Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 63 [Eight-fold path], 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 63 [Eight-fold path]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 63:
अष्टधा स्फुरति या पुरी शिवे सूक्ष्मभावमुपगम्य लैङ्गिकम् ।
तज्जपौष्टकृतचित्तवृत्तयो वासनास्त्वदुदरस्थिते पशौ ॥ ६३ ॥aṣṭadhā sphurati yā purī śive sūkṣmabhāvamupagamya laiṅgikam |
tajjapauṣṭakṛtacittavṛttayo vāsanāstvadudarasthite paśau || 63 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Eight-fold path]
As the Jīva or Paśu lives in Śakti or takes his seat on her breast, he shines as eight fold, each in turn having the three forms or bodies, visual, mental and spiritual. Acting in that eight fold path and from that state are born Vāsanās or actions.
The body, in its three states, with the eight fold group is detailed here under:—
1) Sthūla (Visible Body):—Knowledge, Mind, Action, Man and Woman, Jīva, Prāṇa and Body.
2) Śūkṣma (Mental Body):—Vāgādi-pañca, Śravaṇādi-pañca, Prāṇadi-pañca, Bhūta-pañcaka, Antaḥkaraṇa-catuṣṭaya, Non-knowledge, Desire and Action-mental.
3) Kāraṇa (Subtle or Spiritual Body):—Eight wheels—‘aṣṭa cakra’ and nine paths—‘nava dvāras’, these help the Jīva to rise to the Parā-tanu, the Supreme body or being through Jñāna and Karma yogās.[1]
Sūkṣma Puryaṣṭakarūpa is the Liṅgaśarīra
The abode shines in eight-fold forms by attaining the subtle form as a Liṅgaśarīra. The activities of mind are born out of the Puryaṣṭaka.[2] They supported by Antaḥkaraṇa remain as vāsanās . They are residing in Śakti’s womb and as vāsanās in all living beings. Śakti who enlightens them is said to be omniscient (Sarvajñā)[3].
Liṅgaśarīra of Jīvā is the eight-fold Puryaṣṭaka, the city of the group of eight. It is the subtle body of Jīvā consisting of Pañcatanmātras, Buddhi, Manas and Ahaṅkāra.
The subtle body of Puryaṣṭaka Śiva (Macro Cosmic) consists of
- Citi, the consciousness power of Absolute,
- Citta, the cosmic mind,
- Caitanya, Freedom of knowing and doing (Jñāna & Kriyāśakti),
- Cetanā, Supreme Consciousness (Śiva),
- Cetanā, Empirical consciousness of individual (Pasu),
- Jivā, Life,
- Kalā, Ray,
- Śarīra Karma.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Divyacakorikā] p 117-[Cidgaganacandrikā] 63.—
kulīśapāśupatādiśaivatantramaryādayā mātṛkāvargāṣṭakābhedakalpitavāgarthuparyaṣṭakalaiṅgika vāsanāmaṃyavāgarthavyavahāraṃ darśayanviśvamayaviśvorttīṇajīvadevapaśubhāvabhedamapi darśayati.
[2] Cf. 49-50. SKV.—
liṅgaśarīre sūkṣamatvamavāpya yatpuryaṣṭaṃka |
pañcatanmātramanobuddhyahaṅkārarūpaṃ |
Cf. Cidvalli karika 40 KKV.—
citiściṃttaca caitanyaṃ cetanādvayameva ca |
jīvaḥ kalāśarīraṃ ca sūkṣamaṃ puyarṣṭaṃka bhavet ||
Cf. [Yoginīhṛdaya] Tika Karika 54, (Vyakhya) Quote-in [Kramaprakāśikā] p 39-[Cidgaganacandrikā]-63.—
citiścittaṃ (caityaṃ)ca caitanyaṃ cetanādvayakarma ca |jīvaḥ kalā ca deveśi sūkṣamaṃ puyarṣṭaṃka matam ||
[3] Cf. Quote-Pancadasi-[Kramaprakāśikā] p 39-[Cidgaganacandrikā]-63.—
aśeṣaprāṇibuddhīnāṃ vāsanāstatra saṃsthitāḥ |
tābhiḥ kroḍīkṛtaṃ sarvaṃ tena sarvajña īritaḥ ||