Cidgaganacandrika (study)

by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words

Cidgaganacandrika 208-210 [Shakti shines as Anubhava and Smriti], 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 208-210 [Śakti shines as Anubhava and Smṛti]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 208-210:

द्रष्टृदृश्यदृशिलक्षणं जगत् प्राक्स्मृतेस्त्वयि तदम्ब संहृतम् ।
उन्मिषत्यपि पुनस्तदुद्गमे तल्लये निमिषति त्वदिच्छया ॥ २०८ ॥
सा प्रमातुरिह जीवितं स्मृतिर्यत्नतां प्रकटयत्यमुष्य या ।
या च दृग् जननि निह्नुतेन ते अप्युभे सह पुनर्विरूपताम् ॥ २०९ ॥
दृग् विधत्त इह विश्वमम्बिके तत्पुनः स्थिरयति स्मृतिस्तव ।
तन्मिथोपनिहिता निषीदसि त्वं तु योगतमसीत्यनाश्रिता ॥ २१० ॥

draṣṭṛdṛśyadṛśilakṣaṇaṃ jagat prāksmṛtestvayi tadamba saṃhṛtam |
unmiṣatyapi punastadudgame tallaye nimiṣati tvadicchayā || 208 ||
sā pramāturiha jīvitaṃ smṛtiryatnatāṃ prakaṭayatyamuṣya yā |
yā ca dṛg janani nihnutena te apyubhe saha punarvirūpatām || 209 ||
dṛg vidhatta iha viśvamambike tatpunaḥ sthirayati smṛtistava |
tanmithopanihitā niṣīdasi tvaṃ tu yogatamasītyanāśritā || 210 ||

Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:

Śakti shines as Anubhava and Smṛti

Smṛti recollects knowledge similar to that gained by Anubhava-Dṛk[1]. Here, experience forms the base for memory. They differ only due to Time and Place. But both are known by the same knower. Jñāna is the one that throws light on the known. Memory recollects this unimpaired by deśa and kāla. Śakti shines as both.

Icchāśakti’s Opening and Closing of eyes

Knower, known and Knowledge is the Triputī[2] that results as Jagat. Before memory, this Jagat gets absorbed in Śakti and attains oneness. Smṛti Śakti rises, when there arises the will towards manifestation. Again due to Icchā śakti’s will towards Laya, the memory is lost and the Jagat merges into Śakti. Jñāna Śakti absorbs the Jagat and then unites with Śiva.[3]

Notes and Sanskrit references:

[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 139 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 208.—

“tripuṭyātma jagat,” “sarvo vikalpaḥ saṃsāraḥ” iti nītyā vikalpātmakameva |

[2] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 139 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 208.—

jñānameva parivṛddhaṃ jñeyaṃ svātmanyātmasātkṛtya pramātari līyata iti “jñānarūpaṃ tato jagat” ityāyātam ||

[3] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 141 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 210.—

kenacinmarmajñadhurandhareṇa bhaktāgragaṇyena- aparokṣe bhavattattve sarvataḥ prakaṭe sthite | yairupāyāḥ pratanyante nūnaṃ tvāṃ na vidanti te || iti ||

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