Varahi Tantra (English Study)
by Roberta Pamio | 2014 | 29,726 words
This English essay studies the Varahi Tantra and introduces the reader to the literature and philosophy of the Shakta Tradition to which this text belongs. These Shakta Tantras are doctrines where the Mother Goddess is conceived as the Supreme deity who is immanent and transcendental at the same time. The Varahitantra (lit. the "Doctrine of th...
Chapter 10 - The worship of Tripurasundarī
The entire tenth chapter deals the worship of Tripurasundarī as described in the Yoginīhṛdaya and commented upon in the Śrīrasamahodadhi.
For the benefit of all sentient beings, the Goddess asks Bhairava to explain the mantra, cakra and worship of Mahātripurasundarī along with her attendants (vv.1-7). Bhairava then speaks about the "Heart of the Yoginī" (Yoginīhṛdaya), a secret doctrine transmitted traditionally from Guru to disciple describing the worship of Tripurā as divided in three saṃketas (lit "signs"), namely the cakrasaṃketa, mantrasaṃketa and pūjāsaṃketa (vv.8-12').
Verses 12"-24 speak about mantrasaṃketa, the six meanings (artha) of the mantra which the practitioner should contemplate during the japa: bhāvārtha, sampradāyārtha, nirgarbhārtha, rahasyārtha and mahātattvārtha.[1]
The cakrasaṃketa is divided in two parts: the first deals with the drawing of the yantra (vv.25-43'), while the second gives the names of the nine cakras inherent to the Śrīyantra (vv.43"-48').
The mantrasaṃketa describes different vidyās, i.e. mantras of the Goddess (vv.48"-84').[2]
The pūjāsaṃketa gives the names of the presiding deities and the yoginīs of each of the nine cakras (vv.84"-108) and describes the benefits derived from the worship of Śrī Mahātripurasundarī (109-119).
Footnotes and references:
[2]:
This part is absent in the Yoginīhṛdaya.