Sri Lalita Maha Tripura Sundari – Her description

Goddess Sri Lalita Parameshwari is also referred to as Sri Lalita Maha Tripura Sundari –
meaning, one who is the most beautiful of all three worlds.
She is described as a sixteen year old girl (Shodashi) whose beauty is full in all aspects.
She has a perfectly chiselled structure and Her radiance and glow extend beyond all three
worlds. There is nothing comparable to Her divine allure. As “Shodashi”, She is an
embodiment of sixteen different types of desire with sixteen “Nitya Devis” –
Kameshwari, Bhagamalini, Nityaklinna, Bherunda, Vahnivasini, Mahavajreshwari,
Shivaduti, Tvarita, Kulasundari, Nitya, Nilapataka,Vijaya, Sarvamangala, Jvalamalini
and Chitra – with the sixteenth nitya being Herself and rest all fifteen residing in Her. She
is a representation of all sixteen combined in total. Each devi provides the fulfilment of
different types of desires.
She is described as having thick, long dark hair which emanates the fragrances of
“Champaka”, “Ashoka” and “Punnaga” – three different fragrant flowers; She has a
“tilak” of musk on her forehead; Her head is adorned with a crown made of all the
precious stones and pearls; Her eyes are so captivating as if they are two fish playing in
the lake of Her face (that is why She is often referred to as Meena lochani or Meenakshi –
one with eyes like fish); She has a perfectly sculpted nose with studs shining brighter
than the stars and ears with sun and moon as studs; Her cheeks are as if a reflection of the
precious stone sapphire; She chews “thamboola” (betel leaf, betel nut and chuna); Her
beauty and Her smile are so mesmerizing that Lord Kameshvara Shiva cannot take His
eyes off Her; Her voice is sweeter and more melodious than the music coming from
Goddess Saraswati’s veena; She wears a “Mangala Suthra” tied by Lord Kameshvara
Shiva; Her neck is also bedecked with many necklaces and She has a perfect blend of
beauty in Her that steals the heart of Kameshvara; She is adorned by a beautiful red silk
saree with red bells tied to it; Her feet resemble the lamps made of most precious gems
that have the capability of washing away all the worries of Her devotees who surrender
themselves to Her; She shines with crimson red skin colour.
Side note : A few lines from the stotram are below which explain Her
enchanting charm :
Champakaashoka punnaga saugandhika lasatkacha – Her hair with
wafting fragrance of Champaka, Ashoka and Punnaga flowers
Sarvaaruna navadyangi sarvaabharana bhooshita – She is decked with
all beauty and all types of ornaments
Nitya shodashika roopa – She has the appearance of a sixteen year old
girl (also the other meaning as explained above)
Vaktra lakshmi parivaha chalan minabha lochana – Her eyes are like
fish swimming in the lake of Her beautiful face
Padmaraaga shila darsha – Her cheeks are like mirrors reflecting the
image of sapphire stone
Kamesha baddha mangalya sutra shobhita kandhara – She wears the
Mangala suthra on Her neck tied by Kameshvara
Mandasmita prabhapura majatkamesha manasa – Her smile is capable
of stealing the heart of Kameshvara
Kameshvara prema ratna mani prati panastani – She is highly adored
and is like the most precious gem to Kameshvara
Ashtami chandra vibhraja dalikasdhala shobhita – Her face shining like
that of the moon
Thamboola pooritha mukhi – She chews thamboola
Kadamba manjari klupta karna poora manohara – Her voice is like
music to the ears
Manikya makutaakara – Her head is adorned with a crown made of
precious stones and pearls