriva is an incarnation of Vishnu with the head of a horse who is held to be the storehouse of knowledge. Sri Lalitha Sahasranamam Stotra (hymn of praise) occurs in the Brahmanda Purana (history of the universe) in the chapter on discussion between Hayagriva and Agasthya.
