Cidgaganacandrika (study)

by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words

Cidgaganacandrika 193 [Shakti as Maya projects the limitations in manifestation], 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 193 [Śakti as Māyā projects the limitations in manifestation]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 193:

त्वं गुहा निखिलभावगूहनी भामयेन वपुषाऽवतिष्ठसे ।
यच्च यस्तव पतिर्गुहाशयः प्राणिचक्रमखिलं च यस्य पूः ॥ १९३ ॥

tvaṃ guhā nikhilabhāvagūhanī bhāmayena vapuṣā'vatiṣṭhase |
yacca yastava patirguhāśayaḥ prāṇicakramakhilaṃ ca yasya pūḥ || 193 ||

Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:

[Śakti as Māyā projects the limitations in manifestation]

Jagat is in the womb of Śakti as the Pūrṇasattā (Nityasiddha), in the form Śṛṣṭi and Saṃhāra [1]. In her Śuddhādhvā (Śiva, Śakti, Sadāśiva, Īśvara, Śuddhavidyā) which is the activity of Śiva, there is no place for Māyā. The feeling about Jagat, that “this is different from me” is the projection of Māyā as Tirodhāna Śakti.She is the sixth element in the progression. Māyā is of two types. One form is Parameśvara’s Śakti limiting his Omnipresence. Second one confuses the Knower with respect to the knowledge of non-self as self. The thirty-six elements from Śiva to Earth are reflections in Cit only, but due to Māyā they shine as form of Cit. It is difficult to tide over the spread of Māyā, who produces a mirage form of the Jagat reflected by Śakti in the Cidgagana. Māyā creates this illusion of Jagat, as if it has emerged in the present and the same applies to that which was and which is to be created. The omnipotence (Sarvakartṛtva) of Śiva is limited by the seventh element Kalā. This gives rise to the eighth element vidyā (Aśuddha vidyā) which limits his omniscience (Sarvajñatva). Thus Māyā with Kalā, Vidyā, Rāga, Kāla and Niyati forms the six coverings on Śiva’s omnifarious state, in the projection of the mirage of inner reflection of Jagat as being outside emanation[2].

Notes and Sanskrit references:

[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 125. [Cidgaganacandrikā] 193.—

gauḍāpādena māṇḍūkyopaniṣatkārikāsu—
bhūtato'bhūtato vāpi sṛjyamāne samā śrutiḥ |
niścitaṃ yuktiyuktaṃ ca yattad bhavati netarat ||
neha nāneti cāmnāyādindro māyābhirityapi |
ajāyamāno bahudhā māyayā jāyate tu saḥ ||
saṃbhūterapavādācca saṃbhavaḥ pratiṣidhyate |
ko'nvenaṃ janayediti kāraṇaṃ pratiṣidhyate ||

[2] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 128 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 193.—

yathā vāyavīyasaṃhitāyām- śabdajātamaśeṣaṃ tu dhatte śaṅkaravallabhā | arthasvarūpamakhilaṃ dhatte mugdhenduśekharaḥ ||

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