“Within you are three cities—of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep—each ruled by a goddess who patiently waits for you to recognize her face in the mirror of your own soul.”
— Acharya Sailyajit
In the tantric worldview, the human experience unfolds across three primary states: waking (jāgrat), dreaming (svapna), and deep sleep (suṣupti). These are not just psychological phases but cosmic cities—realms of consciousness, each guarded and governed by divine intelligences. The ancient scriptures and the esoteric teachings of Tantra and Vedic astrology link these realms to the Das Mahavidyas—the Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses, who represent the fierce, transformative, and compassionate energies of the Divine Mother.
A deeper insight into this cosmic connection can be found in the lesser-known but profoundly impactful book:
“Tripura Rahasya: The Mystery Beyond the Trinity”—an ”ancient treatise on the goddess Tripura Sundari, which describes consciousness as a triple-city, hence the name “Tripura,” meaning “Three Cities.”
This concept illuminates how the goddesses are not outside us but within us, silently orchestrating our soul’s dance through karma, perception, and liberation.
Let’s explore this mystical architecture through the lens of the Mahavidyas and their planetary associations, drawing reference from the attached chart and stotra, and discover how each goddess presides over different dimensions of our mind and astrology.
I. The Waking State—City of Experience (Jāgrat)
The waking state is where ego, sense-perception, and action dominate. This is the realm of karma—where we interact with the world, pursue desires, and accumulate impressions.
- Mahavidyas:
- Kali (Saturn): Cuts through illusions of time and ego in the waking world.
- Tara (Jupiter): The guiding guru in worldly chaos.
- Bagalamukhi (Mars): The power to freeze the tongue of falsehood and protect righteous speech.
- Kamala (Venus): Material success, love, beauty, and prosperity.
These goddesses shape your destiny, challenge your attachments, and show you how to live in alignment with your higher dharma. They represent the planetary rulers of karma and reward.
II. The Dream State – City of Vision (Svapna)
In dreams, the subconscious plays. It is a world of symbols, archetypes, past lives, and desires. Here, our shadow and suppressed energies speak.
- Mahavidyas:
- Chhinnamasta (Rahu): The headless goddess reveals inner truths beyond logic.
- Matangi (Sun): Controls thoughts, words, and dream messages.
- Dhumavati (Ketu): Widow goddess of the void; governs loss, grief, and liberation from illusion.
- Tripura Sundari (Mercury): The ruler of all three states—she bridges dream and waking with clarity.
These goddesses operate where logic ends. They are invoked for psychic powers, astral travel, shadow integration, and transformation through the dreamscape. The Tripura Rahasya calls them “the architects of illusion and revelation.”
III. The Deep Sleep State—City of Bliss (Suṣupti)
This state is formless, without ego or duality. It is the most spiritual state—a window into Brahman, where awareness rests in its purest form. This is the city of absolute silence and inner void.
- Mahavidyas:
- Bhuvaneshwari (Moon): The vast cosmic space, the container of all.
- Bhairavi (Lagna): The fierce inner fire of transformation.
- Tripura Sundari: Again appears here—she is the unifying consciousness that connects waking, dreaming, and deep sleep.
The Mahavidyas in this realm are beyond time and name. They whisper the truths of eternity. Their worship is not for worldly success but for moksha (liberation). Through them, we enter the fourth state, Turiya, beyond even deep sleep.
Das Mahavidya Mantra and Planetary Balance
The sacred stotra shown in the image declares:
“काली तारा महाविद्या षोडशी भुवनेश्वरी। भैरवी छिन्नमस्ता च विद्या धूमावती तथा। बगलासिद्धविद्या च मातंगी कमलात्मिका। एता विद्या महेशानि महाविद्या प्रकिर्तिता॥”
This mantra aligns the sadhak with all ten cosmic frequencies. Each goddess also connects to a planet that governs specific aspects of your birth chart:
| Mahavidya | Avatar | Planet |
| Kali | Krishna murti | Saturn |
| Tara Devi | Blue form | Jupiter |
| Bagala | Kurma Avatar | Mars |
| Dhumavati | Boar (Varaha) | Ketu |
| Chinnamasta | Narasimha | Rahu |
| Bhuvaneshwari | Vamana | Moon |
| Matangi | Rama | Sun |
| Tripura Sundari | Jamadagni | Mercury |
| Bhairavi | Balabhadra | Lagna |
| Kamala | Kalki (Durga) | Venus |
This alignment reveals how the Mahavidyas are the astral deities behind the grahas, not separate from them. They are not just Tantric forms—they are conscious energies waiting to be awakened in your inner universe.
The Yogic Implication: Activating Inner Cities through Sadhana
To activate the cities within:
- Kali sadhana removes fear and aligns time (Saturn).
- The Tripura Sundari mantra helps awaken awareness in all three states.
- Matangi and Bagala practices help bridge waking with dream intuition.
- Bhuvaneshwari and Dhumavati guide you into deep silence and surrender.
Each practice leads to a rebalancing of your chakra system, planetary energies, and mind-body connection. In fact, in subtle anatomy:
- Waking = Root to Solar Plexus Chakra
- Dream = Heart to Ajna Chakra
- Deep Sleep = Sahasrara and beyond
Final Thoughts: Meeting the Goddess Within
The Das Mahavidyas are not distant deities—they are states of your own consciousness, mythologized for your understanding. By studying their planetary connections, you understand your own karmic design. By meditating on their forms, you transcend it.
These three cities of waking, dreaming, and deep sleep are not barriers—they are gateways to union. When you invoke the Mahavidyas with devotion and awareness, you begin to live in all three cities with mastery, not confusion.
“The Ten Mahavidyas are the divine cartographers of the soul’s journey through illusion, knowledge, and liberation.”
– Acharya Sailyajit
Written by:
Acharya Sailyajit
Astrologer | Tantric Vastu Expert | Occult Science Educator
📖 Author of The Energy Compass & Dowsing Secrets
