Cidgaganacandrika (study)

by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words

Cidgaganacandrika 10 [The inseparable form of Shiva-Shakti], 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 10 [The inseparable form of Śiva-Śakti]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 10:

खण्डसत्प्रसरगर्भया यया लक्षितं स्फुरविपूर्णसत्तया ।
तत्त्वमैश्वरमखण्डमम्बिकां त्वां प्रणौम्यखिलतत्त्वनायिकाम् ॥ ११ ॥

khaṇḍasatprasaragarbhayā yayā lakṣitaṃ sphuravipūrṇasattayā |
tattvamaiśvaramakhaṇḍamambikāṃ tvāṃ praṇaumyakhilatattvanāyikām || 11 ||

Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:

[The inseparable form of Śiva-Śakti]

The Siddhā has his seat in the inner sky. He is none other than the Truth, the Cidgagana—the centre of the five-fold nāda. (given in detail later in the work) This Cidgagana is the eternal source of the two-fold power viz. Kāli and Kāla a state without name and form that shines as (Vyoma) the inner sky. It is the ever shining inseparable combination viz. kāla-Kāli or Śiva-Śakti by virtue of the lustrous rays of the word and its meaning.[1]

Projection of the Universe by the union of Śiva and Śakti

[Projection of the Universe by the union of Śiva and Śakti in her five-fold form (Pūrṇāhantasvarūpa)]

Śiva or Prakāśa, represents the ‘a’-kara. ‘ha’-kara the ending alphabet represents four folds of ethereal (vyomātmaka) Khecarī, Bhūcarī, Dikcarī and Gocarī Śaktis. ‘ma’-kāra represents Vimarśa-Śakti.

They all unite to form the complete I consciousness[2]. (Pūrṇāhanta rūpaaham). The creation of the entire universe thus unfolds step by step. The first impulse “Cit” (Vimarśa) is the Vāmeśvarī, who brings out the projection of the universe of names and forms with the help of the other four fold Śaktis. She operates in the space of Cit (Cidgagana) to bring about the variances in creation. She assumes doership and becomes Khecarī the form of Pramāta. Then attains the form with hands etc., and seeks worldly enjoyment. At this stage she is called Bhūcarī, Then by inheriting the faculties of sight, hearing (Cakṣu, Śrotra) etc., directs the sense organs towards sense objects. At this level she is Dikcarī. Then She is called Gocarī when she takes the form of four inner sense organs (“Antaḥkaraṇa catuṣṭaya rūpā”). From this stage she undertakes the worldly journey.

The five stages of the first Impulse “sound” (Nāda) are:

  1. Vāmeśvarīakti,
  2. Khecarīakti,
  3. Bhūcarīakti,
  4. Dikcarīakti and
  5. Gocarīakti.

They are the Śaktis who operate in the Subtlest form of the Universe before the actual manifestation. Hence they are called the forms of “Vyomātmaka Śaktis”.

Notes and Sanskrit references:

[1] Cf. [Divyacakorikā] p 27-[Cidgaganacandrikā] 10—

sakalaughasamaṣṭimayapataṃlajalyādigurunamaskārottaraṃ vāgarthasamaṣṭipañcavāhamaya viśvotpatti vipattihetusveṣṭadevatāṃ divyādyaughatraya rūpiṇīṃ cindyomatayā' nusandhatte.

[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 7-[Cidgaganacandrikā]-10.—

sarvapīṭhanivāsinyaḥ sarvagāścinmarīcayaḥ |
bhairavyo bharitākārā: rakṣantu kulamātaraḥ ||
poginīhṛdaye sarvarahasyārtha nirūpaṇe.

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