Chapter 319 - Mode of worshipping Vāgīśvarī (Goddess of speech)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. I shall describe the worship of (Goddess) Vāgīśvarī (Goddess of speech) in a circle. The mantra (made up of syllable of) Ūhaka together with (that of) Kāla added with the letters (would be the mantra for the Goddess).

2-4. O Niṣāda (hunter) (denotes Kumāra)! The mantra (for Goddess Vāgīśvarī) should be used like that of the Moon and Sun. No letter need be assigned. One should contemplate (the Goddess) as having the complexion of jasmine and moon, embodying the fifty letters^[1] (of the alphabet), adorned with garlands of pearls and flowers, (holding the postures of hand) offering boons and protection and holding books and possessing three eyes. One should repeat the garland of letters from ‘a’ to ‘kṣa’ remembering as pervading (the body of the Goddess) upto the tip of the head and the ends of the shoulders.

5-10. The preceptor should make a circle for the sake of initiating (the disciple) in a mantra. A lotus (figure) that is good (for the worship of the Goddess) should have twelve tips divided into two parts. One should make ready the pathway and steps. There should be eight lotuses on the cross-road. The pathway and steps should be provided outside also. There should be doors in two squares. Similarly the side-doors, the construction of angular points and two strips of cloth should be done. The nine lotuses (should be) white. The pericarp of the lotus (should have) the hue of gold. The filaments should be variegated. The angular points should be filled with red (-coloured substance). The inner space between the lines of the sky (should be painted) black. The doors should be of the measure of the elephant of Indra. (Goddess) Sarasvatī (should be contemplated) at the centre of the (above) lotus. (Goddess) Vāgīśī (should be contemplated) on the eastern lotus. (Goddesses) Hṛllekhā, Citravāgīśī, Gāyatrī, Viśvarūpā, Śāṅkarī, Rati and Dhṛti (should also be worshipped). (The syllable) hrīṃ and the respective syllables (should be worshipped) in the east and other (directions). (The Goddess) should be contemplated as (Goddess) Sarasvatī. Oblations (should be done) with clarified butter from the milk of a tawny cow. One would then become a Saṃskṛta and Prākṛta poet and one who is well-versed in the science of poesy and other things.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The letters a to kṣa of the Sanskrit laṅguage.