In Hinduism, Devi Shodashi, also known as Tripura Sundari, is the third form of power among the Das Mahavidya after Goddess Kali and Goddess Tara. The word ‘Tripura’ in Sanskrit is combination of two words ‘tri’ or traya meaning three and ‘pura’ means city. Tripura thus refers to three cities built of gold, silver, and iron in the sky, air and earth by Maya and burnt by Shiva. Goddess Shodashi is also popularly known as Lalita (‘she who plays) and Rajarajeswari (‘Queen of the Queens’). She is also worshipped as Shri Yantra.
Goddess Shodashi is the most beautiful form in the three worlds (swargaloka, bhuloka and patalaloka). In Mahavidya she is defined as Goddess Parvati and as Tantric Parvati. Mata Shodashi is worshipped in the form of a sixteen-year-old girl and is believed that she fulfils sixteen types of desire of her devotees. She is worshiped by chanting a mantra of sixteen syllables. It is said that she has the collective powers of Brahma, Vishnu, and Rudra expressed as Brahmani, Vaishnabi And Rudrani. She has the charm of Goddess Durga and determination of Goddess Kali.
A devotee who completely surrenders to mother Shodashi is always blessed beyond expectation by the mother. The divine Mother appears calm and looks bold and charming as an innocent and a sweet sixteen-year-old girl and she is dressed in bright red costume and ornaments. Goddess Shodashi is the Goddess of love and family welfare.
Goddess Shodashi is red or golden complexioned and seated on a lotus placed on a golden throne. The idols and images of Maa Shodashi, is found to appear on a lotus on supine body of Lord Shiva lying in a peaceful position on a plank which is upheld by Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra, Ishana and Sadashiva. Goddess Shodashi has a third eye on her forehead. Her four hands carry a noose, a goad, a sugarcane as a bow, and five arrows in each, respectively. Here, noose represents attachment or to bind, goad represents repulsion or to drive away, bow indicates mind and desires, and arrows indicates five senses.
In connection to Goddess Shodashi there is a beautiful story. Once Lord Shiva referred his consort as Kali by name, in the presence of some beautiful and fair complexioned Apsaras of Heaven. Kali means black and unattractive. Goddess Kali was shocked and angered at Lord Shiva’s behaviour and felt disappointed with her own dark complexion. Feeling insulted she left Shiva and started meditation to get rid of her black complexion at an unknown place. When Devarshi Narad visited Lord Shiva he found the Lord alone. When he got to know from Lord Shiva about Goddess Kali’s exit, then Narad being a great sage could locate the Devi through meditation. Lord Brahma, by that time, being pleased with her meditation granted Lord Kali a boon to be fair complexioned. Devarshi Narad met Goddess Kali in the north of Sumeru Parvat and requested her to go back home. He played a trick and told her that Lord Siva had decided to marry someone else. Goddess Kali, however, was not aware that her complexion was changed.
Goddess Kali returned Kailash, the abode of Lord Siva. She could see the image of a fair complexioned beautiful young girl in his heart. The Devi did not realize that it was the reflexion of the Devi herself and this enraged her.
Lord Siva smiled and told her to look back at the image. At this she could realize that it was the reflection of herself. Her happiness knew no bound. She felt overjoyed to see her new look. Lord Siva named her ‘Shodashi’ respecting her new appearance and announced that Goddess Shodashi would be worshipped by all the three worlds with devotion.
Hope you loved the story. This is just a narration based on legend and I would prefer to derive from the story that outward appearance has nothing to do in our life. When through meditation and through spiritual practices, our mind comes to control, we get rid of all the disappointments and anger and we calm down, get determined, become strong internally and feel uplifted. This however reflects on our face and gives a positive appearance.
Let the blessings of the Devi enrich your life. To share your thoughts please email us at contactareaderscorner@gmail.com
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