\LARGE Tripurasundari Ashtakam with meaning


.. s:aT: e*:p:rs:nder Ak..


Introduction:
``tripurasundari aShTakaM" is an octal  hymn , praising
Goddess tripurasundari, composed by Adi sha.nkara, in a group
of eight shlokams, all set in prithvi metre consisting
of 17 syllables to each line, with a yati (pause) at
syllable 8 and 17. (Note that the hymn, Saundaryalahari,
also has 17 letters to each line, but the poetic
metre there is shikhariNi, which is entirely different).
The feminine noun "tripurasundari" means  beauty `par excellence',
in the triad (tripura). The word "tripura" can be interpreted
in several ways.  First, The kALlikA purANaM states that
by the will of the pradhAna (the First Principle), the
body of shiva became triple: the upper part became brahma, the middle,
vishNu, and the lower, rudra, As these three  "pura"s (bodies) are in
Him, shiva is called tripura, and his spouse is tripurA
In this context, it is interesting to note the following.
In Andhra Pradesh, about 20 kilomnetres from Kalahasthi, there is
a small shiva shrine and liN\^_gaM, at Gudimallam. It is believed this
shiva liN\^_ghaM was installed by parasurAma.  The lower part bears the
form
of a gAndharva, the middle part, that of parasurAma with a turban, and
the upper part, that of shiva liN\^_gaM.  Under a curse, once brahma
became a gAndharwa, by name CitrasEna. Therefore, the lower part
could be brahma, and the middle one vishNu, since parasurama is
an avatAraM of vishNu.  This fact is mentioned in the Tamil
book: ``Jagadguruvin Upadeshangal" (Appendix, page 23, 1957).
tripura has another meaning: The dEvi's mantra consists of three
syllables; the paJNchadashaakshari mantraM is composed of three
peaks (kUTa), namely vAgbhatakUTa, kAmarAja kUTa, and
shakta kUTa. The nADis (nerves currents) where she resides are three:
sushumna, piN\^_gaLa, and ida). Her shaktis are three, ichcha, kriya, and
GYAna.  Now, to the actual hymn:



          !
.. AT: e*:p:rs:nder Akm:..

kdmb:v:n:c:aerN:i m:en:kdmb:kademb:n:i
en:t:mb:ej:t:B:D:ra s:ren:t:emb:n:is:ev:t:am: .
n:v:amb:,hl::c:n:a AeB:n:v:amb:dSy:am:l:a
e*:l::c:n:kXemb:n:i e*:p:rs:ndrim:a:y: .. 1..

Meaning
Ah:  I;
e*:p:rs:ndri: (in/to) Goddess tripurasundari;
A::y:: seek shelter in (pay obeisance to).
The remaining phrases are adjectives that qualify the accusative noun
(dvitIyA vibhakti) ``tripurasundarIM";
kdmb: v:n: c:ern:i: who is roaming in the kadamba forest.
Kadamba is a kind of tree (Nauclea cadamba). It is
said to put forth orange coloured fragrant buds at the roaring of
thunder clouds.  A withered relic of the kadamba tree is still preserved
in the precincts of the Madurai Meenakshi temple.  Here,
kadamba forest stands for the universe which devi permeates.
m:en: kdmb: kademb:n:i: a galaxy of clouds to the galaxy of rishis
(sages).  Just as the bank of clouds quenches the thirst of the
earthly beings, so does tripurasundari quench the
spiritual thirst of the munis (sages).
en:t:mb::  hip;
ej:t: B:D:ra: conquering (excelling) the mountains
(whose hip excels the mountain);
s:r en:t:emb:n:i s:ev:t:a:  who is served by celestial damsels;
n:v:ab:,h l::c:n:a: whoes eyes resemble fresh lotus;
AeB:n:v:ab:d Sy:am:l:a: who is swarthy like the newly formed
nimbus.
e*:l::c:n:kXemb:n:i: who belongs to the family of the three-eyed
one (Lord shiva);


kdmb:v:n:v:aes:n:i kn:kv:ll:kiD:aerN:i
m:hahm:eN:haerN:i m:K:s:m:ll:s:a,N:im: .
dy:aev:B:v:kaerN:i ev:S:dl::c:n:i c:aerN:i
e*:l::c:n:kXemb:n:i e*:p:rs:ndrim:a:y: .. 2..

Meaning:
(Ahm:)e*:p:rs:ndri A::y:: (as in the above shlokaM);
kdmb: v:n: v:aes:n:i:  (as in shlokaM 1);
kn:k v:ll:ki D:aerN:i: who holds a golden VINa;
m:hah m:eN: haerN:i:  who wears a garland of precious gems;
m:K: s:m:ll:s:d v:aerN:i: whose face  glows deeply with ambrosia;
dy:aev:B:v: kaerN:i:  bestowing prosperity through mercy;
ev:S:d l::c:n:i: clear eyed;
c:aerN:i: wandering.


kdmb:v:n:S:al:y:a kc:m:r:ll:s:nm:al:y:a
kc::p:em:t:S:l:y:a g:,kp:al:s:l:y:a .
m:da,N:kp::l:y:a m:D:rg:it:v:ac:al:y:a
ky:a|ep: G:n:n:il:y:a kv:ec:t:a v:y: l:il:y:a .. 3..

Meaning:
v:y::  we;
l:il:y:a: by her inscrutable play;
kv:ec:t:a: (we) are arrayed in panoply.
the remaining phrases qualify the noun ``lIlayA";
kdmb:v:n: S:al:y:a: by her abode in the kadamba forest (meaning here,
the entire universe);
kc:m:r:ll:s:n: m:al:y:a: by the garland gracing her massive bosoms;
kc::p:em:t: S:l:y:a: by her bosoms rivalling the mountains
(represents her cosmic motherhood, and eagerness to
nourish the entire world).
g:,kp:al:s:d v:l:y:a:  by splendid flow of Her Grace;
m:da,N: kp::l:y:a: with cheeks rudded by wine;
m:D:rg:it: v:ac:al:y:a: by her melodious musical voice;
ky:aep: G:n: n:il:y:a: by her cloud-like blue.


kdmb:v:n:m:Dy:g:a kn:km:NRl::p:esT:t:a
\:Rmb:,hv:aes:n:i s:t:t:es:s::daem:n:im: .
ev:Remb:t:j:p:a,ec: ev:kc:c:ndc:Ram:eN:
e*:l::c:n:kXemb:n:i e*:p:rs:ndrim:a:y: .. 4..

Meaning:
(Ahm:)e*:p:rs:ndri A::y:: (as in shlokam 1);
kdmb: v:n: m:Dy:g:a: who is in the midst of kadamba forest;
kn:k m:NRl::p:esT:t:a: seated on the golden disc;
\:Rmb:,h v:aes:n:i: who resides in six lotus flowers;
s:t:t: es: s::D:aem:n:i: a lightning to the constant siddhas;
ev:Remb:t: j:p:a ,ec:: splenderously mocking the scarlet (red)
Hibiscous flower;
ev:kc: c:nd c:Ram:eN:: with cloudless moon for her
crest jewel;
e*:l::c:n: kXemb:n:i: (as in shlokam  1).


kc:aeWc:t:ev:p:eWc:ka keXl:knt:l:al:kt:a
kS:S:y:en:v:aes:n:i keXl:ec::ev:e\:N:im: .
m:da,N:ev:l::c:n:a m:n:es:j:aers:m::ehn:i
m:t:m:en:kny:ka m:D:rB:ae\:N:im:a:y: .. 5..

Meaning:
(A:h) : I;
A::y::  seek shelter in  (Her, who is);
kc:aeWc:t: ev:p:eWc:ka: with a Vina gracing her bosom;
keXl: knT:l:al:kt:a:  adorned with curly tresses of hair;
kS:s:y: en:v:aes:n:i:  residing in lotus;
keXl: ec:: ev:e\:N:i: scorning the evil-minded ones;
m:da,N: ev:l::c:n:a: reddish eyed from nectar;
m:n:es:j:aer s:mm::ehn:i: captivating the enemy of Cupid (shiva);
m:t: m:en: kny:ka:  daughter of  sage mataN\^_ga;
m:D:r B:ae\:N:i: mellifluously conversing.


sm:r)T:m:p:e\p:N:i ,eD:reb:ndn:il:amb:ra
g:hit:m:D:p:ae*:ka m:dev:ZN:n:*:aWc:l:am: .
G:n:st:n:B:r:t:a g:el:t:c:el:ka Sy:am:l:a
e*:l::c:n:kXemb:n:i e*:p:rs:ndrim:a:y: .. 6..

Meaning:
(Ahm:)e*:p:rs:ndri A::y:: (as in shlokam 1);
sm:r )T:m: p:e\p:N:i: who bears the first flower of manmatha
(Cupid);
,eD:r eb:nd n:il:amb:ra: clad in blue garments spotted
sanguine (red);
g:hit: m:D: p:ae*:ka:  holding a bowl of wine;
m:d ev:ZN: n:*:aWc:l:a: eyes inebriated languishing at the ends;
G:n: st:n: B:r:t:a: close set with high and heavy bosom;
g:el:t: c:el:ka:  with locks dishevelled;
Sy:aml:a:  swarthy one;
e*:l::c:n: kXemb:n:i: (as in shlokaM 1).


s:km:ev:l:p:n:a Al:kc:emb:kst:erka
s:m:ndhes:t:x:N:a s:S:rc:ap:p:aS:aS:am: .
AS:\:j:n:m::ehn:i A,N:m:aly:B:\:amb:ra
j:p:aks:m:B:as:ra j:p:ev:D:: sm:ramy:emb:ka .. 7..

Meaning:
( Ah) : I;
Aemb:ka : ambikA Mother (dvitIya vibhakti);
j:p:ev:D::: in (during) Japa (meditation);
sm:raem::  remember;
The remaining phrases qualify the noun: ambikAM:;
s: km: ev:l:p:n:a:  smeared with vermillion;
Al:k c:emb: kst:erka: forelocks grazing the dot of musk;
s: m:nd hes:t:x:N:a:  with looks soft and smiling;
s: S:r c:ap: p:aS:aS:a:  bearing arrows, bow, snare and goad;
AS:\: j:n: m::ehn:i: deluding the entire people;
A,N: m:aly: B:S:amb:ra:  wearing (decorating her body with)
red garments;
j:p:aks:m: B:as:ra: shining with the japA flower
NOTE: This particular shlokam is considered very sacred, and it
is included  in the "dhyANa shlokaM" segment of both lalitA
sahasranAmaM, as well as  lalitA trishati.


 p:rndrp:reD:ka ec:krb:nD:s:reD:ka
 ep:t:am:hp:et:v:t:a p:Xp:Xirc:c:art:am: .
 m:kndrm:N:im:N:i l:s:dl:e{#y:akaerN:i
 B:j:aem: B:v:n:aeb:ka s:rv:D:eXkac:eXkam: .. 8..

Meaning:
( Ah) : I;
B:v:n:aemb:ka:  mother of the entire world (dvitIya vibhakti);
B:j:aem:: worship (salute) The remaining words qualify the noun "ambikAM";
p:rndr p:reD:ka:   ruling over the entire srI puraM;
ec:kr b:nD: s:renD:ka: who has the celestial queen for plaiting tresses;
ep:t:am:h p:et:v:t:a: consort of Lord brahma;
p:X p:Xir c:c:a rt:a:  skilful for anointing sandal paste;
m:knd rm:N:i m:n:i: gem of vishNu's spouse;
l:s:d Al:ky:a kaerN:i: adorning with lustrous  gems;
s:rv:D:eXka c:eXka: having heavenly damsels for servant maids.


 .. Eet:  e*:p:rs:nder Akm: s:mp:N:m: ..

Thus ends the octal hymn on Tripurasundai
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