Cidgaganacandrika (study)

by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words

Cidgaganacandrika 227-228 [Sahasrara and shower of Somarasa], 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 227-228 [Sahasrāra and shower of Somarasa]

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 227-228:

आत्मभावमखिलस्य जग्मुषी त्वं शिवे निरवधिः सदोदिता ।
भावसंहृतिनिमेषविग्रहा संहृतं कलयसि ह्यनावृतिः ॥ २२८ ॥
बर्हिणोऽण्डरसवद् यदन्तरे शब्दतः प्रभृति चित्रितासनम् ।
अर्थपञ्चकमसौ त्वमुन्मनी सन्धिपूर्वपदकल्पघस्मरी ॥ २२७ ॥

ātmabhāvamakhilasya jagmuṣī tvaṃ śive niravadhiḥ sadoditā |
bhāvasaṃhṛtinimeṣavigrahā saṃhṛtaṃ kalayasi hyanāvṛtiḥ || 228 ||
barhiṇo'ṇḍarasavad yadantare śabdataḥ prabhṛti citritāsanam |
arthapañcakamasau tvamunmanī sandhipūrvapadakalpaghasmarī || 227 ||

Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:

Kāli takes away the life of Sādhaka through the Central path

Inhaling and exhaling is an automatic, happy event occurring in all beings. Śakti is the controller of the Vāthacakra, consisting of Ten types of Vāyu. When the two Prāṇa and Apāna Vāyus causing inhalation and exhalation are stilled, then through the central path Prāṇakavalayatrikāli takes away the life (Vital air).

Sahasrāra and shower of Somarasa

Vṛndacakra, which is the essence of Krama school, centres round five siddhās

  1. Jñāna,
  2. Mantra,
  3. Melāpa,
  4. Śākta and
  5. Śambhava.

Dhāmakrama[1] denotes the respective abodes (five dhāmasKanda, Nābhi, Hṛt, Kaṇṭha and Bhrūmadhya) of these five siddhās.

Varṇa krama is the Pañca-piṇḍas (five letters “a”, “ka”, “ca”, “ṭa”, “ta”).

Kuṇḍalinī Śakti rises from Cidagni, to take the upward journey and on the path breaks through the Dhāmacakra and progressively attains Sahasrāra. There, she enjoys the shower of Somarasa and thus shows the way of attaining the Śivapada. Here she shines as the abode of all knowledge and is in Samvit form only.

Kālidāsa says that, he, from outside, will explain this entire play of Śakti. Vahnimaṇḍala consists of three Cakras-Mūlādhāra, Svādhiṣṭhāna and Maṇipūraka. Fourth Anāhata cakra is Dhāmacakra. Sahasrāra is Dvādaśānta Cakra.

Śakti’s flow that rises in Krama or Akrama, starts from Mūlādhāra and Svādhiṣṭhāna assisted by Vāyu to reach Anāhatacakra. There she takes the form of Five flows, when she wills to create. This happens in Dhāma, Varṇa and Samvit cakras, within which the entire manifestation can be classified. All things in the universe have names, which is Dhāmacakra. Their forms fall under Varṇa cakra. Prakāśa, Ānanda and Mūrti cakras pervade the Śṛṣṭi, Sthiti and Saṃhāra states. Citśakti descends from Samvit state through Dhāma and Varṇa kramas, to become Prakāśa and Vimarśa (Śaktimat and Śakti). She resides in Brahmarandhra as Parā. She is also called as Vimarśa, Spanda, Hṛdaya, Visarga etc.,

The sādhaka, who meditates upon her, as Śakti, in her couple form of Śaktimat (Śiva) and Śakti yāmala, realises her Śakti form; and the one who contemplates as Śiva realises Śiva form. At this state of rest, there is no expansion or contraction, which happen only by her Svātantrya (Icchā) aspect.

Notes and Sanskrit references:

[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 155 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 228.—

yaduktaṃ tantrāloke caturthāhnike–

“ekaṃ svarūparūpaṃ hi mānameyapramātṛtāḥ|
sargāvatārasaṃhāramayīrākramya vartate ||
svasvarūpānuguṇyena pratyekaṃ kalanāvaśāt |
sṛṣṭisthityādibhirbhedaiścaturdhā tā api sthitāḥ ||

kālagrāsāntamudayāccaturdhā vibhavo hi yaḥ | tasya viśrānti rekaiva” iti | anyacca - bhāvā bhāntīti saṃvittāvātmā bhātīti bhāsate |ātmā bhātīti saṃvittau bhāvā bhāntīti bhāsate ||

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