Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 262 [Kali’s greatness revealed], 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 262 [Kāli’s greatness revealed]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 262:
ये तु कुण्डलशिखाकुलस्थिताः ये भवन्त्यकुलबिन्दुशालिनः ।
ते विदन्ति नु तवाम्ब वैभवं पूर्णभानमयविश्वघस्मरम् ॥ २६२ ॥ye tu kuṇḍalaśikhākulasthitāḥ ye bhavantyakulabinduśālinaḥ |
te vidanti nu tavāmba vaibhavaṃ pūrṇabhānamayaviśvaghasmaram || 262 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Kāli’s greatness revealed only to Sādhakas whose pursuit is relentless]
Kuṇḍalinī Śakti resides as dormant snake in three and a half rings; the head is residence of Kāli, called Kula. Those, who worship Kāli as Kulakuṇḍalinī are called Kaula. Śiva’s abode is the Bindu which is called Akula[1]. Sādhakas, who worship the Akula Śiva, attain the knowledge of the United form of Śiva and Śakti and Kaulas worship Śakti’s greatness as a via media for attaining Śiva. The Divine Couple are complimentary[2] to each other by their very nature of being Śakti and Śaktimat.
The equal status of Śiva and Śakti consists of five classifications.
- Adhiṣṭhāna-sāmya—Place in Cakra s and Yantra s of worship.
- Anuṣṭhāna-sāmya—Performance of the Sṛṣṭyādi pañcakṛtyas.
- Avasthāna-sāmya—Dwelling in Nṛtyadi activities.
- Nāma-sāmya—Śiva, Rudra, Bhairava etc.,
- Rūpa-sāmya—Aruṇa (Red), Nila (blue) etc.,
Kāliśakti is realised by these sādhakas as the complete Radiance as well as the ultimate substratum for the entire manifestation.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p180 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 262.—
“akulaṃ śivamityāhuḥ kulaṃ śaktiḥ prakīrtitā | kulākulasya vijñānāt kaula ityabhidhīyate ||” iti kulārṇavatantrānusāraṃ kulaṃ śaktirakulaṃ śiva ityavadhāryate ||
[2] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p180 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 262.—
yāmalatvaṃ ca svābhāvikam taduktaṃ mātṛkācakra vivake—“vācekana vimarśena vinā kiṃ vā prakāśyate | vācyenāpi prakāśena vinā kiṃ vā vimṛśyate || tasmādvimarśo visphūrtau prakāśaṃ samapekṣate | prakāśaścātmano jñāne vimarśaṃ samapekṣate ||” iti ||