Chapter 320 - The different mystic diagrams (maṇḍala)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1-5a. O Guha^[1]! I shall describe to you the Sarvatobhadraka^[2] (that which confers good from all sides). A wiseman should worship the favourite Goddess of energy on the east at (the time of) the equinox. Then he should hold the thread eastwest having the middle point between (the asterisms) Citrā and Svāti and mark at its centre after causing it to move gently. Two points on the north and south should be marked from its middle point. The two points should be brought in line with the middle point after having moved (the string) gently northsouth. The junctions of angular points should be marked such that one would have one hundred and fifty divisions. Thus a quadrangle would be formed by causing the four lines to move gently. The auspicious Bhadra diagram should be drawn in that.

5b-8a. (The quadrangle) should be divided into eight squares. The pathways and doorways should be made in two squares each. The cupola should be proportionate to the measure of the lotus. The excellent angular joints should be formed by turning round two squares. The lotus should be (painted) white, the pericarp yellow, the filaments variegated, the pathway red and the door having the hue of Lokeśa (Lord of the world). The angular point (should be) red. (This is the lotus to be drawn) in the case of a daily rite. Listen to me! (I shall describe the mode of drawing) a lotus for an occasional (rite).

8b-9. There are two varieties of lotus (diagrams), (the diagram) that does not touch and (the diagram) that touches, which confer enjoyment and emancipation. That which does not touch (is intended) for those who desire for release (from worldly existence). That which touches is of three (kinds)—young one, middle one and old. (These three) yield the fruits and perfection according to their respective names.

10-14. Lines should be drawn in the different directions as well as the directions in between in the place for the lotus. Five circles should be drawn (having dimensions) equal to that of the lotus. There should be nine lotuses around the pericarp in the first (circle). The second (circle) should have twenty-four pericarps. There should be a union of petals, the tip of the petal resembling the temple of an elephant. The fifth should be of the form of the sky. This is known as contiguous (type of) lotus. In the uncontinguous one, the tip of the petal should be divided into four from the bottOṃ. After having discarded two parts, a petal should be set with one-eighth of the remaining. The petal should be anointed with the line at the union from the base. This would be Vṛddha class on the left and right.

15-17a. In the alternative one should whirl round from the middle of the union to form a semi-circle. The two unions and the foremost line (should be made into circles).This would form a young type of lotus. One should turn it from behind with half the measure of the union line. This lotus having pointed tip known as youthful class is capable of conferring enjoyment and emancipation. The bāla class of lotus is known as of two kinds—mukta and vṛddha useful in subjugating (one’s enemy) etc.

17b-22. A ground measuring nine cubits should be made ready as having nine central points with parts possessing mantras. A lotus (should be drawn) at the centre having a banner at the centre and a door proportionate in size to that of the lotus. Leaving its neck portion and the adjacent parts, a pathway should be made outside. The pathway should have five parts, There should be ten parts around that. Lotuses (should be drawn) in the eight directions and the directions in between. The lotus at the entrance should have a pathway. A pathway of five foot (breadth) adorns outside that. The door and the neck (should measure) like that of the lotus. The frontal and neck (should measure) a foot. The cupola should be made a foot. There should be three doors in the (different) directions. The angular joints will have three chambers. Two chambers would bear the mark of a mace. The central lotus (should be) white (and other lotuses should be) yellow, red, blue, whitish yellow, smoky, red and yellow conferring emancipation.

23-24a. One should worship Śiva, Viṣṇu and others in the eight lotuses on the east etc. After havingworshipped Indra and others at the centre of the edifice, the weapons in the lotuses and (lord) Viṣṇu and others in the external pathway, one would get (the fruits of performing) the aśvamedha (sacrifice).

24b-30a. One should draw a great circle in connection with the investiture of the sacred thread on the idol etc. A piece of ground (measuring) eight cubits should be divided into eight chambers. There should be a lotus in two chambers at the centre and the pathway in one chamber. Eight blue lotuses should be marked in the different directions and the spaces in between. Thirty blue lotuses without the union of petals (should be drawn) measuring the same size as the central lotus. There should be a pathway behind occupying a chamber. There should be (the figure of) svastikas above that. As before the pathway outside should be in eight (chambers) divided into twenty parts having (the figure of) svastikas in two chambers. The doors and the boundaries should be proportionate to the lotus. The angular point, the pathway and the lotus in the circle should be red, yellow and blue respectively. O Guha! the svastika (figure) etc. of varied colour are capable of fulfilling all the desires.

30b-33. (The circle having) five lotuses should measure five cubits. It should be wholly divided into ten parts. The pathway (should occupy) two chambers of the lotus, and the tablet (in one chamber). There should be four lotuses at the cardinal points. There should be a pathway on the rear in one chamber or two chambers. The doors should be endowed with boundaries and adjacent spaces. There should be a lotus at the centre. In this circle consisting of five lotuses, (the lotus) in the east (is) white and yellow, the lotus in the south (is) of the hue of lapis lazuli, the lotus in the west (is) of the colour of jasmine, the lotus in the north (is) of the colour of a conch and all the rest of varied colour.

34-37. I shall describe a circle of ten cubits which yields all the desires. It should be a four-sided one divided into ten parts. The door would occupy two chambers. As (described) earlier (there should be) a lotus at the centre. I shall now describe (the circle known as) the destroyer of obstacles. After having made (ready) a place (measuring) four cubits, a circle measuring two arms length (should be drawn). The pathway (should measure) only a cubit. It should be made to contain many figures of svastika. The doors should measure a cubit. There should be circle containing lotus (figures) in the cardinal points. Five white coloured lotuses (should be drawn). God without any attributes should be worshipped at the centre. The heart (and other limbs) (should be worshipped) in the east and other directions. The weapons should be worshipped in the directions in between (these directions).

38-41. As before the five Brahmans (forms of Śiva should be worshipped). I shall describe the support of intellect. A place should be divided into hundred parts and a lotus (should be drawn) in fifteen parts. (Figures) of eight liṅgas should be drawn in the (eight) directions. The girdle should occupy a part and the boundary would be in two chambers. The preceptor should provide decorative festoons etc. making use of his creative thinking.^[3] There are one thousand four-hundred and forty circles for the gods Hari, Śambhu and Sun and the goddess.

42-48. Listen to me! I shall describe the decorations and marks to be made in (a place) divided into seventy (parts). Fifteen, one, three and five (chambers) in the cardinal points should be erased. The temple of liṅga should be made above in two chambers on the sides. A lotus should be drawn in two chambers at the centre. A lotus should be drawn in one chamber on either side of the liṅga. By destroying the six lines of the decorations the remaining (would form lines) for (lord) Hari. After having erased the two squares above, it is said to form the auspicious aṣṭaka (having eight parts) of (lord) Hari. It is decorated by erasing four lines and possessing beam-like (lines). Then the lotus for a seat is made in twenty-five (chambers). After having retained two chambers on each side, the eight secondary decorations (are made). The diagram sacred to the goddess is big at the centre and small above. There should be a lotus at the centre in nine chambers and four chambers in the cardinal points. The remaining thirteen chambers form a circle resting on one’s intellect. That one having one hundred and sixty petals based on one’s intellect (is intended) for Hara (Śiva) and others.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Denotes Kumāra, son of Śiva and Pārvatī.

[2]:

A kind of mystical diagram.

[3]:

Verse number 40 is cryptic and has not been translated.