{"collection":"tantra","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/tantra/htk/htk22.htm","path":"tantra/htk/htk22.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/tantra/htk/htk22.htm","text":"Hymn to Kali, by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922]\nHE who at night, when in union with his \u015aakti, 1 meditates with centred mind 2 on Thee, O Mother with gently smiling face, as on the breast of the corpse-like \u015aiva, lying on a fifteen-angled yantra 3 deeply enlisted in sweet amorous play with Mah\u0101k\u0101la, 4 himself becomes the destroyer of the God of Love. 5\nCOMMENTARY\n'Mother' (Janan\u012b)\nThe Progenitrix.\n'At night' (Nakta\u1e41)\nMidnight. Brihann\u012bla-Tantra says, 'He who is intent on meditation at midnight or early dawn surely sees the supremely blissful aspect of Dev\u012b.'\n'Meditates' (Dhy\u0101yet)\n'On Thee as not different from the S\u0101dhaka's own \u0100tm\u0101, who art Cid\u0101bh\u0101sa in his body as a Yantra.' Gandharva-Tantra says, 'He who is in Advaitabh\u0101va, and thinks of the self as Devat\u0101 in the three forms of body thinks of Her and his \u0100tm\u0101 as one. He should worship the Dev\u012b as \u0100tm\u0101 with the articles prescribed. The Yantra which is one's own body should be considered the best of all Yantras.' Again 'He who meditates on the Nirgu\u1e47a, unattached pure \u0100tm\u0101 of Tripura as not being different from his own \u0100tm\u0101 becomes one with Her.'\n'Thee' (Tv\u0101\u1e41)\nThat is, Brahmamay\u012b.\n'Smiling face' (Smera-vadan\u0101\u1e41)\nBecause She is ever blissful, being Bliss itself.\n'On the breast' (Mah\u0101k\u0101lenocc\u0101ih)\nOn the breast of \u015aiva who is inactive like a corpse. She divides Herself into two parts like a grain of gram, namely, \u015aiva and \u015aakti by means of M\u0101y\u0101 associated with Icc\u0101, Kriy\u0101, J\u00f1\u0101na, whilst at the same time remaining established in Her Nirgu\u1e47a-Brahman state.\n'Fifteen-cornered seat' (Tripanc\u0101re pithe)\nThis is the S\u0101dhaka's own body conceived as the Yantra in which Avidy\u0101 is the encompassing circle, the eight-fold Prak\u1e5bti consisting of Earth and so forth is the eight-petalled lotus, the five J\u00f1\u0101nendriya, the five Karmendriy\u0101, and five Pr\u0101\u1e47a are the five Triangles and the Bindu which is Consciousness reflected in M\u0101y\u0101 composed of pure Sattvagu\u1e47a is the adorning B\u012bja. The Gandharva-Tantra says, 'The Cakramantramaya is the Devat\u0101's Supreme Body which is \u015aiva-\u015bakti.' The Bhagavadg\u012bt\u0101 says, 'Earth, Water, Fire, Air, Ether, Manas, Buddhi, Aha\u1e41k\u0101ra, these Tattvas constitute my eightfold Prak\u1e5bti.' Gandharva-Tantra says, 'The subtle body composed of uncompounded (Apa\u00f1c\u012bk\u1e5bta) Bh\u016bta and equipped with five Pr\u0101\u1e47as, Manas, Buddhi and ten Indriya is the vehicle for Enjoyment. Unbeginning and undefinable (Anirv\u0101cy\u0101) Avidy\u0101 is the causal Up\u0101dhi. Know \u0100tm\u0101 to be different from the three-fold Up\u0101dhi.'\n'Deeply enlisted' (Madanarasal\u0101va\u1e47yanirat\u0101\u1e41)\nAlways united in the reverse (Vipar\u012bta) way with Parama\u015biva the Sagu\u1e47abrahman. The Gandharva-Tantra says, 'When that Supreme \u015aakti by putting that Puru\u1e63a down, of Her will appears as the universe then She becomes passionate. And then becoming Herself active the Dev\u012b rises upon Bhairava and enhances Her own bliss with waves of natural pleasure.'\n'Himself also enjoying' (Svayam api rat\u0101nandaniratah)\nEnjoying the bliss of union in Laya with Param\u0101tm\u0101 by Yoni-mudr\u0101 and becoming \u015aaktimaya himself. The Ghera\u1e47da-Sa\u1e41hit\u0101 says, 'He should do Yoni-mudr\u0101 and himself become \u015aaktimaya.\n[paragraph continues] He should move in Param\u0101tm\u0101 with the good \u015a\u1e5bng\u0101rarasa. Becoming \u0100nandamaya he should be one with Brahman.'\n'Destroyer of K\u0101ma' (Smarahara)\nThe Advaita-s\u0101dhaka attains Kaivalya by being merged in Thee who art Param\u0101tm\u0101.\n86:1 p. 88 Svayam api rat\u0101nandaniratah, of which the meaning is as follows: yad\u0101 s\u0101dhakah \u015bakty\u0101 saha maithunakriy\u0101sakto bhavati, tad\u0101 sa \u015blokokta-dhy\u0101na-prak\u0101r\u0101nus\u0101re\u1e47a devi\u1e41 dhy\u0101yati.\n86:2 Sam\u0101saktah, concentrated on Thee.\n86:3 K\u0101l\u012bkalpalat\u0101 says it is a kind of yantra (diagram).\nTrip\u016b\u00f1c\u0101re p\u012bthe. The Yantra. The K\u0101li-Tantra says, 'First draw a triangle. Outside it put another. Next draw three triangles. In the centre draw the Baindava-Cakra adorned with the M\u0101y\u0101 B\u012bja. Draw a circle outside the six-cornered figure. Next draw the eight petals attached to the outer circle and Bh\u016bpura. He who knows this great Yantra surely attains liberation.' Bh\u016bpura is the gross body composed of the five Bh\u016btas (V). It is made with five triangles superimposed.\n86:4 Mah\u0101kalenoccair-madana-rasa-l\u0101va\u1e47ya-nirat\u0101\u1e41. Mah\u0101k\u0101la is Parama\u015biva (V). Madana-rasa-l\u0101va\u1e47ya-nirat\u0101\u1e41 refers to Vipar\u012btarati (V).\n86:5 Smarahara. The destroyer of K\u0101ma is \u015aiva Himself (V).\nThat is, he becomes \u015aiva Himself, who destroyed Smara the Deva of Love (K\u0101ma), with Fire from His central eye, when the latter, by the excitation of desire (towards P\u0101rvat\u012b), sought to detract him from his yoga. Or it may be translated 'excels in beauty the God of Love.'","title":"Hymn to Kali: Text: Verse 18","type":"page"}