Verse 25

Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration, Word-for-word and English translation of verse 25:

एतन्नीरजकर्णिकान्तरलसच्छक्तिस्त्रिकोणाभिधा
  विद्युत्कोतिसमानकोमलवपुः सास्ते तदन्तर्गतः ।
बणाख्यः शिवलिङ्गको'पि कनकाकाराङ्गरागोज्ज्वलो
  मौलौ सूक्ष्मविभेदयुङ्मणिरिव प्रोल्लासलक्ष्म्यालयः ॥ २५ ॥

etannīrajakarṇikāntaralasacchaktistrikoṇābhidhā
  vidyutkotisamānakomalavapuḥ sāste tadantargataḥ |
baṇākhyaḥ śivaliṅgako'pi kanakākārāṅgarāgojjvalo
  maulau sūkṣmavibhedayuṅmaṇiriva prollāsalakṣmyālayaḥ || 25 ||

The Śakti whose tender body is like ten million flashes of lightning is in the pericarp of this Lotus in the form of a triangle (Trikoṇa). Inside the triangle is the Śiva-Liṅga known by the name of Bāṇa. This Liṅga is like shining gold, and on his head is an orifice minute as that in a gem. He is the resplendent abode of Lakṣmī.

Commentary by Śrī-Kālīcaraṇa:

In this Śloka is described the triangle (Trikoṇa) which is in the pericarp of this Lotus.

“Śakti in the form of a triangle” (Trikoṇābhidha-Śaktīḥ).—By this we are to understand that the apex of the Triangle is downward.^[1]

This Trikoṇa is below the Vāyu-Bīja, as has been said elsewhere.

“In its lap is Īśa. Below it, within the Trikoṇa is Bāṇa-Liṅga.”

“On his head,” etc. (Maulau sūkṣma-vibheda-yuṅg maṇiḥ).—This is a description of Bāṇa-Liṅga. The orifice is the little space within the Bindu which is within the half-moon which is on the head of the Liṅga.

Elsewhere we find the following description: “The Bāṇa-Liṅga within the triangle, decked in jewels made of gold—the Deva with the half-moon on his head; in the middle is an excellent red lotus.”

The red lotus in this quotation is one below the pericarp of the heart lotus; it has its head turned upwards, and has eight petals. It is in this lotus that mental worship (Mānasa-pūjā) should be made.^[2] Compare the following: “Inside is the red eight-petalled lotus. There is also the Kalpa-tree and the seat of the Iṣṭa-deva under a beautiful awning (Gandrātapa), surrounded by trees laden with flowers and fruits and sweet-voiced birds. There meditate on the Iṣṭa-deva according to the ritual^[3] of the worshipper.”

“Orifice minute as”—He here speaks of the Bindu which is the head of the Bāṇa-Liṅga. As a gem has a minute orifice in it (when pierced to be threaded), so has this Liṅga.^[4] By this is meant that the Bindu is in the head of Śiva-Liṅga.

“The resplendent abode of Lakṣmī.”^[5]—By this one must know the great beauty of the Liṅga, due to a rush of desire.^[6]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

As it is a Trikoṇa-Śakti, it must have its apex downwards as in the case of the Yoni.

[2]:

This is not one of the six Cakras, but a lotus known as Ānanda-kanda, where the Iṣṭa-devatā is meditated upon. See Ch. V, v. 132, Mahānirvāṇa-Tantra.

[3]:

Kalpa. Tattat-kalpoktamārgataḥ. That is, in manner enjoined by the respective sampradāya of the sādhaka.

[4]:

The Liṅga itself is not pierced, but it carries the Bindu, which has. an empty space (Śūnya) within its circle.

[5]:

That is, here, beauty.

[6]:

Kāmodgama.