3 Review(s)

Goddess Shodashi is an aspect of Mother Lalitha Tripura Sundari represented as a sixteen-year-old girl, believed to actualize sixteen types of desires. Shodashi also means ‘vermillion hued.’ As Sundari, She is one of the Dasha Mahavidyas. It is sometimes written that Goddess Shodashi is Bala Tripurasundari or that Shodashi is another name for Mother Lalitha Tripurasundari. It is conceded that Bala and Shodasi are aspects of the Devi. However Bala is the 9 year old virgin form of a young girl. Shodasi, in Sanskrit means 16, implying a teenage form. They both have legends and myths to support their respective roles to different levels of bhaktas. Shodasi’s story links Lord Siva and Mother Kali. A devotee who takes her refuge achieves great divinity. Even the Vedas are incapable of describing her greatness. Being pleased with her devotee she gives more than he demands. Shodashi also refers to the sixteen syllable mantra, which consists of the fifteen syllable panchadasakshari mantra plus a final seed syllable. Indeed sixteen days form the completed lunar cycle from the new moon to the full moon.