Beliefs and Spirituality

I was first introduced to this beautiful goddess when I was going through some tough times in my life. My mother told me to take the VRAT and do a 48 days puja for the goddess. I had no clue though I had vaguely heard about this name. I just plunged in without a blink of an eye to do this puja. By the end of it, they were many things happening that were good for me and bringing happiness and abundance into my life. This made me strongly believe in this beautiful goddess and ever since I have prayed to her regularly.

Again about two years back she came back to me and I meditated on her for 48 days again and did a puja at home with a havan. After which the goddess has made her place in my heart and I pray to her every day without fail. This made me want to read more and understand more about this beautiful goddess since I worship and I strongly believe in her. I’m giving you all a small write-up of what I have read, learned and understood about this beautiful goddess.

About Tripurasundari

Tripurasundari is also known as Sodashi and Lalita. She is a Hindu goddess and is mainly venerated in Shaktism. The goddess-oriented sect of Hinduism is called Shaktism. She’s also prominent in the Mahavidya. She’s also glorified in many shakti texts with Lalita Sahasranama being the most popular one. The Lalita Sahasranama lists a thousand names of the goddess.

According to the Srikula tradition in Shaktism, Tripura Sundari is the foremost of Mahavidyas and the highest aspect of Goddess Adi ParaShakti. The Tripura Upanishad places her as the ultimate shakti ( energy, power) of the universe. She is described as the supreme Consciousness ruling from above Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra. She’s also believed to be sitting on Sadasiva’s lap in his Kameshvar form the lord of desire. She’s also believed to be the primary God who is associated with Shakta traditions known as Srividya.

To understand a little more about this beautiful goddess let us break down the meaning of her name. In Sanskrit, the word Tripura is a combination of two Sanskrit words. Tri meaning three or Trayas and Pura meaning a city or a citadel but also understood to be the three cities built of gold, silver, and iron in the sky air, and earth by Maya for the Asuras and burnt down by Lord Shiva. However, Tripura can also mean Shivshakti while Sundari means a beautiful woman.

Another interesting meaning of Tripura is the three states of consciousness. Therefore Tripura Sundari literally means “she who is beautiful in the three states of consciousness”.
She is also called Tripura because she is identical with a triangle( Trikona) that symbolizes the yoni and that forms for chakra.
She’s also called Tripura because Mantra has three clusters of syllables in it. Here Tripura is identified with the alphabet from which all sounds and words proceed and which is often understood to occupy a primordial place in Tantric cosmology. She is threefold, furthermore because she expresses herself in Brahma Vishnu and Shiva. She also plays a role in the creation, maintaining, and destroying of the universe.

She is seen as threefold also because she represents the subject(maul), instrument(Mina), and object( Meya)of all things. She is also identified with reality expressed in terms of speech which involves a speaker which is said and objects to which the words refer.

Tripura Sundari is also known by the name as Sodasi( she who is the sixteenth) Lalitā, Kāmesśvarī, Śrīvidyā, and RajaRajeshwari. The Sodashi Tantra refers to Shodashi as the “beauty of the three cities” or Tripura Sundari.

She is Tripura because she is beyond the three Gunas. She dwells in the three worlds of manas, buddhi, and Chitta. She is Trayi, The unified combination of the three gods Lord Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. She is also known as the graceful one ( Lalita) and Kameshwari( the desire principle of the supreme).

The Goddess is worshipped in her many forms and under various names. Elaborate ritualistic worships are also offered to her during Navrati festivities. Lalitha Sahasranama is an extremely sacred religious text which gives out a thousand names of the Goddess. Praying to the goddess and also chanting the slokas in praise of her is believed to bless the Devotees with various benefits like wealth, health, and a life of fulfillment.

All one needs is to believe and surrender at her lotus feet. Though it’s not easy to pray to her as many tests are put out for you to just check on your level of commitment and intentions. When you do clear these obstacles ( it could be in any form ) which is placed receiving her blessings is truly meant to be. There is no good day for a start, the day you decide is a good day for you. Although during Navaratri it would be more beneficial and powerful to pray to her.
( to be continued importance of Lalitha Sashranamam )
( Referred to Google/ Wikipedia)
So it is

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