Only those few men are worthy of worship who burn themselves in the fire of penance for the lone aim of helping their fellow beings. Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathiji Maharaj, the Madhathipathi of Sree Rama Dasa Mission, was one such Emperor of the Spirit who sacrificed his life and bartered his every breath for the sake of saving the Sanathana Dharma. Amidst the storm of wars, strife and natural calamities that were besieging the earth, a Sannyasi with matted locks decided to take matters into his own hands. “It is my Sankalpa to raise the entire Hindu community by the sheer force of my penance, as instructed by the Divine Mother and permitted by my Poojya Gurudeva” – these were the words of the Hero of God. 

The holy year 2000 was the Avatar Shatabdi of the Hanuman-like Sage, Brahmasree Neelakantha Gurupadar (1900-1965). His chosen successor, Jagadguru Swami Sathyananda Saraswathi, made the gigantic Sankalpa of conducting a 100 crore Archana of the divine name of Lalitambika Devi, the Divine Mother, for the sake of bringing peace to the planet and blessing every being from the lowly worm to the burdened man to the mighty Deva. This was conducted at the Jyotikshetra Temple at Sree Rama Dasa Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram. This was the first time in recorded history that such a mass Archana was held. 

 Fired by the words and inspiration of a Sage with a universal approach that preached ‘The World is One Family’ Swami Krishnananda Saraswathi brought 501 Jyotis unextinguished from 501 different major places of Hindu pilgrimage and temples all over India. All these Jyotis were combined into one and installed in the Jyotikshetra Temple. During that time 2500 disciples of the Maharashtrian Saint, Anna Maharaj, desired to join this historic Archana along with their Guruji. Krishnananda Swamiji arranged for an entire train to be booked from the Central Government for a period of 20 days to bring them from and take them back to Pune. 

 On 30th May 2000, at 7:30 in the evening, at the time of completion of Poojya Gurudev’s Sankalpa, thousands of devotees gathered for Archana as well as many people staying far away witnessed an amazing scene. A Divine Light appeared in the sky and entered the temple through its unfinished roof. In the grip of awe the devotees fervently began chanting ‘Hare Rama Hare Krishna’. The Divine Light, which was the visible manifestation of the Divine Mother Herself, rose back up into the sky and vanished. It was after this wonderful vision that the temple was named Jyotikshetra. To celebrate the completion of his Guruji's Sankalpa Krishnananda Swamiji took 501 devotees with the Moortis of Sree Rama, Sita and Anjaneya to Rameshwaram and performed Abhavrita Snaana. 

 Then Poojya Gurudev repeated his Sankalpa with double intensity by conducting 100 crore Archanas of Lord Dattatreya and 100 crore Archanas of Lord Shiva in Narayanpur, near Pune, along with Anna Maharaj. Was this the end? Never! Poojya Gurudev announced the conduction of 1000 crore Archanas of the Divine Mother – the Lalithasahasranam. “Either this will end or I will end!” – he declared. Soon after this Poojya Gurudev took Mahasamadhi still firmly yoked in the harness of the Sahasrakoti Archana. 

 It is now the very essence of the lives of all who worshipped Guruji to complete his Sankalpa which is for the sake of bringing good to the whole world. Come forward, my brothers and sisters! You may be of any sect or caste or Guru Parampara but if you are a Sanathani then you know that all Gurus are ultimately one and the same. Come forth in your numbers to call the 1000 names of the Divine Mother. Together we will save the world from impending annihilation due to materialistic forces. Whoever we may be and wherever we may be, let us chant the Lalitha Sahasranam and keep a count so that when the target of 1000 crore names is reached collectively by all of us a Samarpanam can be made at the Samadhi of the heroic protector of the Sanathana Dharma. We will succeed in togetherness. 

 Sree Rama Dasa Mission Universal Society Medical Mission at Mumbai is the organisational center for the Sahasrakoti Archana. 

Below is the Lalitha Sahasranam recites in Guruji's own voice.