Rupa

rupa can be translated as "form".

Tantric deities are said to have three forms - rupa, yantra and mantra. Rupa is sometimes considered to be the 'gross' form of the deity, whereas the yantra-form and mantra-form are more 'subtle'. The rupa is accessible to any devotee, whereas the yantra and mantra - forms are esoteric.

The rupa of a deity is thus the deity as an image (a statue or picture), displaying its symbolic attributes, magical weapons, and vehicle. In some texts, the sadhaka moves from worshipping the deity as an image, towards worshipping the deity in yantra- and mantra-form.