Tripura Sundari (Paperback)

High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Tripura Sundari (lit. "Beauty of Three Worlds"), also called Shodashi, Lalita (lit. "She Who Plays") and Rajarajeshvari, is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called mahavidyas. The goddess Tripura Sundari in her aspect as Shodasi is represented as a sixteen-year-old girl, and is believed to embody sixteen types of desire. The Shodasi Tantra, a treatise on the Tantra, describes Tripura Sundari as "Beauty Of Three Worlds." She is described as being of dusky color, and is depicted in an intimate position with an aspect of Shiva. The couple are shown on a bed, a throne, or a pedestal resting on the significant male gods of Hinduism like Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva, and Indra. The Indian state of Tripura derives its name from the goddess Tripura Sundari. Her main temple, the Tripura Sundari temple is also located on top of the hills near Radhakishorepur village, a little distance away from Udaipur town. Kashmiri Pandits have a collection of five ancient hymns, collectively known as Panchastavi, that were composed ages ago in praise of Tripura Sundari. These ancient hymns still remain very popular among this community.