Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 51 [Perinial fountain of powers], English comparative study extracted from the two available commentaries—the Divyacakorika and the Kramaprakashika. The Cidgagana-candrika is an important Tantric work belonging to the Krama system of Kashmir Shaivism. Written by Kalidasa (Shrivatsa) in 312 Sanskrit verses, it deals with the knowledge regarding both the Macrocosmic and Microcosmic phenomena
This book contains Sanskrit text which you should never take for granted as transcription mistakes are always possible. Always confer with the final source and/or manuscript.
Verse 51 [Perinial fountain of powers]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 51:
वासना च न विचित्रतापदं तत्प्रसूस्त्वमिह केवलैव चेत् ।
शक्तिलक्षणजगद्भृतोदरी मानसैन्द्रियकवस्तुसूरसि ॥ ५१ ॥vāsanā ca na vicitratāpadaṃ tatprasūstvamiha kevalaiva cet |
śaktilakṣaṇajagadbhṛtodarī mānasaindriyakavastusūrasi || 51 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Perinial fountain of powers]
Even reminiscences of the past birth, (vāsanās) have no impact on the wonderful varied external creation. She is the source for everything. She is the perennial fountain of power. The life power of her is the form revealed as external world which is in her abdomen. Untouched by the external creation She creates the psychic and sensory world.[1]
Śakti is the mother of the universe conceived in subtle form
If vāsanā is the reason for the variety in creation of Jagat, and Citiśakti is assumed to be unrelated to it, then how can there be empirical manifestation without the vāsanā (the previous experience). To this objection the author reflects by highlighting the fact of the first creation happening in her cit form acting as a wall for projection of the proposed creation at the macrocosmic level as Sūkṣmasṛṣṭi.
Śakti being the mother who conceives the proposed creation in her womb,[2] gradually gives shape to the empirical universe, Stūlasṛṣṭi [Sthūlasṛṣṭi?], as per her wish at the microcosmic level, in the form of the inner organs and external organs and objects of cognition.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Divyacakorikā] p 95-[Cidgaganacandrikā] 51.—
śaktilakṣaṇajagaddhṛtodarītvena sṛṣṭikālikonmanīnādaśarīrāyāḥ dhyāna ślokokta nirṇatodarītvaṃ pratyabhijñāpayan tadīyacinmayavāsanāyāḥ sṛṣṭivaicitryāparaparyāya jaḍajāgataviṣayaśabalatāṃ nirākaroti.
[2] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 33-[Cidgaganacandrikā]-51.—
śaktilakṣaṇena śaktisvarūpeṇa sūkṣameṇa jagatā pūrṇamudaraṃ yasyāḥ sā tathoktā, tvameva manomātra grāhyaṃ vastu ābhyantaram, ca cakṣurādīndriyagrāhyaṃ bāhyaṃ vastu, tayoḥ prasavitrī asīti ||