Glorious Alchemy: Living the Lalitā Sahasranāma

As a student of tantra, I've been wanting to learn more about Sri Vidya for some time now, and Glorious Alchemy does a phenomenal job of explaining- in detail- important aspects of the philosophy and spiritual tradition. It goes into the Lalita Sahasranama and also provides a detailed breakdown of what each word means, and gives a Sanskrit pronunciation guide. The book also explains key concepts like the kosas, prana vayus, nadis, etcI wanted to take a moment to mention something that I think is important: the author says in the section on Kundalini:' Kundalini awakening is not always a problem. In fact, it most often occurs almost unobtrusively...'I actually disagree with this, based on not only personal experience but also from talking with others who have had what would frequently be called 'kundalini awakening' or kundalini related experiences, plus reading Gopi Krishna's accounts. Kundalini awakening in what Gopi Krishna calls the 'fast form' which can happen spontaneously, has a number of challenges, as well as benefits. What I believe the author may be referring to with regards to when it's 'not a problem' is when it is taking a 'slow process'.Do some people probably have an easy time when stored energy ( prana) is redirected and samskaras melt away? Maybe, and good for them! I don't wish difficulty on anyone. Those are maybe the people who have the 'slower' awakening that Gopi Krishna talks about. However, from my personal experiences to that of those I know, kundalini awakening can be extremely challenging AND can take years. BUT IT'S WORTH IT.Highly suggest everyone read about what happened to Gopi Krishna as it resembles what happened to me. I cannot even begin to tell you how relieved I felt when I read his account as it mirrored mine and I felt validated.

Glorious Alchemy by Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan is a must read for anyone on the spiritual quest. Her one of a kind work is a labor of love and a manual of life. The sacred Lalitha Sahasranama (LSN) reveals many secrets and Dr. Chinnaiyan has brought out these profound nuances in a systematic, clear and simple manner. This book gently nudges us to look at our life through the lens of this sacred chant and guides us to live our life while seamlessly blending spirituality and the householder path. As is evident in her writing a book such as this is not possible without Divine grace, Guru’s blessings and direct experience. She describes this chant from all angles - it’s history, it’s relevance, the Sri Vidya path, the Sri Chakra, Chakras, Kundalini and much more. She not only provides the inner meaning of each nama but also explains the broader meaning of the namas when strung together and the significance of their placement and sequence and most importantly how all this pertains to our lived experience. While there are not many such interpretations of this auspicious chant available to the general public, Dr.Chinnaiyan has been blessed with the rare opportunity to expound on this in the context of today’s living. This is my go to book in my personal quest! Highly recommend it!

Glorious alchemy is a monumental work on Srividya. The book is divided into three parts, part 1 is the darsana - the view, a birds-eye view of a road map that leads home. Just reciting the Lalitha Sahasranama is not living it. This book takes you from the view into making the LS your way of life, which is part 2. It is experiencing the thousand names in your everyday life. Part 3 is the 1000 names. Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan’s clarity in translating the rich text into a livable form is GloriousAlchemy. She makes the divine names come alive, it is a road map that leads you home. It simplifies esoteric principles and breaks them down to make it practical. For me this is more than a book, it is my guide not just to knowledge but to experience the Divine Mother in me. I feel this book is historic and bold. Written by a woman, about the great feminine power in all of us - the power to create. The illustrations by Rashmi Thirtha Jyoti are absolutely beautiful. I highly recommend this book!

Glorious Alchemy is a revelation and culmination of goddess wisdom coming together with physicality and practicality.For a newly initiated Srividya Upasaka like me, this book comes as a great blessing with its commentary and deeper explanation of the Srividya path and Lalita Sahasranama. I have a new found love for my path and sadhana as the book reveals great insights about the power of this mantra and it’s applicability in my day to day life! It triggers a deeper contemplation within for a sadhaka and that to me is a knock on the door hidden deep within which is waiting to reveal its secrets to further on the path.Author Kavitha Chinnaiyan’s clarity on the subject and her deeper understanding of the Goddess path is unparalleled. This will indeed be my go to book for clarity and to further my practice. Lalita Devi painting on the cover by Rashmi Thirtha Jyoti just draws you in and acts as a beautiful gateway to the wisdom shared by the author.

GLORIOUS ALCHEMY - Living the Lalita Sahasranama . I have been studying under Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan for over a year now . She is amazing in her depth of knowledge, and her articulate teachings can make even complex vedic concepts feel so practical & easy to understand . The book is so well laid with very easy to read sections and amazing illustrations. This book is a great companion to my daily Sadhana . For anyone who wants to practically apply the essence of this great text containing 1000 names of the Divine Goddess in their day-to-day lives I highly recommend it.

When one has tried to go a bit deep into Tantra, or the Lalita Sahasranama, one has probably taken the conclusion that many books are written in a chaotic way that adds a lot of complexity to an already complex subject. This book is the exception. When you read it you realize that the author comes from the scientific and University world and is used to wirtting essays on difficult subjects in a way that makes them understandable.I would not recommend this book to someone who has not already read some introductory books on Tantra, as there is a lot of Sanskrit terminology that can be overwhelming.

Glorious Alchemy goes deep into sometimes esoteric concepts in an approachable manner that can be understood bu those new to the Lalita Sahasranama yet also bring new insights to long-time practitioners. The first section on The View again beautifully and logically conveys these teachings and the author’s personal relationship with the Lalita Sahasranama is evident in the love shown in the explanation of the text. This edition is beautifully layed out with stunning artwork on the cover and some interior images as well. Love it!

Knowing the author from reading her other two books (Shakti Rising and Heart of Wellness) as well as doing several of her online courses, I expected nothing less than a high quality and insightful book. However I wasn't quite prepared for the power emanating from Glorious Alchemy. I was in a word, stunned. From the beautiful cover to the love instilled in every one of its pages, it's a pleasure to read and absolutely absorbing.The breadth and depth of Kavitha Chinnaiyan's knowledge is astounding. But what's even more astounding is that this book is not just a work of scholarly research, but the result of her own dedicated practice and her deep, deep personal insight. Because of these, she is able to open a doorway into the mystery and magic that is the Lalitā Sahasranāma for anyone who wishes to cross it. She is able to explain in simple terms, profound concepts without watering down the content.I cannot praise this book highly enough. I would thoroughly recommend doing her online course on the LSN as the two work together and will take your experience to another level entirely.

I experience Kavitha’s book Glorious Alchemy as a gift from the Divine to the world. As I read the words on each page I feel that, through her, Devi is describing and explaining Herself, coaxing me into a deep reverie of identification with Her - the body of all Creation. I’m fascinated by the fact that Kavitha is not only a practitioner of the esoteric knowledge of Śrī Vidya and the Lalitā Sahasranāma, but also a medical doctor specializing in cardiology who is able to clearly describe the gross and subtle elements and the energy channels through which they flow to make up and animate the human mind and body.I have had the great good fortune that Kavitha was brought to my attention 10 months ago through her illuminating, wise and lucid interactions in the Sanskrit historian and scholar Hareesh (Christopher) Wallis’s Facebook group, opening me through her online course to immersing myself in the Lalitā Sahasranāma, and then through this opening to continue the expansion of my heart and awareness through her awesomely inspiring, demanding and liberating online “Women’s Sādhana Immersion”. And now, through her aptly titled book, Glorious Alchemy.