Lalita Tripura Sundari Aarti
श्री ललिता त्रिपुर सुंदरी आरती
What is the Lalita Tripura Sundari Aarti?
Lalita Aarti The Lalita Tripura Sundari Aarti, beginning 'Shri Mateshwari Jai Tripureshwari', praises the goddess Lalita, the Shodashi Mahavidya, as the compassionate queen who removes sin and grants refuge.
The Lalita Tripura Sundari Aarti is sung to Goddess Lalita, worshipped as Shodashi, one of the ten Mahavidyas of the Shakta tradition. Its opening line, Shri Mateshwari Jai Tripureshwari, hails her as the supreme mother and ruler of the three worlds. Each verse addresses a name or deed of the goddess and closes on the refrain of surrender.
Lalita Tripura Sundari Aarti Lyrics (English)
Roman transliteration for easy chanting. Tap “Meaning” under any verse for the English translation.
Refrain
Shri Mateshwari Jai Tripureshwari
Rajeshwari Jai Namo Namah
Karunamayi Sakal Agh Harini
Amrit Varshini Namo Namah
Meaning
Full of mercy, she carries away every sin and rains down nectar on her devotees; again and again they bow to her.
Ashubh Vinashini Sab Sukh Dayini
Khal-Dal Nashini Namo Namah
Meaning
She destroys what is inauspicious, gives every comfort, and scatters the ranks of the wicked; salutations to her.
Bhandasur Vadhkarini Jai Maa
Karuna Kalite Namo Namah
Meaning
She is the mother who slew the demon Bhandasura, an act central to her legend in the Lalita tradition; the compassionate one is honoured here.
Bhav Bhay Harini Kasht Nivarini
Sharan Gati Do Namo Namah
Meaning
She removes the fear of worldly existence and clears away hardship; the singer asks her for the shelter of her feet.
Shiv Bhamini Sadhak Man Harini
Adi Shakti Jai Namo Namah
Meaning
Consort of Shiva, she captures the mind of the seeker; as the primal Adi Shakti she is saluted, and the aarti closes calling on Tripura Sundari.
Meaning & Significance
This aarti frames Lalita as a queen figure. The names it repeats, Mateshwari, Tripureshwari, Rajeshwari, all point to sovereignty: mother, ruler of the three cities or worlds, and empress. Lalita is counted among the ten Mahavidyas, where she holds the form of Shodashi, the sixteen-year-old radiance, and she is the deity at the centre of texts like the Lalita Sahasranama and the Sri Chakra worship.
The verses move from her mercy to her power. She both showers nectar on devotees and destroys the demon Bhandasura, so the singer approaches her as gentle and fierce at once. The closing plea for refuge is the heart of the aarti: the worshipper offers no bargain, only surrender, and asks to be kept at her feet.
How Do You Perform the Aarti?
- Prepare the space — Set an image or yantra of Lalita Tripura Sundari, ideally the Sri Chakra, and light a lamp with pure ghee or oil before you begin.
- Offer light — Hold the lit aarti lamp in the right hand and move it in slow clockwise circles before the goddess as you sing.
- Sing with the refrain — Chant each verse and return to 'Shri Mateshwari Jai Tripureshwari' between them, keeping a steady, unhurried rhythm.
- Offer red flowers — Red flowers, kumkum and a sweet are traditional offerings to Lalita, reflecting her association with the colour red.
- Close with surrender — Finish with the final salutation to Tripura Sundari, take the lamp's warmth to your eyes, and sit for a moment of quiet.
What Are the Benefits of Singing This Aarti?
Devotees sing this aarti to seek Lalita’s grace, protection and inner steadiness.
- Refuge and protection: The recurring plea for shelter makes this a prayer for safety and the sense of being held by a higher power.
- Release from fear: Its line on removing the fear of worldly existence speaks to worshippers carrying anxiety or grief.
- Focus for Sri Vidya practice: For those on the Sri Vidya or Shakta path, the aarti is a simple daily complement to deeper Lalita worship.
- A sense of order: Addressing Lalita as queen and mother is meant to settle the mind and bring a feeling of being cared for.
Who Wrote This Aarti?
Like most temple aartis, this one is traditional and its author is not recorded. It circulates widely in Shakta and Devi worship under the opening line ‘Shri Mateshwari Jai Tripureshwari’ and is printed in many aarti collections. It sits alongside the longer Lalita Chalisa and the classical Lalita Sahasranama, but it is a short, singable hymn meant for daily lamp offering rather than a formal Sanskrit stotra.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Lalita Tripura Sundari Aarti?
It is a short devotional hymn to Goddess Lalita, the Shodashi Mahavidya, beginning 'Shri Mateshwari Jai Tripureshwari'. It praises her as the compassionate queen who removes sin and grants refuge to those who surrender.
Who is Lalita Tripura Sundari?
Lalita Tripura Sundari is a major form of the Divine Mother in the Shakta tradition, counted among the ten Mahavidyas as Shodashi. She is the presiding deity of Sri Vidya worship and the Sri Chakra, and is honoured in the Lalita Sahasranama.
When should this aarti be sung?
It can be sung daily during morning or evening lamp offering. Devotees give it special attention on Fridays, during Navratri, and on Lalita Panchami, the festival day dedicated to the goddess.
What does the demon Bhandasura reference mean?
One verse honours Lalita as the slayer of Bhandasura. In her mythology, the goddess was manifested by the gods to destroy this demon, a story told at length in the Lalitopakhyana section of the Brahmanda Purana.
Is this the same as the Lalita Chalisa?
No. The aarti is a short hymn of a few verses sung while circling a lamp, while the Lalita Chalisa is a longer forty-verse composition. Both praise the same goddess but serve different moments of worship.
॥ जय त्रिपुर सुन्दरी नमो नमः ॥