After the rising of the Sun after the gentle dawn period of the day and of projection of the universe, the Girl-of-Sixteen (ṣoḍaśi) makes way for the resplendent Lady-of-the-spheres (Bhuvaneśvarī), consort of the Three-eyed Śiva (Tryambakeśvara). Creation now becomes a powerful flow, a constant evolving, over which this Sovereign Goddess rules. As the ruler of the universe she is also known as the Queen-of-Queens (Rāja-rājeśvarī).
Bhuvaneśvarī is also associated and identified with the earth and the universe in general, and the underlying energy that brings it into being and pervades it and nurtures it. She embodies the characteristic dynamics and constituents that make up the world and that lend creation its distinctive character. In this sense she is identified with the mahā-bhūtas (the basic physical elements – earth, fire, water, air and space) and prakṛti (primordial nature).
The fruit in her hand shows her as the giver of the fruit of actions.
Her club is the ‘power to act’ or ‘power of dispersion’ (vikṣepa śakti).
The ‘power of knowing’ (Jñāna śakti) is her shield;
the ‘tendency toward liberation, toward the Fourth stage’ (turiya vr̥tti), is the vessel which contains the essence (rasa) of existence, i.e. delight in the Self.
The linga is the male principle (puruṣa tattva), the yoni represents Nature (prakrti tattva).
The serpent is ‘Time’ (kāla tattva). (Karapatri, Sri Bhagavati tattva.”)
As a form of the eternal night Bhuvaneśvarī is the Night-of-Realisation (Siddha-rātri), which ends with the dawning of wisdom and the pure light of consciousness.
The Lady-of-the-spheres is represented with various attributes and a number of forms. In the lower of her right hands she holds a vessel, in the upper right hand a mace, in the upper left hand a shield, in the lower left hand the bilva fruit, called the fruit-of-Fortune (Śrī-phala). On her head are a serpent, a linga, and a yoni. Preciously coloured like molten gold, the all-powerful goddess wears a divine garland and gold ornaments.
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