T R I P U R A   B H A I R A V I

PART 1   |   PART 2   |   PART 3   |   PART 4

PART 3
As we already mentioned in our previous articles, the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi represents the terrible form of manifestation for God.

She is in close connection with Chandi, the terrible, "angry" aspect of God. This goddess is at the same time the goddess worshiped in the famous Hindu poem "Devi Mahatmya".

This poem is also named "Durga Saptasati" or simply "Chandi" and it describes the way in which the Great Goddess defeats all demons opposing Her.

This is partly why Tripura Bhairavi is also known as the "warrior woman", who, through Her powers manifested as divinely inspired speech and extraordinary force of the subtle fire leads to a tremendous purification in the devotee's heart.

She eliminates all the obstacles standing in the path of the awakening and elevation of the devotee's consciousness. In her aspect of Chandi, one can invoke the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi in order to eliminate the obstacles that tend to block the path towards pleasure, prosperity, harmony and spiritual freedom.

Another form of manifestation for the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi is as the goddess Mahishasura Mardini, the ten armed glorious defeater of the demon Mahishasura, who is the embodiment of burning passions, especially sexual passions that tie the human being to this world of illusion and suffering through negative karma .


THE FIRE OF ALCHEMY REVEALS THE DIVINE BEAUTY
As in the case of the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Sundari, the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi "exists in and governs over the three worlds of Creation".

However, while Sundari signifies the beauty of the three worlds, Bhairavi represents their terrible aspect. This is an important indication of the fact that in reality, beauty and the terrible, frightening aspects are mere facets of the divine unity in manifestation.

Tantric wisdom states that the human being will naturally go on the path from "terrible" to "beautiful".

In other words, first the devotee has to face the transforming action of the heat and light of the terrible spiritual fire (Tripura Bhairavi), and only afterwards will they get to enjoy the "cooling" and divine beauty offered by Tripura Sundari.


HER BRIGHTNESS PURIFIES THE UNIVERSES
On the other hand, the three-folded aspect of the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi refers to agni (fire), vidyut (lightning) and surya (sun), which represent the three forms of light characteristic to the three worlds, the inferior world, the intermediary world and the superior world, corresponding to the physical, astral and causal universes.

The Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi is also depicted in the form of the three goddess who defeated the demons, from the text Devi Mahatmya. These goddesses are Mahalakshmi, Mahakali and Mahasarasvati, representing the three great forms of Lakshmi, Vishnu 's consort, Kali, Shiva 's consort, and respectively Sarasvati, Brahma 's consort.

These represent the three great forms of the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi, as destroyer of the obstacles and hardships on one's spiritual path.


SHE BRINGS HARMONY INTO THE DEVOTEE'S LIFE
The Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi is also the consort of Shiva in His frightening aspect, Bhairava .

Bhairava was known as Rudra, the "angry" god, who was one of the most important deities in the ancient Vedic pantheon, from which later on the Hindu tradition took Shiva.

Shiva is the peace and tranquility that follow after the terrible display of Rudra's forces, whose main target is the "adjustment" of the devotee's life to the parameters of the divine laws and harmony.

From this point of view, Rudra represents the terrible power of the divine logos, and therefore Bhairavi, His consort, is also known as Rudrani.

The subtle dwelling of the Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi is the subtle center of force Muladhara Chakra, placed at the base of the spine.

The Great Cosmic Power Tripura Bhairavi actually represents the ascension of the fundamental energy Kundalini and its purifying action through all the levels of the human being.

PART 1   |   PART 2   |   PART 3   |   PART 4