Hymn to Tripurasundarī (Hindu deity).

Study of the Saundaryalaharī, hymns to Tripuraundarī, Hindu deity by Śaṅkarācārya.

Rooting itself in Kashmir Shaivism, Śrividyā became a force in South India no later than the seventh century, and eventually supplanted the Trika as the dominant Tantric tradition in Kashmir. This is the first comprehensive study of the texts and traditions of this influential school of goddess-centered, Śākta, Tantrism. Centering on the goddess's three manifestations—the beneficent deity Lalita Tripurasundari, her mantra, and the visually striking sricakra—Śrividyā creates a systematic esoteric discipline that combines elements of the yogas of knowledge, of devotion, and of ritual. Utilizing canonical works, historical commentaires, and the interpretive insights of living practitioners, this book explores the theological and ritual theories that form the basis for Śrividyā practice and offers new methods for critical and comparative studies of esoteric Hinduism.

Papers presented at two colloquia held in New Delhi in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

Saundarya Lahari the great hymn of Sri Sankara dealing with the cult of Mother worship is the most popular Sanskrit hymn of its kind. In this text the Divine Mother is adored in Her creative aspect under the name Tripura which means the Mother who embodies the three Bindus or creative stresses. The first fortyone verses which are the source of various mantras deal chiefly with the Sri-chakra which is called the Abode of Siva-Sakti and which forms the special symbol of worship for devotees of the Devi.Swami Tapasyananda has rendered a signal service to the cause of Sakti worship by bringing out this excellent edition of the famous text The Saundarya Lahari with the original in Sanskrit its transliteration English translation and elaborate notes for the benefit of the English-knowing people.