Tripurasundari Ashtakam

कदम्बवनचारिणीं मुनिकदम्बकादम्बिनीं
नितम्बजितभूधरां सुरनितम्बिनीसेविताम्।
नवाम्बुरुहलोचनामभिनवाम्बुदश्यामलां
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।

This opening verse sets the scene. We meet the divine mother. She roams in Kadamba forests. She acts like a rain cloud. Sages are like thirsty birds. They wait for her rain. Her hips defeat heavy mountains. Celestial women serve her constantly. Her eyes resemble fresh lotuses. Her dark skin looks stunning. It mimics a new rain cloud. She is Lord Shiva's beloved wife. We seek her ultimate shelter. The Kadamba forest is our mind. She wanders through our daily thoughts. Her rain clears out all dryness. Her presence brings deep inner peace. This cloud gives spiritual wisdom. It removes our worldly heat. She is the highest truth. God is perfectly beautiful. God is highly approachable. Pure devotion brings instant inner cooling.

कदम्बवनवासिनीं कनकवल्लकीधारिणीं
महार्हमणिहारिणीं मुखसमुल्लसद्वारुणीम्।
दयाविभवकारिणीं विशदरोचनाचारिणीं
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।

The description here highlights her form. She lives in the Kadamba forest. She holds a golden veena. This lute plays divine music. She wears highly precious gems. Her face glows with immense joy. She looks deeply intoxicated. This intoxication is pure bliss. She creates oceans of mercy. Her grace is boundless wealth. She wears bright sandal paste. We take refuge in her. She is Lord Shiva's divine family. The veena represents cosmic sound. Her music controls all creation. The gems are shining virtues. True wealth is her endless mercy. She smiles with total freedom. The joy comes from deeply within. Bliss is our true natural state. Inner music quiets the busy mind. Her grace awakens true inner silence.

कदम्बवनशालया कुचभरोल्लसन्मालया
कुचोपमितशैलया गुरुकृपलसद्वेलया।
मदारुणकपोलया मधुरगीतवाचालया
कयापि घनलीलया कवचिता वयं लीलया।

A deeper truth is revealed here. We are protected by divine grace. She resides in the Kadamba grove. A garland shines on her chest. Her form is perfectly balanced. She is a wave of mercy. This mercy comes from the Guru. Her cheeks are slightly red. They show her blissful mood. She sings very sweet songs. We are covered by her play. She plays like a dark cloud. Her divine play is totally effortless. We wear her grace like armor. The world is just her play. She teaches through sweet music. The Guru is the supreme mother. Grace protects us from worldly harm. Our ego drops in her presence. True safety lies in deep surrender. This magical armor never fails.

कदम्बवनमध्यगां कनकमण्डलोपस्थितां
षडम्बुरुवासिनीं सततसिद्धसौदामिनीम्।
विडम्बितजपारुचिं विकचचन्द्रचूडामणिं
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।

Notice how the verse presents her. She sits within the Kadamba forest. She rests on a golden disc. She lives in six lotuses. These are the six energy chakras. She is a constant lightning flash. She guides the perfect ancient sages. Her redness mocks the hibiscus flower. Her bright glow defeats the flower. She wears a bright full moon. This moon is her crown jewel. We seek this great divine mother. She is Lord Shiva's beautiful wife. The golden disc is pure awareness. The chakras map our spiritual journey. She travels up the human spine. Her energy opens every closed door. Her lightning brings quick inner light. The moon signifies cool divine wisdom. Inner awakening happens in a flash. Spiritual rise brings total mental clarity.

कुचाञ्चितविपञ्चिकां कुटिलकुन्तलालङ्कृतां
कुशेशयनिवासिनीं कुटिलचित्तविद्वेषिणीम्।
मदारुणविलोचनां मनसिजारिसम्मोहिनीं
मतङ्गमुनिकन्यकां मधुरभाषिणीमाश्रये।

Why does the text say this? She hates all crooked minds. She demands absolute inner purity. She plays a beautiful golden veena. Curly hair adorns her sweet face. She lives inside a fresh lotus. She hates all deceitful dark thoughts. Her eyes are red with bliss. She enchants Lord Shiva himself. Shiva is the enemy of desire. She is Sage Matanga's lovely daughter. Her speech is incredibly sweet. I seek her divine supreme shelter. The lotus is a pure heart. She only lives in pure hearts. Crookedness blocks the pure divine light. Her music demands very straight intentions. She charms the greatest strict ascetic. Pure love wins over strict detachment. Pure devotion moves the highest god. Honesty is the best spiritual practice.

स्मरेत्प्रथमपुष्पिणीं रुधिरबिन्दुनीलाम्बरां
गृहीतमधुपात्रिकां मदविघूर्णनेत्राञ्चलाम्।
घनस्तनभरोन्नतां गलितचूलिकां श्यामलां
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।

Building on earlier points we shift. We must meditate on her form. She is in her first bloom. She wears a dark blue dress. Red spots decorate her lovely clothes. She holds a cup of wine. Her eyes roll with deep intoxication. She has a majestic beautiful form. Her dark hair is loosely tied. Her beautiful skin is dark blue. She is Lord Shiva's own family. The wine is pure divine nectar. This nectar is ultimate spiritual bliss. Her loose hair shows pure freedom. She is completely unbound by worldly rules. The first bloom signifies fresh creation. Life constantly renews itself through her. She is the eternal youthful source. True spiritual joy feels like intoxication. This joy never fades away.

सकुङ्कुमविलेपनामलिकचुम्बिकस्तूरिकां
समन्दहसितेक्षणां सशरचापपाशाङ्कुशाम्।
अशेषजनमोहिनीमरुणमाल्यभूषाम्बरां
जपाकुसुरभासुरां जपविधौ स्मराम्यम्बिकाम्।

This moment in teaching shows weapons. I remember her during daily chanting. She wears thick red kumkum paste. A musk dot kisses her forehead. Her lovely eyes hold gentle smiles. She holds a wooden bow. She holds sharp arrows. She holds a binding noose. She holds an elephant goad. She charms the entire wide universe. She wears fresh red flower garlands. Her divine clothes are bright red. She shines like a hibiscus flower. The weapons are great spiritual tools. The bow represents the human mind. The arrows are our five senses. The noose pulls us toward god. The goad strikes down our ego. Her gentle smile removes all fear. Spiritual practice requires deep mental focus. Her red color is active energy. Meditation requires deep love. It requires firm discipline.

पुरन्दरपुरन्ध्रिकां चिकुरबन्धसैरन्ध्रिकां
पितामहपतिव्रतापटुपटीरचर्चारताम्।
मुकुन्दरमणीमणीलसदलङ्क्रियाकारिणीं
भजामि भुवनम्बिकां सुरवधूटिकाचेटिकाम्।

This final line explains her status. I worship the great universal mother. Indra's wife acts as her maid. She ties the divine mother's hair. Brahma's wife applies fragrant sandal paste. Saraswati serves her with great skill. Vishnu's wife arranges her shiny jewels. Lakshmi decorates her with great care. Celestial women act as her servants. She is the highest supreme power. The trinity's wives humbly serve her. This shows her absolute total supremacy. Great worldly powers serve her well. She is beyond all earthly gods. The supreme reality commands all forces. Worldly powers are just her maids. She is the ultimate divine source. Realizing her brings every other blessing. Seek the absolute master. Do not chase the mere servants.

कदम्बवनचारिणीं मुनिकदम्बकादम्बिनीं
नितम्बजितभूधरां सुरनितम्बिनीसेविताम्।
नवाम्बुरुहलोचनामभिनवाम्बुदश्यामलां
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।
कदम्बवनवासिनीं कनकवल्लकीधारिणीं
महार्हमणिहारिणीं मुखसमुल्लसद्वारुणीम्।
दयाविभवकारिणीं विशदरोचनाचारिणीं
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।
कदम्बवनशालया कुचभरोल्लसन्मालया
कुचोपमितशैलया गुरुकृपलसद्वेलया।
मदारुणकपोलया मधुरगीतवाचालया
कयापि घनलीलया कवचिता वयं लीलया।
कदम्बवनमध्यगां कनकमण्डलोपस्थितां
षडम्बुरुवासिनीं सततसिद्धसौदामिनीम्।
विडम्बितजपारुचिं विकचचन्द्रचूडामणिं
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।
कुचाञ्चितविपञ्चिकां कुटिलकुन्तलालङ्कृतां
कुशेशयनिवासिनीं कुटिलचित्तविद्वेषिणीम्।
मदारुणविलोचनां मनसिजारिसम्मोहिनीं
मतङ्गमुनिकन्यकां मधुरभाषिणीमाश्रये।
स्मरेत्प्रथमपुष्पिणीं रुधिरबिन्दुनीलाम्बरां
गृहीतमधुपात्रिकां मदविघूर्णनेत्राञ्चलाम्।
घनस्तनभरोन्नतां गलितचूलिकां श्यामलां
त्रिलोचनकुटुम्बिनीं त्रिपुरसुन्दरीमाश्रये।
सकुङ्कुमविलेपनामलिकचुम्बिकस्तूरिकां
समन्दहसितेक्षणां सशरचापपाशाङ्कुशाम्।
अशेषजनमोहिनीमरुणमाल्यभूषाम्बरां
जपाकुसुरभासुरां जपविधौ स्मराम्यम्बिकाम्।
पुरन्दरपुरन्ध्रिकां चिकुरबन्धसैरन्ध्रिकां
पितामहपतिव्रतापटुपटीरचर्चारताम्।
मुकुन्दरमणीमणीलसदलङ्क्रियाकारिणीं
भजामि भुवनम्बिकां सुरवधूटिकाचेटिकाम्।

kadambavanachaarineem munikadambakaadambineem
nitambajitabhoodharaam suranitambineesevitaam.
navaamburuhalochanaamabhinavaambudashyaamalaam
trilochanakut'umbineem tripurasundareemaashraye.
kadambavanavaasineem kanakavallakeedhaarineem
mahaarhamanihaarineem mukhasamullasadvaaruneem.
dayaavibhavakaarineem vishadarochanaachaarineem
trilochanakut'umbineem tripurasundareemaashraye.
kadambavanashaalayaa kuchabharollasanmaalayaa
kuchopamitashailayaa gurukri'palasadvelayaa.
madaarunakapolayaa madhurageetavaachaalayaa
kayaapi ghanaleelayaa kavachitaa vayam leelayaa.
kadambavanamadhyagaam kanakamand'alopasthitaam
shad'amburuvaasineem satatasiddhasaudaamineem.
vid'ambitajapaaruchim vikachachandrachood'aamanim
trilochanakut'umbineem tripurasundareemaashraye.
kuchaanchitavipanchikaam kut'ilakuntalaalankri'taam
kusheshayanivaasineem kut'ilachittavidveshineem.
madaarunavilochanaam manasijaarisammohineem
matangamunikanyakaam madhurabhaashineemaashraye.
smaretprathamapushpineem rudhirabinduneelaambaraam
gri'heetamadhupaatrikaam madavighoornanetraanchalaam.
ghanastanabharonnataam galitachoolikaam shyaamalaam
trilochanakut'umbineem tripurasundareemaashraye.
sakunkumavilepanaamalikachumbikastoorikaam
samandahasitekshanaam sasharachaapapaashaankushaam.
asheshajanamohineemarunamaalyabhooshaambaraam
japaakusurabhaasuraam japavidhau smaraamyambikaam.
purandarapurandhrikaam chikurabandhasairandhrikaam
pitaamahapativrataapat'upat'eeracharchaarataam.
mukundaramaneemaneelasadalankriyaakaarineem
bhajaami bhuvanambikaam suravadhoot'ikaachet'ikaam.