Tripura Sundari, also called Shodashi, Lalita (lit. "She Who Plays"[1]) and Rajarajeshvari, is one of the group of ten goddesses of Hindu belief, collectively called mahavidyas. The other nine mahavidyas are Kali, Tara, Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamalatmika.
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 "the radiant light in the eyes of Shiva". 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, Rudra, 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 [1], that were composed ages ago in praise of Tripura Sundari. These ancient hymns still remain very popular among this community.
Tripura sundari or Lalita , is the goddess associated with Sri Vidya. The panchadashakshari mantra is the most guarded secrets of Sri Vidya, Usually a Guru gives it to the highly deserving disciple. As it is said in Lalita sahasranama, 'Na shathaya na dushtaya na vishwasaya karhichith sri mathra bhakti yuktaya sri vidya raja vediney' means, that this divine knowledge or vidya should not be taught or given to a person who is wicked, depraved person, unfaithful. It should be taught to only a deserving person as this is the King of all Vidyas. Lalita holds five flowery arrows, noose, goad and bow. The noose represents attachment, the goad represents repulsion, the sugarcane bow represents the mind and the flowery arrows are the five sense objects.
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