About Tripurasundari (Shodasi)
Tripura Sundari, also known as Shodasi, represents Goddess Parvathi in her Tantric form. According to her dhyana mantra, her complexion shines with the light of the rising sun. This rosy colour represents joy, compassion and illumination. She is shown with four arms, holding five arrows of flowers, a noose, a goad and a sugarcane bow. The noose represents attachment, the goad represents repulsion, the sugarcane bow represents the mind, and the arrows are the five sense objects.
This is the story of Her manifestation. When Parvati left Her form as Kali and assumed the form of Gauri, Shiva addressed Her as Kali again and again. Parvati felt insulted and left that place. Shiva turned inward and began to remember the Goddess, but without seeing Her in person, He grew dismayed, wondering where She had gone. At that time, Narad Muni came to where Shiva sat meditating. Shiva narrated the occurrence to Narad and told him that Kali had left Him. Narad was pleased to hear of the rift between Shiva and Kali.
In his own meditation, Narad saw that Parvati was seated in meditation on Sumeru Mountain, in an inaccessible place. To widen the separation between Shiva and Parvati, Narad went to where She was meditating and told Her that Shiva was entering into a relationship with another woman, and that it would be proper for Her to stop Him. Hearing this from Narad's mouth, the Goddess was filled with anger. In this great anger, She assumed the form of the most beautiful young woman of sixteen years — Sorasi — and presented Herself before Shiva.
Seeing Her own reflection upon Shiva's chest and mistaking it for another woman, She grew angrier still, and said, 'When we were married, You gave Your heart to me for my residence. How can You now give Your heart to another woman?' Shiva replied, 'Look closely at my heart — the woman you see there is your own reflection.' When the Goddess looked closely and meditated carefully, She asked with great satisfaction, 'The woman I just saw in your heart — by what name shall She be known?' Shiva answered, 'This new form of Yours is one of the Mahavidyas, and Her name will be Shodasi, She who manifests the sixteen. In this form, you will manifest excellence.' Shodasi thus unites the sixteen syllables of Shiva and Shakti, the Supreme Goddess of all desires.
Beeja Mantra
Gayatri
