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Who is Lalita Tripura Sundari?
Lalita Tripura Sundari is the third among the 10 Mahavidyas. The Goddess has countless names. To name a few: Rajarajeshwari (the queen of queens), Kamakshi (whose eyes are as beautiful as Cupid), and Shodashi (the sixteen-year-old maiden). Lalitha, the playful one, enchants the world.
The creation is her recreation, a plaything in her hands. The goddess is an expert at alluring her consort, Kameswara, the handsome form of Lord Shiva. Her sweet smile steals the heart of Maha Shambhu, the foremost among Yogis.
Lalita Devi is eternally sixteen years old. The goddess has the innocence of a maiden and the maturity of a mother.
The Story of Lalita Tripura Sundari
Tarakasura had gotten a boon that only the son of Shiva-Parvati could kill him. The Devas were in a fix. They had to arouse Lord Shiva from his meditative trance. Lord Indra summoned Kamadev to disturb His penance.
Kamdev did as ordered but ended inviting the wrath of Mahadev. Lord Shiva’s third eye opened and reduced him to ashes. When the Lord glanced at his burial remains, a demon named Bhandasura emerged.
Born from Lord Shiva’s energy, Bhandasura wreaked havoc in the universe. At Sri Narada’s advice, the gods conducted a fire sacrifice. From the holy flames appeared the resplendent goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari.
Assisted by her daughter Bala Tripurasundari and her varied feminine manifestations, Devi slew Bhandasura. Thus, she redeemed humankind.
Meaning of Tripura Sundari
As Tripura Sundari, Lalitha Devi charms the three Puras, or cities. What do these three cities represent? We normally conceive them to be heaven (Swarga), earth (Dharti), and the netherworld (Patala).
However, there are other connotations. They represent the three states of existence, namely the dream state (Swapna), wakefulness (Jagrut), and deep sleep (Sushupti). She is the fourth state of experience known as Turiya (the highest state where one enjoys the bliss of Brahman, the ultimate reality).
The three cities also represent the three Gunas Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas, which are the modes of goodness, passion, and ignorance. Again, the three cities stand for Sat, Chit, and Ananda, which mean existence, consciousness, and bliss.
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Description of Lalita Tripura Sundari
Clad in shining red, which is an auspicious colour for married women, Devi denotes the pleasures of early conjugal life. Her chastity, immaculate character, and devotion continue to inspire womankind.
The goddess wields a sugarcane bow in her hand, holding a position of command and authority. The bow represents the unsteady mind with which she stretches her five flower arrows. What do these arrows represent? The five flower arrows represent the five senses, namely eyes, ears, nose, skin, and tongue.
The senses restlessly move towards their objects. Hence, this highlights the necessity of the goddess’ grace in attaining sense control. With her goad, Devi pushes the soul into the world of desires. So she entraps as well as redeems the sadhaka.
Note that sugarcane is the basic ingredient in sugar. Hence, her sadhana results in the sweet and sublime emotions that a man must have experienced in his growing years. Lalitha Devi holds a noose, signifying attachment, a byproduct of desire.
Her two sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, sit in the front as gatekeepers. In this specific manifestation, Goddess Lalita and Kameswara have a daughter named Bala Tripura Sundari. An endearing depiction shows Bala sitting on her mother’s lap.
On the two sides, we notice Lakshmi and Saraswati Devi fanning the goddess. Thus, the Sadhaka gets the benefits of worshiping Lakshmi-Saraswati simply through Tripurasundari Sadhana.
Goddess Kali, Tara, and Lalita Tripurasundari
In contrast to the two Mahavidyas, Kali and Tara, Lalita Tripura Sundari has a soothing appearance. We find Lord Shiva under the feet of Tara and Kali Devi. However, with Lalita Tripura Sundari, Lord Shiva lies comfortably by her bedside.
This shows their compatibility and bonding. Feminine emotions dominate this manifestation of Mahadevi. While Tara and Kali Devi are dark blue and black, she shines like the rising sun, with hues of red and gold. These vibrant colors catch our attention as they represent the core desires of every human.
Early morning is the time when we execute our plans and work towards manifesting our desires. Thus, her complexion portrays desire and passion.
Lalita Tripurasundari: The Goddess of Love
Lalita Tripura Sundari represents pure and undiluted love, as she is in union with Lord Shiva, the personification of pure consciousness. However, the same love principle dilutes itself when applied to human beings.
Our Vasanas, or inherent tendencies, interfere and distort this pure love potency; it now becomes unholy as lust, pride, anger, greed, envy, and attachment. For example, before consuming an apple, it looks fresh and juicy, but after the apple enters our body, it appears disgusting as excreta.
Similarly, the emotions of Ma Bhagavati appear convoluted and contaminated because of our inherent Vasanas.
We can also compare Mahadevi’s feelings to the pure Gangotri. Humans pollute the Ganges as it descends to the lower parts of the Indian subcontinent.
Significance of Lalita Sahasranama
Lalita Sahasranama is the most potent scripture in the history of Shaktism. It comprises a thousand names of Goddess Lalita Tripura Sundari and finds its place in the Brahmanda Purana. Acharyas have written volumes in praise of this holy hymn.
We can find a detailed description of each name in various commentaries on the Sri Vidya tradition. It embodies the goddess in her full glory. The daily sadhana of the Lalita Sahasranama suffices to grant the goal of life, Moksha. Soundarya Lahiri, composed by Adi Shankara, is yet another powerful hymn.
What is Sri Yantra?
The Sri Yantra contains the power and potency of Mother Lalita. The geometric structure comprises concentric circles, 43 small triangles, lotus patterns, and a central power point called Bindu.
It beautifully portrays the union of masculine and feminine forces, called Shiva-Shakti. The Sri Yantra is like a locker decoding which the treasure of enlightenment opens up. It embodies the secrets of the universe and access to the various dimensions, or lokas.
Benefits of the Lalita Tripurasundari Sadhana
Lalitha Devi teaches the qualities a wife must possess to win her husband’s affection. She fills life with comforts, granting a balanced and settled conjugal life. Hence, devotees of Lalitha Devi have lives filled with romance and children. They enjoy good health, prosperity, courage, and family bonding.
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