Bhuvanesvari

29.1. Bhuvanesvari the sovereign Queen is the fourth Mahavidya; she is fondly called
Bhuvaneshi. Unlike the Adi Mahavidyas (Kali, Tara and Tripura Sundari), it seems,
Bhuvanesvari was not well known before she was included into the Mahavidya group. As
Mahavidya, her realm Bhuvana includes not merely the earth but also the atmosphere and
the heaven that surround the earth. But, she is more related to the dynamics of the visible
word that we experience. And indeed the world is her extension. It is said; the universe is
her body (Visvarupa) and the world is the flowering of her nature (Sarvarupa). She
embodies all the liveliness and attributes of the living nature. She represents forces of the
material world. The whole of existence is the field of her joyful play; she is Sarveshi the
ruler of all. She is also Mahamaya the great enchantress.

29.2. In her association with the physical world, the earth, Bhuvanesvari is identified with
Prithvi who was rescued by Vishnu in his Varaha Avatar. As the manifest world is the field
of her joyful play, it is said, Bhuvanesvari is closely associated with the five elements
(Maha-bhuta): space, air, fire, water and earth principles. She pervades all space the
inner and the outer- with that she confers awareness and all other knowledge of life. It is
explained; the inner space is the space within Hridaya (heart) the centre of awareness or
consciousness. Her Bija-mantra Hrim relates to Hridaya; and it is called Devi-pranava
which in Tantra is equivalent to Om.
29.3. Bhuvanesvari is also identified with Prakrti, the energy underlying creation. She is
therefore is also called as Pradhana and Prapancesvari the one who rules over the five-fold
world. The world is said to emerge from her just as a web emerges from the spider or as
the sparks crackle out of fire.
30.1. In her appearance and nature Bhuvanesvari resembles Tripura Sundari. She shares
some of her attributes, such as beauty, grace and wisdom. Bhuvanesvari also relates to
Kali. As space, Bhuvanesvari coordinates with the dimension of time represented by Kali.
And as earth, Bhuvanesvari provides Kali the stage to enact her dance of life and death. It
is said; Kali creates events in time; Bhuvanesvari creates objects in space. Bhuvanesvari is
also linked to the sound which arises from space and thus to the sound of the speech (vak).
And therefore, she corresponds to Sarasvati, Vagesvari the goddess of speech.
30.2. She, just as Sodasi, is depicted as a beautiful young girl of sixteen sitting on a lotus
throne. Her iconography descriptions (Dhyana-sloka) presents her as having a radiant
vermilion complexion, glowing like the rising sun; with a smiling face framed with flowing
hair the color of black bees; her eyes are broad, her lips full and red; her nose delicate; and
her full breasts are smeared with sandal paste and saffron. She is adorned with the moon as
her diadem; and she is richly bejeweled. She is depicted with six hands holding an ornate
cup filled with gems, a lotus, a goad, a noose, dispelling fears(abhaya -mudra) and
bestowing boons (varada-mudra). She with her three eyes takes in the knowledge of the
past, present and future; nothing escapes her attention.

30.3. There also the other descriptions of Bhuvanesvari where she is depicted in three
forms, similar in appearance, but in three colors: gold (Hemangi), red (Soubhagya
Bhuvanesvari) and bluish (Maya Bhuvanesvari). These correspond to three gunas that are
the fabric of the material world. Here, she sits naked on a red lotus in a pond full of lotus
flowers; sports three eyes; wears pearls of many hues; and holds a snake, noose and goad.
Bhuvanesvari is the world but she also transcends the world.

31.1. As regards the symbolisms associated with her iconography: The lotus throne she sits
upon indicates her association with creation; and the lotuses in her hands the vitality and
beauty of life; the crescent moon adorning her head symbolizes growth and vitality. Her
full breasts symbolize her nurturing, maternal nature; she is Jagad-dhatri one who
nourishes the world. With her noose she controls. And with her goad she nudges us to
overcome the obstacles of passions and delusions and reach beyond the limitations of mind.
Bhuvanesvari like Kamala is consistently associated with the here and now. She helps us to
go beyond all identities.
Bhuvanesheem Mahamayaam Sooryamandalaroopineem
Namami Varadaam Suddhaam Kamakhyaroopineem Shivam

Om Hreem Bhubaneswaraye Hreem Namah