En.wikipedia.org Tripura Sundari

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en.wikipedia.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura_Sundari

Sri Lalita-Tripurasundari enthroned with herleft foot upo n the Sri Chakra, hold ing hertraditional symbo ls, the sug arcane bo w,flower arrows, noo se, and go ad.

19th ce ntury painting o f TripuraSundari, the g od de ss o f the threecities

Tripura Sundari

"Tripurasundari" redirects here. For Nepalese village, see Tripurasundari (village).

Tripurasundar("Beautif ul (Goddess) o f the Three Cities") orMah-Tripurasundar("Great Beautiful (Goddess) of the Three

Cities"), also called oa("Sixteen"), Lalit ("She Who Plays"[1])and Rjarjevar("Queen of Queens, Supreme Ruler"), is one ofthe group of ten goddesses ofHindu belief, collectively calledMahavidyas.

As Shodashi, Tripurasundari is represented as a sixteen-year- oldgirl, and is believed to embody s ixteen types of desire. Shodashialso refers to the sixteen syllable mantra, which consists of the

f if teen syllable (panchadasakshari) mantra plus a f inal seedsyllable. The Shodashi Tantra refers to Shodashi as the "Beauty of

the T hree Cities," or Tripurasundari.[2]

Tripurasundari is the primary goddess asso ciated with the ShaktaTantric tradition known as Sri Vidya.The Goddess Who is "Beautif ulin the T hree Worlds" (Supreme Deity of Srikula systems); the"Moksha Mukuta".

Etymology

'Tripura' means 'the three cities,' and 'sundar' means 'beautif ul,'specifically a beautiful female. Therefore, her name means 'Beautiful(Goddess) of the Three Cities'. Tripura is often popularly translated as'the three worlds;' however, this is an incorrect t ranslation of the originalSanskrit.

The 'three cities' esoterically refers to a variety of interpretivedoctrines, but commonly ref ers to the triple f orm of the goddess asf ound in the triadic doctrine of Shaktism. According to Bhaskararaya'scommentary of the T ripura Upaniad:

There are three f orms of deity: physical (sthla), subtle (skma)and supreme (par). Now the first [physical anthropomorphic formof the deity] is described in its respective meditative verses(dhynaloka); the second [subtle f orm] consists of the [particulardeity's] respective root-mantra (mlamantra); the t hird [supremeor t ranscendent f orm] consists of contemplative worship [of thedeity's yantra]. Because deities are threef old in f orm,contemplative worship (upsti) is divided threef old respectivelyinto external sacrif ice (bahiryga) [performed primarily to thephysical fo rm of the deity], silent repetition (japa) [on the subtleform root-mantra] and internal sacrifice (antaryga) [in the form of contemplative worship (upsti)

of the yantra].[3]

Even though the bindu cakra [the "drop" in the center of the rcakra, is only one point] it has athreef old nature... The three deities created [and] not diff erent f rom [her supreme] peaceful (nta)[aspect] are [the three creative powers,namely,] Icchakti, Jnaakti, and Kriyakti. The female
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deities named Vm, Jyeh, and Raudr[identif ied with t he three aktis are complemented] by thethree [male consort] forms of Brahm, Viu, and Rudra which are not dif f erent creations f rom

[her all-subsuming aspect called] Ambik.[4]

Icchaktiis literally the 'power of will,' Jnaaktiis the 'power of knowledge,' and Kriyaktiis the'power of action.'

Brooks f urther notes:

The traditional interpretation o f Tripur's name in Tantric soteriology involves a rather technicaldiscussion of different levels of spiritual insight and worldly accomplishment, the fate of theindividual soul (tman) in the karmic process, and the concepts o f external (bahir-) and internal

sacrif ice (antaryga).[5]

Tripura also refers to the rcakra, the yantra that represents the highest vibrational form of

Tripurasundari, according to the commentator on the sutra of Gauapd.[6]Bhaskararaya notes in hiscommentary on Tripura Upaniad that the rcakra, composed of nine interlocking triangles, is triple innature.

References in Hindu literatureThe Lalitha Sahasranama describes her as extremely merciful and

leads a devotee to liberation.[citation needed] The Tripura SundariAshtakam byAdi Shankaracharya describes her as a Motherwearing a blue and red-spot ted dress and holding a pot of

honey.[citation needed] The Lalitopakyana tells o f the epic battlebetween her f orces and the forces of the arch-demonBhandasura.

Iconography

Tripurasundari is described as being of dusky, red, or golden incolor, depending on the meditational f orm, and in union with Shiva.The couple are traditionally port rayed on a bed, a throne, or apedestal that is upheld by Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Ishwar(another f orm of Shiva, depicted in the Tantras). She holds f ivearrows o r f lowers, a noose, a goad and a sugarcane or bow. Thenoose represents attachment, the goad represents repulsion, thesugarcane bow represents the mind and the arrows are the f ivesense objects.

Bala Tripurasundari is another f orm of Tripurasundari that ispictured either as an independent young goddess who is 16 yearsof age, or as an unmarried, pre-menarche girl of nine or ten yearsof age, also known as a kumari. Bala Tripurasundari's mantradif f ers slightly f rom that o f Maha Tripurasundari.

Tripurasundari is also worshipped as the Sri Yantra, which is considered by practitioners of Sri Vidya tobe a more t rue representation o f the goddess.

Tripurasundari combines in her being Kali's determination and Durgas charm, grace, and complexion. Shehas a third eye on her forehead. Usually four-armed and clad in red, the richly bejeweled Tripurasundari

sits on a lotus seat laid on a golden throne. She carries in her hands various att ributes associated withShiva. An aura of royalty characterizes her overall bearing and ambiance.

Influences on Indian History and Culture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durgahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Vidyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Yantrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kumarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bala_Tripurasundarihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rudrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishnuhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brahmahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shivahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lalitopakyana&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adi_Shankaracharyahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Tripura_Sundari_Ashtakam&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lalitha_Sahasranamahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lalita_statue.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhaskararayahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura_Sundari#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sri_Yantrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura_Sundari#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripura_Sundari#cite_note-4


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The Indianstate of Tripura derives its name from the goddess Tripura Sundari. Her main temple, theTripura Sundari temple is also located on to p of the hills near Radhakishorepur village, a little distanceaway from Udaipur town.

Kashmiri Pandits have a collection of f ive ancient hymns, collectively known as Panchastavi, that werecomposed ages ago in praise of Tripura Sundari. These ancient hymns still remain very popular among

this community.[citation needed]

Sri Ramakrishna worshipped his wife Ma Sarada Devi as Tripura Sundari during their lives.

See also

References

1. ^ Frawley, David: "Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses", page 89. Motilal BanarsidassPublishers, reprint 2005

2. ^ Danielou, Alain (1991). The Myths and Gods of India. Rochester, Vermont: Inner TraditionsInternational. pp. 278.

3. ^ Brooks, Douglas R. (1990). The Secret of the Three Cities: An Introduction to Hindu Sakta Tantrism.Chicago & London: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 80.

4. ^ Brooks, Douglas R. (1990). The Secret of the Three Cities: An Introduction to Hindu Sakta Tantrism.Chicago & London: The University of Chicago Press. pp. 97.

5. ^ Brooks, Douglas R. (1990). The Secret of the Three Cities: An Introduction to Hindu Sakta Tantrism.Chicago & London: The University of Chicago Press., 103.

6. ^ Joshi, L.M. (2009). Lalita Sahasranama: A Comprehensive Study of One Thousand Names of LalitaMaha-Tripurasundari (Tantra in Contemporary Research, No. 2). Delhi: DK Printworld. pp. 86.

Further reading

Kinsley, David. Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions.Berkeley: University o f California Press, 1998.

Dikshitar, V.R. Ramachandra. The Lalita Cult. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers Pvt Ltd, 1991.

Brooks, Douglas R. The Secret of the Three Cities: An Introduction to Hindu Sakta Tantrism.Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press, 1990.

Brooks, Douglas R.Auspicious Wisdom. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1992.

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En.wikipedia.org Tripura Sundari