{"collection":"tantra","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/tantra/htk/htk05.htm","path":"tantra/htk/htk05.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/tantra/htk/htk05.htm","text":"Hymn to Kali, by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922]\nO MOTHER 1 and Spouse of the Destroyer of the three cities, 2 they who thrice recite 3 Thy B\u012bja 4 formed by omitting from Karp\u016bra, the middle and last consonants and the vowels, but adding V\u0101m\u0101k\u1e63\u012b and Bindu, 5 the speech of such, whether in poetry and prose, like that of men who have attained all powers, 6 issues of a surety with all ease from the hollow of their mouth, O Thou who art beauteous with beauty of a dark rain cloud. 7\nCOMMENTARY\n(INNER SENSE)\nWith respectful obeisance to the beauteous feet of Sv\u0101m\u012b Ram\u0101nanda I write this Svar\u016bpa-vy\u0101ky\u0101 named the Grantor of Pure Bliss (Vimal\u0101nandad\u0101yini). 8\n'Oh Mother' (M\u0101tah)\nThe root M\u0101 = to measure, to which is added the suffix t\u1e5bch = M\u0101t\u1e5b: that is, She who measures out or gives: She who grants enjoyment or Liberation according as the S\u0101dhaka is desire-ridden or free from desires.\n'Spouse of the Destroyer of the three cities'\nThe three cities are three bodies, gross, subtle, causal. She is the \u015aakti of Him who grants Liberation from these bodies. As the\n[paragraph continues] Power-holder (\u015aaktim\u0101n) and His Power (\u015aakti) are one, it is She who is grantor of such Liberation. Kaivalya-Upani\u1e63ad says, 'From the \u0100tm\u0101, the root, the bliss, looking on all alike who abides within the three cities, is born the multiple and various world and into Him these three cities are merged.'\n'They who recite'\nThat is meditating on the same as being one with the \u0100tm\u0101 of the S\u0101dhaka. K\u0101lik\u0101-\u015aruti says, 'One should always think of \u0100tm\u0101 as K\u0101l\u012b. Those who do, attain the fourfold Puru\u1e63\u0101rtha whether directly desired or not.' Todala-Tantra (Ch. vi) says, 'Oh Dev\u012b, K grants Dharma, R grants Kama, I grants Artha and M grants Mok\u1e63a. Oh Beloved, the recital of these combined gives Nirv\u0101\u1e47a Mok\u1e63a.'\n'This (Etat)'\nThy Sattva saccid\u0101nanda aspect denoted by the B\u012bja 'Kr\u012b\u1e41'.\n'Triple (Trihkritang)'\nThat is the triple aspect S\u0101ttvika, R\u0101jasika, T\u0101masika.\n'B\u012bja'\nDenotes the aspect in which Thou art the Cause or the World. Although as Saccid\u0101nandar\u016bpi\u1e47\u012b Thou art Nirgu\u1e47a when free of M\u0101y\u0101 characterized by the Karma of J\u012bvas and K\u0101la, Thou becomest the seed in the creation of the world, what time J\u012bvas must enjoy the fruit of their Karma. In the Dev\u012bg\u012bt\u0101, Dev\u012b says 'Then I who am \u0100tm\u0101, Cit, Parabrahman and called the \"One\" assume the B\u012bja (seed) aspect through union with My own \u015aakti. The causal body of which I have aforetime spoken is Avyakta in which the world exists as seed (B\u012bja) from which issues the subtle body.'\n'Karp\u016bram'\nSagu\u1e47a-Brahman the Kalpaka or fashioner of the World.\n'Omitting therefrom'\nOmitting from M\u016blaprak\u1e5bti composed of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas Gu\u1e47as the middle Rajas Gu\u1e47a which is \u016a and the last Tamas\n[paragraph continues] Gu\u1e47a which is M. It is thus composed of Sattvagu\u1e47a alone. The J\u00f1\u0101nasa\u1e41kalin\u012b-Tantra says, 'A is S\u0101ttvika, U is R\u0101jasa, M is T\u0101masa. Prak\u1e5bti is these three.'\n'Adding'\nPowerful to give Nirv\u0101\u1e47a Mok\u1e63a and by M\u0101y\u0101 to grant the desires of S\u0101dhakas; and in whom the pure Sattvagu\u1e47a predominates. The Tantra Kalpadruma says, 'K on account of its brilliance is the Citkal\u0101, J\u00f1\u0101na. 'Associated with the fiery letter (R) She is auspicious and full of all Tejas. As \"I\" She grants the desires of S\u0101dhakas. As Bindu She grants Kaivalya.'\n'Beauty of dark clouds'\nThou who should be meditated upon as of a dark (N\u012bla) colour because Thou art Cid\u0101k\u0101\u015ba and dost possess the compact Tejas \u015auddhasattvagu\u1e47a. In the Nirv\u0101na Prakara\u1e47a of Yogav\u0101\u015bi\u1e63\u1e6da it is said, 'Because \u015aiv\u0101 is Vyoma She is seen as black.' Tripur\u0101s\u0101rasamuccaya says, 'As being Liberation, She who is attained by devotion (Bhakti) should be meditated on as being like the sky itself free from clouds.'\n43:1 p. 45 The Divine Mother of the World in Her aspect as Dak\u1e63i\u1e47a-k\u0101lik\u0101 that is the beneficent Grantor of Nirv\u0101\u1e47a.\nThe K\u0101lik\u0101h\u1e5bdaya says: 'I worship K\u0101l\u012b the Destructress of K\u0101la the Shining One, who is the B\u012bja Kr\u012bm who is K\u0101ma who is beyond K\u0101la and who is Dak\u1e63inak\u0101lik\u0101.' Gandharva-Tantra says: 'Hr\u012bm, I bow to Mah\u0101dev\u012b who is Tur\u012bya and Brahman. He who remembers Her does not sink in the ocean of existence.' Cand\u012b says: 'Oh Thou whose Body is pure Plana who hast three divine eyes, who weareth the crescent moon, to Thee I bow for the attainment of all good.' (V)\n43:2 \u015aakti of Mahe\u015ba who destroyed the Asura named Tripura (Tri = three; Pura = city) along with his three cities in Heaven, Earth and the Nether regions (V).\n43:3 Recite (Japanti); utter repeatedly with mind fixed on the meaning of the Mantra (V). Lit, 'make Japa.' The word 'recite' is employed as the nearest English equivalent, but is not accurate, in so far as in p. 46 m\u0101nasa Japa the action is purely mental, and in Japa of the next lower degree (Up\u0101\u1e41\u015bu) there is movement of the lips only, but no utterance.\n43:4 The 'seed' mantra. B\u012bja is seed, the cause of the Mantra body (V). According to the Nity\u0101-Tantra, Mantras are of four kinds\u2014Pinda, Kartar\u012b, B\u012bja and M\u0101l\u0101 according to the number of syllables, See as to B\u012bja, A. Avalon's 'Garland of Letter\u015b.\n43:5 That is, Karp\u016bra\u1e41, less the vowels a, \u016b, a, and the consonants pa and ra m = K\u1e5b + V\u0101m\u0101ksh\u012b ('the left eye' or long vowel \u012b), with the N\u0101dabindu superimposed = Kr\u012b\u1e41 which accomplishes all desire (Tantras\u0101ra), is Mantrar\u0101ja (\u015ay\u0101m\u0101rahasya-Tantra) (K.B.). Tantrar\u0101ja says, 'letter Ka is Thy form.'\n43:6 Siddhi, or success. Siddhi is that which is sought for (S\u0101dhya) and is the result of s\u0101dhana, the training of the higher psychical and spiritual faculties. It includes the eight great powers, A\u1e47im\u0101, Laghim\u0101, etc., the power of motion and suspension in space, and others mentioned in the Skanda Pur\u0101\u1e47a and other works. The Dev\u012b is Herself Mah\u0101siddhi (Lalit\u0101sahasran\u0101ma, v. 55).\n43:7 Dhv\u0101ntadh\u0101r\u0101dhararucirucire. Just as dark clouds, by shedding nectar-like rain, cool the earth parched by the sun's rays, so too dost Thou, by shedding the nectar of Thy Grace, give immortality to S\u0101dhakas tormented by the three forms of pain (\u0100dhy\u0101tmika, \u0100dhibhautika, \u0100dhidaivika). The Rudray\u0101mala says, 'Dev\u012b is Supreme \u015aakti and delivers from all difficulties. She is dark with the refulgence of a million suns and is cooling like a million moons.' (V).\n43:8 Vimal\u0101nanda is also the name of the Commentator.","title":"Hymn to Kali: Text: Verse 1","type":"page"}