Navratri Day 5: Durga Panchami or Lalitha Panchami

On day 5 of Navratri, Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari is worshipped. Hence this occasion is also called Lalita Panchami. Tripura Sundari means the most beautiful of the three worlds. Here the three worlds symbolize body, mind and soul. Tripura Sundari is the third of the ten wisdom goddesses called Mahavidyas. She is also called Shodashi since she is often depicted in the form of a 16-year-old girl. Devi Tripura Sundari is addressed as Lalitha as she is bright and brilliant beyond comprehension. She is seen as the manifestation of the creation and the existence of the Universe.

Lalitha Tripura Sundari is seen as a consort of Lord Shiva. She represents the 16 types of desires and commands the entire Universe. The whole macrocosm exists as per the guidelines delivered by her. Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari has four arms in which she grasps a noose, a goad, a bow and an arrow. She is seen seated on a lotus placed upon the body of Lord Shiva lying horizontally on a throne with Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu and Lord Rudra supporting the throne. Devi Tripura Sundari is a manifestation of Goddess Shakti, just like Devi Parvati and Devi Durga. She is also referred to as Kameswari and Rajarajeshwari.

While Devi Tripura Sundari is worshipped as an eternal beauty, the beauty associated with the Devi is more spiritual than a material form. It is the beauty experienced when one is able to perceive divinity in its highest form. As per Adi Shankara, Devi Tripura Sundari is the ultimate beauty of pure perception which arises when we see the entire universe in ourselves. Worship of Devi Tripura Sundari helps in controlling the body, mind and emotions. She can bring forth the birth of children, and destroy all diseases, sins, and misfortunes from the life of a person. Worshipping her bestows on the devotees the ability to enjoy life on Earth as well as provide him or her moksha or salvation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari Mantras

A mantra is a sacred chant that when uttered in the correct tone and state of mind can do wonders to the spiritual energy in a person. The ‘beej’ or the root word of the mantra is related to the particular god or goddess the mantra is addressed to. Chanting a mantra with devotion regularly can absolve the person of negative energies imbibed in his or her body and mind. It helps one focus and achieve desired goals or outcomes. Chanting mantras is a good way to enhance the beneficial effects of planets while reducing its malefic effects. It can positively influence various aspects of life like health, career, relationship etc. There are different mantras for the same god or goddess. Each mantra invokes a certain power attributed to that deity or of the planet. The following are the mantras to invoke blessings from Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari.

Shodashi Mool Mantra

Om Aim Hreem Shreem Tripur Sundariyai Namah॥

Tripur Sundari Beej Mantra

Om Shree Shree Lalita Mahatripursundraye Shree Mahalaxmaye Namah ||

Goddess Shodashi Mantra

Aim Sauh Kleem॥

Panchakshar Shodashi Mantra

Aim Kleem Sauh Sauh Kleem॥

Shadakshar Shodashi Mantra

Aim Kleem Sauh Sauh Kleem Aim॥

Ashtadashakshar Shodashi Mantra

Hreem Shreem Kleem Tripuramadane Sarvashubham Sadhaya Svaha॥

Vinshatyakshar Shodashi Mantra

Hreem Shreem Kleem Parapare Tripure Sarvamipsitam Sadhaya Svaha॥

Tripura Gayatri Mantra

Kleem Tripuradevi Vidmahe Kameshvari Dhimahi। Tannah Klinne Prachodayat॥

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari Worship Rituals

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari is venerated on the 5th day of the Navratri festival. On this day devotees wake up early in the morning, preferably during the Brahma muhurta and take a bath. After that collect some sand on a pot, preferably from a river bank, and place it in the puja room. Place an idol or picture of Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari upon the pot and worship the Devi with due rituals. After worship, offer a flower garland to the Devi, with a flower and rice kept in hand. Recite this mantra while doing so.

Lalitha lalitha devi saukhyasaubhāgyadāyinī।

yā saubhāgyasamutpannā tasyai devyai namo namaḥ॥

Serve food. Make it a point to recite Lalitha Sahastranamam and Lalitha Trishati during the day. Observe vrat during the day. Immerse the idol or photo of Devi Lalitha the next day.

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari story

The legends surrounding the appearance of Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari vary from region to region. However, the core of every legend remains the same – that Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari took form to destroy the demon Bhandasura and save the universe. She is considered to be the most beautiful form of Adi Shakthi who is the supreme goddess. Other goddesses including Parvati, Durga, Kali etc. are the various forms of Adi Shakti.

One time Lord Shiva went into deep meditation after the death of his wife Sati. Devi Sati had immolated herself after her father insulted her husband for attending the yagna he had arranged. Lord Shiva cut off the head of King Daksha, father of Sati, for this. The demise of his wife was too painful for Lord Shiva and hence he went into deep meditation.
Sati was reborn as Parvati, daughter of King Himavat. Later in life, she began to observe strict penance to regain Lord Shiva as her husband. At this time the demon Tarakasura was wreaking havoc in all the worlds. Tarakasura had obtained a boon from Lord Brahma that he could only be killed by the son of Lord Shiva. And Lord Shiva, wifeless, was in deep meditation.

The devas needed Lord Shiva to come out of meditation and marry Parvati. They entrusted the task to Kama Deva. To carry out the task, Kama Deva shot the arrow of love at Lord Shiva. But Lord Shiva was just angry at having his meditation broken. He opened his third eye and turned Kama Deva to ash. But eventually, he became aware of the rebirth of Sati as Parvati and the severe penance she was observing to please him. So, Lord Shiva married Parvati. They had a son Kartikeya, who killed Tarakasura in battle.

But from the ashes of Lord Kama was born the demon Bhandasura. He too started causing havoc in the universe. In a panic, Devas sought advice from Sage Narada. He advised the devas to perform a Maha Yagna. At the end of the Yagna, Adi Shakti manifested in the form of Devi Lalitha Sundari, who slayed the demon Bhandasura in battle. This is the story of Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari.

In some variations, Devi Parvathi herself became Lalitha Tripura Sundari through penance after getting upset that her husband Lord Shiva called her ‘Kali’ (one with a dark complexion).

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari Significance

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari is considered to be the governess of the entire Universe. It is her radiance that underlines the beginning, end and purpose of the whole Universe. Worshipping Devi Tripura Sundari will bestow endless boons on the devotees. All misfortunes in life will give way to success and prosperity. Enemies will be overcome as will the problems put up by them. Disputes between families will be put to an end through the worship of Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari.

All forms of adverse planetary effects or Graha Doshas will be averted by praying to the Devi. Worshipping the Devi will help the person find his or her inner beauty. This makes him or her confident, pleasing and well-liked by everyone. Married couples pray to the Devi to stay happy in married life and to conceive children, while pregnant women pray for the safe delivery of their child. Lovers can worship the Devi for a successful life together.

Devi Lalitha Tripura Sundari is very important for politicians, celebrities and every other person whose career and life hinges on popularity, a good name and fame. They include actors, models and so on. Worshipping the Devi can bestow them with all the fame and positive PR they seek. This makes Durga Panchami, or Lalitha Panchami, one of the more glamorous days of the Navratri festival.

Read about Navratri Day 6 – Devi Katyayani