Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 37 [Bindu and Visarga], 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 37 [Bindu and Visarga]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 37:
मानमेयमितिनेत्रलक्षणाः सोमसूर्यदहनास्त्रिधामगाः ।
राशिराजिविधिभञ्जितैः स्वरैर्लक्षितास्तव हि विप्रुषोऽम्बिके ॥ ३७ ॥mānameyamitinetralakṣaṇāḥ somasūryadahanāstridhāmagāḥ |
rāśirājividhibhañjitaiḥ svarairlakṣitāstava hi vipruṣo'mbike || 37 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[verse 37]
The svarās are sparks or rays emanating from her Vāṅgmaya śarīra. From the three primary svaras—“a”, “i”, “u” other svarās are born or evolved. Their true nature shines as Sun, Moon and Fire, as the Mātṛ -measurer, Meya measured, and Māṇa—the measurement represented as Bindutraya. From Bindutraya, the whole creation is evolved. Bindu (°) stands for Īśvara and Visarga (:) shines as Kāla-Kāli (the Divine Pair) and then the creation starts. Ambikā is the prime source or cause of all.[1]
Triple abodes in Śakti
[verse 37]
Śakti’s three eyes are the Dhamatṛaya—Iḍā, Piṅgalā and Śuṣumnā; Soma, Sūrya and Agni; Māna, Mātṛ and Meya.[2]
Śakti is the prime Bindu the source of svaras “a”, “i”, “u” (in Vāṅgmaya Śarīra) whose three eyes are Soma, (māna) Sūrya (meya) Agni (miti) shining in the zodiac. Here the Rāśi cakra refers to the 12 Rāśis in the zodiac as well as to the vibratory vowels and consonants.
The following table will show the identification of syllbles with Rāśi. (Ref: Prapañcasāra -fourth pātala.)
Rāśi cakra[3]
[verse 37]
| Meṣa | a, ā, i and ī |
| Ṛṣabha | u, ū and ṛ |
| Mithuna | ṝ, ḷ and ḹ |
| Karkaṭaka | e and ai |
| Siṃha | o and au |
| Kanyā | am, aḥ, śa, ṣa, sa and ha |
| Tula | ka-varga |
| Vṛścika | ca-varga |
| Dhanus | ṭa-varga |
| Makara | ta-varga |
| Kumbha | pa-varga |
| Mīna | ya, ra, la and va |
Her power exists in the physical form as Iḍā, Piṃgalā and Śuṣumnā nāḍis extending from Mūlādhāra. Thus She shines as Knower, Known and Knowledge. Śiva exists in the entire sixteen svarās. Śakti exists in twelve svarās leaving the Ṣaṇdasvarā, “ṛ”, “ṝ”, “ḷ”, “ḹ”. She pervades the entire universe through these letters. This signifies the cosmic form, physical form and the verbal vibratory form of Parāśakti.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Divyacakorikā] p 70-[Cidgaganacandrikā] 37.—
anāhatavāgarthapuruṣavibhaṃvadigdeśakālasāmarasyena vyākhyāyāhata vāgarthavibhave'pi vakṣayamāṇabṛndacakropāsanopayuktadhāma saṃvidarṇakramapūrvaṃka prakāśānandamūrtināmakacakra traya sāmarasyena āhatamātṛkārṇotpattimapi vyācikīrṣantatra pūrvoktamātṛmeyamānanetṛtayā vikalpa buddhiprerakāṇā magnisūryasomānāmanāhata vāgarthabindurūpatāṃ lakṣayati.
[2] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 23 - [Cidgaganacandrikā] - 37.—
ye vyañjanarūpāḥ payodhikalpāyāḥ śektarvipruṣaḥ tadrūpā mānameyamitirūpasya somasūryadahanātmakasya viśvasya svaravyañjanarūpasāmarasyāpannaśivaśaktiyoga prabhavatvādityāgamasaṃpradāyamanusṛtyāmbikāṃ stauti.
[3] Cf. (Quote Prapañcasāra 4th paṭala śloka 33-37) [Kramaprakāśikā] p 24-[Cidgaganacandrikā]-37.—
antarbahirvibhāgena racayed rāśimaṇḍalam |
bhūcakra eṣa meṣādiḥ pravijñeyo'tha mānuṣaḥ ||
ādyairmeṣāhvayo rāśirīkārāntaiḥ prajāyate |
ṛkārāntairukārādyairvṛṣo yugmaṃ tatastribhiḥ ||
edaitoḥ rkakaṭo rāśirodautoḥ siṃhasambhavaḥ |
amaḥ śavargalebhyaśca sañjātā kanyakā matā ||
ṣaḍbhyaḥ kacaṭatebhyaśca payābhyāñca prajajñire |
vaṇigādyāśca mīnāntā rāśayaḥ śaktijṛmbhaṇāt ||
caturbhiryādibhiḥ sārthaṃ syāt kṣakārastu mīnagaḥ | iti ||