Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 183 [Cidanandamayi Shakti enfolds the projection in one’s Self], 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 183 [Cidānandamayī Śakti enfolds the projection in one’s Self]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 183:
मूलतः प्रभृति पावकाश्रयं द्वादशान्तनिधनं शिवे जगत् ।
वाहतत्प्रथनयोर्निषेदुषी मज्जयस्व तव धाम्नि चित्पदे ॥ १८३ ॥mūlataḥ prabhṛti pāvakāśrayaṃ dvādaśāntanidhanaṃ śive jagat |
vāhatatprathanayorniṣeduṣī majjayasva tava dhāmni citpade || 183 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Cidānandamayī Śakti enfolds the projection in one’s Self]
The twelve cakras[1] starting from Mūlādhāra till Dvādaśānta are the abode of manifestation in the Cosmic Self (Cit-Prakāśa) which are absorbed in Cidānandamayī Śakti in order to afford sādhakas attain oneness with Paramaśiva.
Five spots of vacant space (Sūnyasthānas) which depict the Ākāśa element, exist between the Six cakras starting from Bindu—
- Bindu,
- Ardhacandra,
- Rodhinī,
- Nāda,
- Nādānta and
- Śakti.
Heart is the abode of the Pañcaprāṇās—the Vāyu element. Like Agni which purifies the impurities, Vāyu also purifies the Smell and hence referred to here as Pāvaka. The first appearance of spanda in Sṛṣṭikrama, from Prakāśa-Śiva as Vimarśa transforms into Prāṇās[2]. Śakti in her Bliss state affords the sādhakas to attain this abode of her, by her grace of revelation of the eternal nature of Self. Praṇava’s three vowels represent the Jāgrat, Svapna and Suṣupti states of mind. Suṣupti is traced to the Mid of Brows (Ājñā) position known as Bindu. It also represents the Sanskrit letter ‘hrīm’ (hṛllekha). Cause of Manifestation of Soul is Nāda—name for the group of Ardhacandra, Rodhinī and Nāda—which is the Turīya state.
The fifth Turīyātīta state is state of Bliss which spreads [through the following levels of contemplation]:
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 113 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 183.—
mūlādhārād dvādaśāntaṃ yāvaccakrāṇāṃ dvādaśaṃka janmāgra-mūla-kanda-nābhi-hṛt- kaṇṭha-tālu-bhrūmadhya-lalāṭa-brahmarandhra-śakti-vyāpinītyantaṃ vartate | ṣaṇḍhasvarān caturaḥ ṛ ṝ lṛṝ ḹ[#] varjayitvā śeṣasvarānakārādivisargāntān saṃkalayya dvādaśasvarāḥ kutracit kutracit proktadvādaśacakreṣu dhyātavyā ityupadiṣṭam |
[2] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 114 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 183.—
“prāk śaktiḥ prāṇe pariṇatā” iti nītyā śektaḥ prathamāvirbhāvovarohakrame prāṇā eveti tantrāgamaśāstrābhiyuktāḥ |