Wrút2; std{; OEtËg JhtratctuAEt; > Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached! Traditional Wisdom 1PB January 2016 ef$ehegjesheefve<eled efleoee: hegjeqm$eheLee efJeÕeÛe<e&Ceer De$eekeâLee De#eje: meefVeefJe„e: ~ DeefOe...eÙewvee Depeje hegjeCeer cenòeje ceefncee osJeleeveeced ~~ 1 ~~ Tisrah purastripatha vishvacharshani atrakatha aksharah sannivishtah. Adhishtayaina ajara purani mahattara mahima devatanam. (1) She rules over three cities [or abodes of moksha, which are attained by the Divine Mother's grace by], three paths [or this Sri Chakra, for her] children of the universe. [Hence, she is called Tripura. She has as her forms, the letters starting with] a, ka, [and] tha [representing twelve vowels and thirty-two consonants-a total of forty-eight letters], [in which she is] fully present. She is present in these letters [as three points, bindus, in three groups of letters and that is why she is called Tripura]. She is ageless, birthless, the greatest [among gods and goddesses], [and] she is the glory of all gods [and worshipping her will please all the gods and goddesses]. (1) veJeÙeesefveve&JeÛe›eâeefCe oerefOejs veJewJe Ùeesiee veJe Ùeesefieveer§e ~ veJeeveeb Ûe›esâ DeefOeveeLee: mÙeesvee veJe cegõe veJe Yeõe cenerveeced ~~ 2 ~~ Navayonir-nava-chakrani didhire navaiva yoga nava yoginishcha. Navanam chakre adhinathah syona nava mudra nava bhadra mahinam. (2) January  Vol. , No. Tripura Upanishad -No bleed here- im a g e : t r ip u r a s u n d a r i t e m p l e , J a b a l p u r PB January 20162 Prabuddha Bharata12 [From each of the three points, bindus, come three centres, and], nine yonis created nine centres, [and three centres together form a triangle and there are totally nine lines in these three triangles], nine yogas [or chakras], nine yoginis, the nine rulers of the nine centres [having nine diff erent planes, one on top of the other, forming the meru of Sri Chakra], [and Chakreshvari] the cause of happiness [and misery], nine mudras [the sankshobhini mudra, the vidravani mudra, the akarshini mudra, the vashankari mudra, the sarvonmadini mudra, the mahankusha mudra, the khechari mudra, the bija mudra, and the yoni mudra], nine bhadras [merit, sin, Atman, the indwelling soul, the Paramatma, the all-knowing Self, the knower, the object of knowledge, and knowledge], [and] for each base of the triangles [on the Sri Chakra]. (2) Skeâe mee DeemeerlØeLecee mee veJeemeeroemeesveeEJeMeoemeesveeE$eMeled ~ ÛelJeeeEjMeoLe efleoee: meefceOee GMeleerefjJe ceelejes cee efJeMevleg ~~ 3 ~~ Eka sa asitprathama sa navasidasonavimshadasonatrimshat. Chatvarimshadatha tisrah samidha ushatiriva mataro ma vishantu. (3) -No bleed here- 3PB January 2016 Traditional Wisdom 13 She was alone [in the beginning], the primal [cause of the universe], [she was the indwelling power of and] she became nine [yonis], she became nineteen [nine yonis and ten internal yonis], she became twenty-nine [nine yonis, ten internal yonis, and ten external yonis], then [was born] forty-three [nine yonis, ten internal yonis, ten external yonis, five organs of action, five organs of knowledge, mind, intellect, ego, and chitta]. [She] is glowing intensely, as if desirous. Let the Mothers, [identified with the Sri Chakra] enter me [or my body through mantras and rituals because my body is a form of the Sri Chakra]. (3) TOJe&pJeueppJeuevepÙeeseflej«es lecees Jew eflejM§eervecepejb leõpeesÓYetled ~ Deevevoveb ceesoveb pÙeesefleefjvoesjslee G Jew ceC[uee ceC[Ùeefvle ~~ 4 ~~ Urdhva-jvalaj-jvalana-jyotiragre tamo vai tirashchinamajaram tadrajo'bhut. Anandanam modanam jyotirindoreta u vai mandala mandayanti. (4) [There is] a flame rising up [in the chakra to the north of sthiti-chakra] the circle of light [called] jvalana, indeed having the cloud of tamas on the top. [Then], the horizontal ageless circle of light, was born out of rajas. [Then] the circle of radiating light, [producing] sense enjoyment [was born out of ] sattva. Thus, [these three] circles beautify [the Mothers associated with them]. (4) efleoee§e jsKee: meoveeefve Yetcesefm$eefJe„heeefm$eiegCeeefm$eØekeâeMee: ~ Slelhegjb hetjkebâ hetjkeâeCeece$e ØeLeles ceovees ceovÙee ~~ 5 ~~ Tisrashcha rekhah sadanani bhumes-trivishtapas-trigunas-triprakashah. Etatpuram purakam purakanamatra prathate madano madanya. (5) On the substratum of the three lines [or spheres of light, are], the three worlds, the three gunas, and the three sources of light-the sun, the moon, and fire. This city [the Sri Chakra, the abode of the Divine Mother along with her attendants, which] is the fulfiller [of the desires, even of gods like Shiva and Vishnu, who fulfil the desires of countless devotees], of Shiva and Parvati, who play their divine sport here. (5) ceoefvlekeâe ceeefveveer ce"uee Ûe megYeiee Ûe mee megvojer Megaeceòee ~ ueppee ceeflemlegef„efj„e Ûe heg„e ue#ceer®cee ueefuelee ueeuehevleer ~~ 6~~ Madantika manini mangala cha subhaga cha sa sundari shuddhamatta. Lajja matis-tushtir-ishta cha pushta lakshmir-uma lalita lalapanti. (6) -No bleed here- PB January 20164 Prabuddha Bharata14 [The Divine Mother] is variously known as Madantika, joyous; Manini, proud [of Kedarnath]; Mangala, auspicious [of Sri Lanka]; and Subhaga, prosperous [of Assam]. And she is Sundari, beautiful [of Trikuta]; Shuddhamatta, pure; Lajja, modest [of Amaravati]; Mati, intelligent; Tushti, satisfied; Ishta, desired [of Srinagar]; Pushta, nourished [of Jageshwar]; Lakshmi, wealthy [of Kolhapur]; Uma, splendorous [of Mithila]; and Lalita, eloquent [of Prayaga]. (6) Fceeb efJe%eeÙe megOeÙee ceovleer heefjoeeglee lehe&Ùevle: mJeheer"ced ~ veekeâmÙe he=...s cenlees Jemeefvle hejvOeece $ewhegjb ÛeeefJeMefvle ~~ 7 ~~ Imam vijnaya sudhaya madanti parisruta tarpayantah svapitham. Nakasya prishte mahato vasanti parandhama traipuram chavishanti. (7) Knowing [through proper spiritual initiation and instructions from the guru] this [supreme goddess as residing within] one's own seat [the body, which is not different from the Sri Chakra] they [the attendants of the Divine Mother] please [her] by being completely absorbed by [consecrated] nectar-like substances and live in heaven [enjoying the fruits of the first three goals of life-dharma, artha, and kama] and attain the highest abode of moksha. (7) keâecees Ùeesefve: keâceuee Je»eheeefCeieg&ne nmee ceeleefjÕeeÓYeüefcevõ: ~ hegveieg&ne mekeâuee ceeÙeÙee Ûe hetTMÛÙes<ee efJeÕeceeleeÓÓefoefJeÅee ~~ 8 ~~ Kamo yonih kamala vajrapanir-guha hasa matarishva'bhramindrah. Punarguha sakala mayaya cha puruchyesha vishvamata'dividya. (8) [The Sri Vidya mantra is revealed secretly through the words] kama, desire [the syllable of the four-faced god Brahma]; yoni, womb [indicating the vowel e]; kamala, lotus [indicating the vowel ī]; vajrapanih, one who holds the thunderbolt [indicating la]; guha, cave [indicating the bija, seed, mantra of Bhuvaneshvari, hrim]; [followed by the letters] ha, [and] sa, matarishva, the wind [the syllable of the four-faced god Brahma]; abhra, cloud [indicating the letter ha]; [and] Indra [indicating la]. Again, [the mantra contains the letters denoted by the words] guha, cave [indicating the bija, seed mantra of Bhuvaneshvari, hrim]; [and the letters] sa, ka, la, and maya [indicating the bija, seed mantra of Bhuvaneshvari, hrim]-this is the primal mantra, original knowledge, the Mother of the universe, the ancient. (8) <e...b mehlececeLe JeefÖmeejefLecemÙee cetueef$ekeâceeJesMeÙevle: ~ keâLÙeb keâeEJe keâuhekebâ keâececeerMeb leg„gJeebmees Dece=lelJeb Yepevles ~~ 9 ~~ -No bleed here- p a in t in g : b h u v a n e s h v a r i d e v i 5PB January 2016 Traditional Wisdom 15 Shashtam saptamamatha vahnisarathimasya mulatrikamaveshayantah. Kathyam kavim kalpakam kamamisham tushtuvamso amritattvam bhajante. (9) Of this [the mantra described in the previous verse], removing the [first] three root syllables, [the letters ha, sa, and ka represented by the words], shashta, six; saptama, seven; and vahni, fire; have to be added [and it will form the Lopamudra mantra]. By praising and praying the Lord-who is described in the Vedas, the substratum of the imagined universe, [and] who is described in the scriptures-they attain immortality. (9) ef$eefJe„heb ef$ecegKeb efJeÕeceelegve&JejsKee:mJejceOÙeb leoerues ~ ye=nefòeLeero&MeheÃeeefoefvelÙee mee <ees[Meer hegjceOÙeb efyeYee|òe ~~ 10 ~~ Trivishtapam trimukham vishvamatur-navarekhah-svaramadhyam tadile. Brihattithir-dashapanchadinitya sa shodashi puramadhyam bibhartti. (10) I praise the Mother of the universe [who resides in] the three worlds, on the three sides [triangles], having nine lines [formed by the nine yonis], with visarga [ah] in the middle [of the central triangle of Sri Chakra, which is the place of her worship]. She shines in the primal eternal sixteenth in the centre of the city [that is, Sri Chakra, she who is] great [and the cause of ] the fifteen tithis [or dates, who are the fifteen deities of the fifteen lunar days of a month, beginning with Kameshvari and ending with Chitra]. (10) PB January 20166 Prabuddha Bharata16 Ée ceC[uee Ée mlevee efyecyeceskebâ cegKeb ÛeeOem$eerefCe iegne meoveeefve ~ keâeceeR keâueeb keâecÙeTMheeb efJeefolJee vejes peeÙeles keâeceTMhe§e keâecÙe: ~~ 11 ~~ Dva mandala dva stana bimbamekam mukham chadhastrini guha sadanani. Kamim kalam kamyarupam viditva naro jayate kamarupashcha kamyah. (11) [In Kamalakala meditation], the two circles [of the vahni-mandala, fire circle; and suryamandala, sun circle] are the two breasts, one reflection is the face and half [the letter ha is the female organ and also refers to the bhupura chakra in the outermost gateways of Sri Chakra]. The three [limbs of human body divided into three sections: from the head to the throat, from the throat to the breasts, and from the heart to the anus] are the secret houses [identified with the outermost three lines of the bhugriha chakra within the Sri Chakra]. Meditating upon the desired [and transforming oneself into] the aspect [of the consciousness of Shiva and] that which has a desirable form, a person [the worshipper] is born as the embodiment of desire [who creates a disturbance in the minds of onlookers because of one's beauty]. (11) heefjoeegleb Pe<eceeÅeb heueb Ûe Yeòeâeefve Ùeesveer: megheefj<ke=âleeefve ~ efveJesoÙevosJeleeÙew cenlÙew mJeelceerke=âlÙe megke=âleer efmeefaecesefle ~~ 12 ~~ Parisrutam jhashamadyam palam cha bhaktani yonih suparishkritani. Nivedayandevatayai mahatyai svatmikritya sukriti siddhimeti. (12) [The ritual offering and consuming of, in the stipulated order], madya, wine [or the intoxicating bliss of meditation]; palam, meat [or the control of taste]; jhasha, fish [or the control of breath]; bhaktani, cooked food grains [or meditations on the guru]; and yonis, wombs [or attaining the knowledge of the Divine Mother in all her manifestations], have to be done properly. Offering food to the great Goddess, the expert performer [of the external sacrifices] should consume it oneself [and] attain fulfilment [of the sacrifice]. (12) me=CÙesJe efmeleÙee efJeÕeÛe<e&efCe: heeMesve ØeefleyeOveelÙeYeerkeâeved ~ F<egefYe: heÃeefYeOe&veg<ee Ûe efJeOÙelÙeeefoMeefòeâj®Cee efJeÕepevÙee ~~ 13 ~~ Srinyeva sitaya vishvacharshanih pashena pratibadhnatyabhikan. Ishubhih panchabhirdhanusha cha vidhyatyadishaktiraruna vishvajanya. (13) [She] has, as it were, [because in reality she is beyond name and form], a white [elephant] 7PB January 2016 Traditional Wisdom 17 goad and is the Mother [Tripurasundari] of the universe. [She] binds persons having desires or a passionate nature [by the rope of their own desires]. She strikes down the [desires] with a bow and five arrows [one arrow each for the five senses]. She is red and is the primal power, the Shakti, from whom the entire universe is born. (13) Yeie: MeefòeâYe&ieJeevkeâece F&Me GYee oeleejeefJen meewYeieeveeced ~ meceØeOeeveew mecemeòJeew meceesleÙeess: meceMeefòeâjpeje efJeÕeÙeesefve: ~~ 14 ~~ Bhagah shaktir-bhagavankama isha ubha dataraviha saubhaganam. Samapradhanau samasattvau samotayoh samashaktirajara vishvayonih. (14) [The Lord] having the qualities of power, righteousness, fame, prosperity, knowledge, and discernment is the blessed Shakti, who is both the Lord [or Shiva] and desire. [Shiva and Shakti], both are givers of prosperity. Both are of equal importance and are of the same essence, completely identical, and have the same power. [She is] ageless [and] the womb of the universe [or from her the entire universe is born]. (14) heefjoeeglee nefJe<ee heeefJelesve ØemebkeâesÛes ieefueles Jew cevemle: ~ meJe&: meJe&mÙe peielees efJeOeelee Oelee& nlee& efJeÕeTMhelJecesefle ~~ 15 ~~ Parisruta havisha pavitena prasamkoche galite vai manastah. Sarvah sarvasya jagato vidhata dharta harta vishvaruptvameti. (15) Purified [by rituals and mantras], by what remains after offering [in the worship of the Goddess], by drinking [in the bliss of meditation on the Goddess], by [what is] born out of contemplation, [and] the obstacles [to Self-realisation] being dissolved [by inactivity]. [The Self of ] all is [called] the creator of the universe, the sustainer, [and] the destroyer [and by practising complete detachment, one] attains the form of the universe [that is the form of the Lord]. (15) FÙeb cenesheefve<eefl$ehegjeÙee Ùeece#ejb hejces ieere|Yejerós ~ S<eiÙe&peg: hejcesleÛÛe meecesJeeÙeceLeJexÙecevÙee Ûe efJeÅees3ced ~~ 16 ~~ Ô ÜeR Ô ÜerefcelÙegheefve<eled ~~ Iyam mahopanishat-tripuraya yamaksharam parame girbhiritte. Eshargyajuh parametachcha same-vayamatharveyam-anya cha vidyo'm. (15) Om. Hrim. Om. Hrimityupanishat. p a in t in g : s r i y a n t r a PB January 20168 Prabuddha Bharata18 This is the great Upanishad [explaining the secret meaning] of Goddess Tripura [through various statements]. The supreme indestructible [Brahman] praises that [Upanishad], which is the highest knowledge, [that] this Rig Veda, Yajur Veda, Sama Veda, Atharva Veda, and other sciences [that is, the rest fourteen branches of the total eighteen traditional branches of knowledge, contain]. Om. Om. Hrim. Om. Hrim. Thus ends the Upanishad. (15) Translated into English by Swami Narasimhananda