Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 7 [Rudra is Manthana Bhairava], 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 7 [Rudra is Manthāna Bhairava]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 7:
शक्तिनेत्रपरिणद्धमास्थितं पूर्णभामयपयोधिमन्थताम् ।
देवि तर्पणसुधाकलाश्रयं रुद्रमन्दरमहं स्फुटं भजे ॥ ७ ॥śaktinetrapariṇaddhamāsthitaṃ pūrṇabhāmayapayodhimanthatām |
devi tarpaṇasudhākalāśrayaṃ rudramandaramahaṃ sphuṭaṃ bhaje || 7 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Rudra is Manthāna Bhairava]
Bhairava churns i.e. dissolves all objects into Self-consciousness. kālidāsa submits that he clings to the visible churning rod, Rudra Manthāna which is the space or visible creation. It is encircled by the churning thread—the eye of kāli—time, supported by the radiant rays of nectar—Sudhā ready to be offered to kāli. Siddhā says he is kāla, the known, the visible world. Thus he is the knower, the knowledge and the known.[1]
Praise of Manthāna Bhairava, Rudra
Author praises Rudra, who was in union with Śakti prior to creation, who acting as the churning rod, churns the luminous ocean of truth in his Prakāśa aspect, with the help of His Śakti (Vimarśa) forming the churning chord Pāśa) and brings out nectar-like digits of the moon to please her in her creative play.
The outcome of this Amṛtātmika vidya[2] is the Akṣa mātṛka resulting in the universal emanation of names and forms representing the union of Prakāśa and Vimarśa aspects of the Absolute.
The life force in the form of Sudhā (nector) is the Amṛtātmikā Jīvā Śakti. Her kalā is Vidyā. Candra (Soma) is Sudhākalā: His abode is Śakti. Rudra is meditating Agnikalā. The union of the Soma and Rudra results in Sūryakalā. These three (Candra, Sūrya and Agni) form the eyes of Śiva and Śakti.
In meditative state the Sādhaka while raising himself to the state of Manthāna Bhairava (Bhairava that churns i.e. dissolves all objects into Self-consciousness) feels the flow of nectar after reaching the Soma kuṇḍalinī level, when his Kuṇḍalinī Śakti unites Śiva in Sahasrāra. The Kuṇḍalinī Śakti of the Sādhaka is divided into three states viz., Agni kuṇḍalinī, Sūrya kuṇḍalinī and Soma kuṇḍalinī.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Divyacakorikā] p 22-[Cidgaganacandrikā] 7.
premayajīvarudrasya mahāmanthānabhairavasya pramāṇapadasthapāṃcabhautika dehendriyādisaṅgātaṃ jīvayātrāmayasṛṣṭyādi pañcṛkatyasamudra mathanopayogimantha daṇḍatayā pramātrabhedena stuvannamaskaroti.
[2] Cf. [Divyacakorikā] p 24-[Cidgaganacandrikā]-7.
amṛtādi pūrṇāmṛtāntāḥ ṣoḍaśasomakalāḥ tantroktāḥ |