Goddess Shodashi is an aspect of Mother Lalitha Tripura Sundari represented as a sixteen-year-old girl, believed to actualize sixteen types of desires. Shodashi also means ‘vermillion hued.’ As Sundari, She is one of the Dasha Mahavidyas. It is sometimes written that Goddess Shodashi is Bala Tripurasundari or that Shod...Read more
Goddess Shodashi is an aspect of Mother Lalitha Tripura Sundari represented as a sixteen-year-old girl, believed to actualize sixteen types of desires. Shodashi also means ‘vermillion hued.’ As Sundari, She is one of the Dasha Mahavidyas. It is sometimes written that Goddess Shodashi is Bala Tripurasundari or that Shodashi is another name for Mother Lalitha Tripurasundari. It is conceded that Bala and Shodasi are aspects of the Devi. However Bala is the 9 year old virgin form of a young girl. Shodasi, in Sanskrit means 16, implying a teenage form. They both have legends and myths to support their respective roles to different levels of bhaktas. Shodasi’s story links Lord Siva and Mother Kali. A devotee who takes her refuge achieves great divinity. Even the Vedas are incapable of describing her greatness. Being pleased with her devotee she gives more than he demands.
Shodashi also refers to the sixteen syllable mantra, which consists of the fifteen syllable panchadasakshari mantra plus a final seed syllable. Indeed sixteen days form the completed lunar cycle from the new moon to the full moon. The full moon is the moon of sixteen days. This girl of sixteen rules over all that is perfect, complete, beautiful.The Shodashi Tantra refers to Shodashi as the "Beauty of the Three Cities," or which is literally Tripura sundari. It also means 'One who is beautiful in the three realms.' The three worlds are Swarkalokha, Bhulokha and Patalalokha.
So Shadoshi is the most beautiful girl in all these three places. It is also said that her body is is the collective Shaktis of Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra being Brahmani, Vaishnavi and Rudrani respectively. Shodasi is also said to be the radiant light in the eyes of Shiva. Her other name 'Lalita' implies softness. These two qualities give rise to images that depict her as ravishingly beautiful and of unsurpassed splendor. The Divine mother is to be meditated upon as shining in a vermilion-red body, with three eyes, sporting a crown of rubies studded with the crescent moon, a face all smiles, a splendid bust, one hand holding a jewel-cup brimming with mead, and the other twirling a red lotus.
The word Shodashi literally means sixteen in Sanskrit. She is thus visualized as a sweet girl of sixteen. She is depicted in several ways. As Kali, she sits naked and shares the features of the ferocious mother. She has four hands and three eyes. Otherwise She is also shown seated on the lotus, which is placed on the supine body of Shiva who is lying in a peaceful posture, who in turn lies on a throne supported by legs in the form of Lord Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Rudra. She holds a noose, a goad, a bow and an arrow in each of her hands. Symbolically the noose represents attachment; the goad represents repulsion; the sugarcane bow represents the mind and desires and the flowery arrows are the five sense objects.
The bow significantly is made of sugarcane, so it is also a symbol of sweetness. Her darts thus are sweetness personified. Her appearance is completely sober and gentle, her heart is full of compassion and she is ravishingly beautiful and of unsurpassed splendour.
Shodashi yantra brings blessings of harmony, properity and beauty into life. Worship of Shodashi yantra provides stability and supports peace, power and hapiness. Sodashi yantra brings protection on all levels.
Goddess Shodashi mantra:-
ऐं सौः क्लीं॥
Aim Sauh Kleem॥
Details of Goddess Shodashi yantra :-
- Metal - Brass with Gold polish
- Size - 3 inches x 3 inches
- Guage - Heavy
- Weight of yantra - 30 to 35 grams
- Benefits - Can be used in sadhana of Maa Shodashi and for her blessings