{"collection":"tantra","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/tantra/htk/htk17.htm","path":"tantra/htk/htk17.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/tantra/htk/htk17.htm","text":"Hymn to Kali, by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922]\nO MOTHER, people there are who worship many other Devas than Thyself. 1 They are greatly ignorant, and know nothing of the high truth, 2 (but I) of my own uncontrollable 3 desire for Thee approach Thee, the Primordial Power, 4 who dost deeply enjoy the great Bliss arising from union (with \u015aiva), 5 and who art worshipped by Hari, Hara, Viri\u00f1ci, and all other Devas. 6\nCOMMENTARY\n'Deluded' (Vim\u016bdh\u0101h)\nThat is, devoid of discrimination.\n'Enlightened' (Vibudhaih)\nThe Bagal\u0101-Stotra says, 'Oh four-armed, four-headed, worshipful Parame\u015bvari, Oh Devi A\u1e41bik\u0101 who art ever worshipped with devotion by K\u1e5b\u1e63\u1e47a, Oh Parame\u015bvari who art worshipped by the Lord of the daughter of Him\u0101laya, grant beauty, Grant victory' and so forth.\n'\u0100dy\u0101'\nWho art before and the beginning of the world.\n'Union' (Rati)\nWhich is Vipar\u012bta as above described.\n'Wine'\nThat is Rasa.\n74:1 p. 74 That is, thinking that other Devas grant greater boons (Commentary, K.B.). Cf. also what \u015aa\u1e41kar\u0101c\u0101rya says about the worship of other Devas in fourth \u015bloka of the Devyapar\u0101dha-k\u1e63am\u0101pana-stotra, and see Devibh\u0101gavata (V. 19) (Hymn to Jagada\u1e41bik\u0101).\n74:2 p. 75 Paramam, that is, Tattva\u1e41.\n74:3 For he is a devotee (Bhakta) whose desire for Her is so great that he cannot control but is controlled by it.\n74:4 \u0100dy\u0101.\n74:5 Rati-rasa-mah\u0101nanda-nirat\u0101m. The Dev\u012b delights in creation, which is the fruit of Her union with the Puru\u1e63a (\u015aiva). 'Great Bliss,' for, as on the physical plane yadr\u016bpa\u1e41 param\u0101nandam tan n\u0101sti bhuvanatraye (M\u0101t\u1e5bk\u0101bheda-Tantra, chap. ii), it is the counterpart on that plane of the ecstatic union which produced the Universe itself. It is the reflection of the higher Bliss attainable even here by the union of \u015aiva\u015bakti (in the form of Ku\u1e47dalin\u012b) in the Sahasr\u0101ra. Some read Rasik\u0101\u1e41 for Nirat\u0101\u1e41.\n74:6 Vi\u1e63\u1e47u, \u015aiva, and Brahm\u0101. What, then, is the use of praying to Brahm\u0101, Vi\u1e63\u1e47u, and \u015aiva when they themselves worship Her? (Commentary, K.B.). Cf. also Devibh\u0101gavata, loc. cit. The Devi is Mother of all, from Brahm\u0101 to the lowliest worm (\u0100brahm\u0101khilajanani, Lalit\u0101 67).","title":"Hymn to Kali: Text: Verse 13","type":"page"}