Tripura Sundari Mantra: KLEEM

(pronounced KLEEM)

The Goddess Tripura Sundari is the beauty (Sundari) of the three (Tri) realms (Pura). She is the divine feminine who is the primal shakti energy. Tripura Sundari is seated upon a throne like a queen, adorned not only with the most beautiful gems and clothing, but also by the gods in all aspects. Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, the trilogy - of birth, life and death surround her, she often has Saraswati and Lakshmi on either side of her too. Under her body is the reclined Shiva. Tripura is worshipped through the Sri Yantra and this Shodashi (Tripura Sundari as a sixteen year old) Yantra. Tripura Sundari is sparkling red, either naked or clothed in fine red cloth symbolizing the ecstatic state. She appears brighter than a thousand Suns and has a crescent moon on her head.

Of all the Mahavidyas (great wisdom goddesses) Tripura Sundari, this third emanation of the Mahavidyas is the one who dwells in all places. She is also known as Lalita, the grace-filled one and Kameshvari, the One whose nature is desire. Here the embodiment of Tantra as a sexual, sensual, palpable, loving expression takes her form. With her worship the intertwining of desire, sexuality, expressive speech and spirituality are one. The divine is alive and well on this earthly plane, and it is here too you can connect with the sublime. She is also known as SriVidya and Raj Rajeshwari, the governess of all of creation.

Tripura Sundari is described in many of the Tantras, sacred scriptures of the gods and goddesses and their role in creation. Her emergence, or appearance stories change from Tantra to Tantra. Generally she is said to have arisen as the force of creation at a time of destruction and imbalance. She re-created the whole universe out of her desire. In another story to attain the love of Shiva, she transforms into this stunningly beautiful form to reveal her radiance and presence in the three realms. She is worshipped by all the gods, one lovely story is that the gems from their crowns fell at her feet when they bowed down to worship her, they were then used to adorn her. She is also depicted in her more ‘fierce’ form, in the Himalayas, worshipped by the sages and ascetics, wearing a tiger skin wrap and a snake for a garland, her hair is dreadlocks, she is covered in ash and the flowers that adorn her. This is hardly fierce but denotes her inner aspect, akin to the image we have of Shiva in the Himalayas and their state of deep meditation.

If you are drawn to this image of Tripura Sundari, use the mantra KLEEM and gaze at the center of this Yantra. It will bring you the inner knowing that you are in the right place at the right time and that your innermost desires are starting to take form. When this starts to happen ‘she’ who is beautiful will start to emanate from your heart and manifest around you. This is the path of ecstatic bliss. This is most auspicious as your mundane realms start to merge with the mystical and you will see beauty everywhere.