Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 243-244 [Srishti Krama is the best of the Kalas], 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 243-244 [Sṛṣṭi Krama is the best of the Kalās]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 243-244:
भूतचक्रमधुकोशसम्भृतं तत्तदर्थमधु पातुमुत्सुकः ।
यन्मरीचिविषयः सभास्करस्त्वद्रुचौ शलभवत् प्रलीयते ॥ २४३ ॥
प्राण एष यमकाल उच्यते मध्यवाहतनुरग्निमम्ब यः ।
रुद्रमेतदुपनीय खं परं तत्र सर्गविमुखं करोष्यमुम् ॥ २४४ ॥bhūtacakramadhukośasambhṛtaṃ tattadarthamadhu pātumutsukaḥ |
yanmarīciviṣayaḥ sabhāskarastvadrucau śalabhavat pralīyate || 243 ||
prāṇa eṣa yamakāla ucyate madhyavāhatanuragnimamba yaḥ |
rudrametadupanīya khaṃ paraṃ tatra sargavimukhaṃ karoṣyamum || 244 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
Saṃhārakāli
After the involution of manifestation of word and sense, till its memory exists, Śakti shines as Jaganmayī. When experience transcends even the memory, then entirety of the Brahmāṇḍa brings great rejoice. Hence, Kāla, who is repositary of the Kalā, viz., Saṃhārakāli, is sought after by sādhakas.
Sṛṣṭi Krama is the best of the Kalās of Śakti, in which her supremacy shines.
Sthiti Krama enables vivid experiences of the cognitions. Sthiti highlights the beauty of Sṛṣṭi. Then it is Saṃhārakrama which is the effort to trace back to the source of creation. Sṛṣṭi is associated with birth which starts with the pain of containment in the womb of mother. Sthiti is the constant thought process wavering between the twin concepts-Pain and Pleasure; Gain and Loss; Victory and Defeat etc., Saṃhāra is the natural instinct of the soul to get back to the original blissful state which is one’s source in creation[1].
Twelve Sūryakalās merge into Śakti’s Brilliance alongwith Sūrya
Bhūtacakra, the totality of pañcamahābhūtas is the treasury of honey. It is said to be brimming with honey. The rays of Sūrya wish to drink the respective sweetness from different Bhūtas. They along with Sūrya, like the moths, get attracted towards Śakti’s brilliance and merge into her light.The greatness of Śakti’s brilliance surpasses that of Sūrya, whose rays enliven the living things in the universe.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 167 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 244.—
yamakālyāḥ śrīpañcaśatikoktalakṣaṇaṃ viveke - yamarūpasvarūpasthā rūpātītasvarūpagā | sā kalā līyate yasyāṃ yamakālī tu sā smṛtā || śrīkramastotre'pi - sarvātharsaṃkarṣaṇasaṃyamasya yamasya yanturjagato yamāya | vapurmahāgrāsavilāsarāgāt saṃkarṣayīṃntapraṇamāmi kālīm ||