Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 289 [Thirty-six Tattvas and the Seven Pramatas], 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
Verse 289 [Thirty-six Tattvas and the Seven Pramātās]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 289:
नित्यता त्वयि विभुत्वपूर्णते दृक्कृये स्वरसगोचरे च ये ।
तानि तानि वियतीव शोभने रागवेदसकलाश्च भान्त्यथ ॥ २८९ ॥nityatā tvayi vibhutvapūrṇate dṛkkṛye svarasagocare ca ye |
tāni tāni viyatīva śobhane rāgavedasakalāśca bhāntyatha || 289 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Thirty-six Tattvas and the Seven Pramātās]
Śakti’s scope of own instinct, contains the Jñāna (Omni-science) and Kriyā (Omni-potence) along with her traits of Eternity, Wholeness and Prosperity. She, like the Sky, in which shine the Planets, Stars, Sun, Moon etc., She is the substratum of all the Thirty-six Tattvas. Rāga is the attachment in objects. Veda is Vidyā (knowledge) and means of knowledge. Sakala indicates the seven performers of true conception (Pramātṛ) viz., Śiva (Parapramātā and Sūnyapramātā), Śakti (Parapramātri in Sākta darśana).
Three Śuddhādhvā pramātara are:
- Mantramaheśvara,
- Mantreśvara,
- Mantra.
Vijñānakala pramātā is placed at the abode of Mahāmāyā (below Śuddhavidyā but above Māyā) / Pralayākala pramātā reaching the state of Pralaya, still possesses Mayīya and Kārmaṇa malas (impurities). Sakala pramātā is the Paśu (Aparā pramātā) who is accompanied by all three impurities (Āṇava, Mayīya and Kārmaṇa malas). All these fall into the Thirty-six tattvas, which cause the entire manifestation[1]. Knowing these tattvas and each in turn enfolding into the higher tattvas leads the sādhaka to the source of manifestation.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] [Kramaprakāśikā] p 197 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 289.—
yattattveṣu nāsti tatkutrāpi nāsti | yathoktam—
“evaṃ sṛṣṭāni tattvāni jñānāni ca varānane |
tattvairetairjagatsarvaṃ visṛṣṭaṃ sacarācaram ||” (svaccha. 11| 195)
sacarācaraṃ jagat tattavairvisṛṣṭaṃ viśeṣeṇa sṛṣṭaṃ caturdaśavidhabhūtasargātmanā prapañcitamityarthaḥ | kiñca - bhuvanāni vicitrāṇi śataśo'tha sahasraśaḥ || tattvābhyantarasthāni śāstrāṇi vividhāni ca | vijñānaṃ kuhaṃka śilpaṃ siddhisandohalakṣaṇam || sarvaṃ tattveṣu boddhavyaṃ sarvatattveṣu dṛśyate | prakriyā śivadīkṣā ca tattvairetairhi labhyate || (svaccha.1| 196-197)