Hring, O
Destroyer of Time,
Shring, O Terrific One,
Kring, Thou Who art beneficent,
Possessor of all the Arts,
Thou art Kamala,
Destroyer of the pride of the Kali Age,
Who art kind to Him of the matted hair,
Devourer of Him Who devours,
Mother of Time,
Thou Who art brilliant as the Fires of the final Dissolution,
Wife of Him of the matted hair,
O Thou of formidable countenance,
Ocean of the nectar of compassion,
Merciful,
Vessel of Mercy,
Whose Mercy is without limit,
Who art attainable alone by Thy mercy,
Who art Fire,
Tawny,
Black of hue,
Thou Who increasest the joy of the Lord of Creation,
Night of Darkness,
Image of Desire,
Yet Liberator from the bonds of desire,
Thou Who art (dark) as a bank of Clouds,
And bearest the crescent-moon,
Destructress of sin in the Kali Age,
Thou Who art pleased by the worship of virgins,
Thou Who art the Refuge of the worshippers of virgins,
Who art pleased by the feasting of the virgins,
Who art the Image of the virgin,
Thou Who wanderest in the kadamba forest,
Who art pleased with the flowers of the kadamba forest,
Who hast Thy abode in the kadamba forest,
Who wearest a garland of kadamba flowers,
Thou Who art youthful,
Who hast a soft low voice,
Whose voice is sweet as the cry of a Chakravaka bird,
Who drinkest and art pleased with the kadambari wine,
And Whose cup is a skull,
Who wearest a garland of bones,
Who art pleased with,
And Who art seated on the Lotus,
Who abidest in the centre of the Lotus,
Whom the fragrance of the Lotus pleases,
Who movest with the swaying gait of a Hangsa,
Destroyer of fear,
Who assumest all forms at will,
Whose abode is at Kama-rupa,
Who ever plays at the Kama-pitha,
O beautiful One,
O Creeper Which givest every desire,
Who art the Possessor of beautiful ornaments,
Adorable as the Image of all tenderness,
Thou with a tender body,
And Who art slender of waist,
Who art pleased with the nectar of purified wine,
Giver of success to them whom purified wine rejoices,
The own Deity of those who worship Thee when joyed with wine,
Who art gladdened by the worship of Thyself with purified wine,
Who art immersed in the ocean of purified wine,
Who art the Protectress of those who accomplish vrata with wine,
Whom the fragrance of musk gladdens,
And Who art luminous with a tilaka-mark of musk,
Who art attached to those who worship Thee with musk,
Who lovest those who worship Thee with musk,
Who art a Mother to those who burn musk as incense,
Who art fond of the musk-deer and art pleased to eat its musk,
Whom the scent of camphor gladdens,
Who art adorned with garlands of camphor,
And Whose body is smeared with camphor and sandal paste,
Who art pleased with purified wine flavoured with Camphor,
Who drinkest purified wine flavoured with camphor,
Who art bathed in the ocean of camphor,
Whose abode is in the ocean of camphor,
Who art pleased when worshipped with the Vija Hung,
Thou Who threatenest with the Vija Hung,
Embodiment of Kulachara,
Adored by Kaulikas,
Benefactress of the Kaulikas,
Observant of Kulachara,
Joyous One, Revealer of the path of the Kaulikas,
Queen of Kashi,
Allayer of sufferings,
Giver of blessings to the Lord of Kashi,
Giver of pleasure to the Lord of Kashi,
Beloved of the Lord of Kashi,
Thou Whose toe-ring bells make sweet melody as Thou movest,
Whose girdle bells sweetly tinkle,
Who abidest in the mountain of gold,
Who art like a Moon-beam on the mountain of gold,
Who art gladdened by the recitation of the Mantra Kling,
Who art the Kama Vija,
Destructress of all evil inclinations,
And of the afflictions of the Kaulikas,
Lady of the Kaulas,
O Thou Who by the three Vijas, Kring, Hring, Shring,
art the Destructress of the fear of Death.
(To Thee I make obeisance.) |
Parvati was pleased at hearing the revelation of the auspicious
Mantra of the Aadya Kalika, which yields abundant blessings, is the
only means of attaining to a knowledge of the Divine essence, and
leads to liberation; as also at hearing of the morning rites, the
rules relating to bathing, Sandhya, the purification of Bhang, the
methods of external and internal Nyasa and worship, the sacrifice of
animals, Homa, the formation of the circle of worship, and the
partaking of the holy food. Bowing low with modesty, the Devi
questioned Shankara.
Shri Devi said:
O Sadashiva! Lord, and Benefactor of the Universe, Thou hast in Thy
mercy spoken of the mode of worship of the supreme Prakriti, which
benefits all being, is the sole path both for enjoyment and final
liberation, and which gives, in this Age, in particular, immediate
success. My mind, immersed in the ocean of the nectar of Thy word,
has no desire to rise therefrom, but craves for more and more. O
Deva, in the directions Thou hast given relating to the worship of
the great Devi, Thou hast but given a glimpse of the hymn of praise,
and of the protective Mantra. Do Thou reveal them now?
Shri Sadashiva said:
Listen, then, O Devi, Who art the adored of the worlds, to this
unsurpassed hymn, by the reciting of or listening to which one
becomes the Lord of all the Siddhis, (a hymn) which allays evil
fortune, increases happiness and prosperity, destroys untimely
death, and removes all calamities, and is the cause of the happy
approach to the gracious Aadya Kalika. It is by the grace of this
hymn, O Happy One, that I am Tripurari.
O Devi! the
Rishi of this hymn is Sadashiva, its metre is Anushtup, its Devata
is the Aadya Kalika, and the object of its use is the attainment of
Dharmma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.
O Devi! He who
with firm devotion meditates upon the Parama Maya is without a doubt
relieved of all dangers. For him there is never any fear, whether
arising from sin or disease. For him there is ever victory and
defeat never. At the mere sight of him all dangers flee. He expounds
all Scriptures, enjoys all good fortune, and becomes the leader in
all matters of caste and duty,and the lord among his kinsmen. In his
mouth Vani ever abides, and in his home Kamala. Men bow with respect
at the mere mention of his name. The eight Siddhis, such as Anima
and others, he looks upon as but mere bits of grass.
Purashcharana
of this hymn, which is its repetition one hundred and eight times,
yields all desired fruit. This hymn of praise of a hundred names,
which is the Primeval Kali Herself, if read, or caused to be read,
if heard, or caused to be heard, frees from all sins and leads to
union with Brahman.
Shri Sadashiva said.
I have spoken of the great hymn of the Prakriti of the Supreme
Brahman; hear now the protective Mantra of the sacred Aadya Kalika.
The name of the Mantra is "Conqueror of the three Worlds," its Rishi
is Shiva, the verse is Anushtup, and it’s Devata the Aadya Kali.
Its Vija is the
Maya Vija, its Shakti is Kama Vija, and its Kilaka is Kring. It
should be used for the attainment of all desired objects.
As to those
parts as have not been mentioned in the Kavacha, and are
unprotected, may the Eternal Primeval Kali protect all such.
I have now
spoken to Thee of the wonderful heavenly Protective Mantra of the
Aadya Devi Kalika, which is known as the "Conqueror of the three
Worlds".
He who repeats
it at his devotions with his mind fixed upon the Aadya obtains all
his desires, and she becomes propitious unto him. He quickly attains
Mantra-siddhi. The lesser siddhis become, as it were, his slaves. He
who is childless gets a son, he who desires wealth gains riches. The
seeker of learning attains it, and whatsoever a man desires he
attains the same.
The
Purashcharana of this Protective Mantra is its repetition a thousand
times, and this gives the desired fruit. If it be written on
birch-bark, with the paste of sandal, fragrant aloe, musk, saffron,
or red sandal, and encased in a golden ball, worn either on the
right arm, round the neck, in the crown lock, or round the waist,
then the Aadya Kali becomes devoted to its wearer, and grants him
whatsoever he may desire. Nowhere has he fear. In all places he is a
conqueror. He becomes ready of speech, free from ailments,
long-lived and strong, endowed with all power of endurance, and an
adept in all learning. He knows the meaning of all Scriptures, has
Kings under his control, and holds both pleasure and emancipation in
the hollow of his hand.
For men
affected with the taint of the Kali Age it is a most excellent
Mantra for the attainment of final liberation.
Shri Devi said:
Thou hast, O Lord! In Thy kindness told me of the Hymn and
Protective Mantra; I now desire to hear of the rules relating to
Purashcharana.
Shri Sadashiva said:
The rules relating to Purashcharana in the worship of the Aadya
Kalika are the same as those relating to the Purashcharana in the
worship with the Brahma-Mantra. For Sadhakas who are unable to do
them completely, Japa, Puja and Homa, and Purashcharana may be
curtailed, since it is better to observe these rites on a small
scale than not to observe them at all. Now listen, O Gentle One! The
while I describe to Thee the shortened form of worship. Let the wise
one rinse his mouth with the Mula-Mantra, and then perform
Rishi-nyasa. Let him purify the palms of the hands, and proceed to
Kara-nyasa and Anga-nyasa. Passing the hands all over the body let
him practice Pranayama, and then meditate, worship, and inwardly
recite. This is the ceremonial for the shortened form of worship.
In this form of
worship, in lieu of Homa and other rites, the Mantras may be recited
four times the number prescribed in the case of each of them
respectively. There is also another mode of performance. A person
who, when the fourteenth day of the dark half of the month falls on
a Tuesday or Saturday, worships Jaganmayi with the five elements of
worship, and recites with fully attentive mind the Mantra ten
thousand times at midnight and feasts believers in the Brahman has
performed Purashcharana. From one Tuesday to another Tuesday the
Mantra should every day be inwardly recited a thousand times. The
Mantra thus recited eight thousand times is equal to the performance
of Purashcharana.
In all Ages, O
Devi! But particularly in the Kali Age, the Mantras of the Sacred
Primeval Kalika are of great efficacy, and yield complete success. O
Parvati! In the Kali Age, Kali in her various forms is ever
watchful, but when the Kali Age is in full sway, then the form of
Kali Herself is for the benefit of the world. In initiation into
this Kalika Mantra there is no necessity to determine whether it be
siddha or su-siddha, or the like, or favourable or inimical. If japa
is made of it, which is both niyama and a-niyama, the Aadya Devi is
pleased. The mortal, by the grace of the glorious Aadya, attains
knowledge of the divine essence, and, possessed of such knowledge,
is, without a doubt, liberated even while living. Beloved, there is
no need here for over-exertion or endurance or penances. The
religious exercises of the worshippers of the Aadya Kali are
pleasant to accomplish. By the mere purification of the heart the
worshipper attains all that he desires. So long, however, as the
heart is not purified, so long must the worshipper practise the
rites with devotion to Kula.
The carrying
out of the practices ordained produces purification of the heart.
The Mantra should, however, first be received from the mouth of the
Guru in the case of the Brahma-Mantra. O Great Queen! Purashkriya
should be done after the performance of the necessary worship and of
other prescribed rites. In the purified heart knowledge of Brahman
grows. And when knowledge of Brahman is attained, there is neither
that which should, nor that which should not, be done.
Shri Parvati said:
O Great Deva! What is Kula, and what is Kulachara? O Great Lord!
What is the sign of each of the five elements of worship? I desire
to hear the truth relating to these.
Shri Sadashiva said:
Thou hast asked well, O Lady of the Kulas. Thou art indeed the
Benefactress of the worshippers. Listen! For Thy pleasure I shall
accurately describe to Thee these things. The Kula are Jiva,
Prakriti, space, time, ether, earth, water, fire, and air. O
Primeval One! the realization that all this is one with Brahman is
Kulachara, and produces Dharmma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha. Those
whose sins are washed away by merits acquired in various previous
births by penances, alms, and faithful observance of worship, it is
they whose minds are inclined in Kaulika worship. When the
intelligence realizes the essence of Kaulika worship, it becomes at
once purified, and the mind inclines to the lotus-feet of the
Primeval Kali. The excellent worshipper versed in Kaula doctrine who
has received this most excellent Vidya by the service of a good
spiritual teacher, if he remains firmly attached to Kaulika worship
and to the worship with the five elements of the Primeval Kalika,
the Patron Devi of Kula, will enjoy a multitude of blessings in this
life, and attain final liberation at its close.
The
characteristic of the first element is that it is the great medicine
for humanity, helping it to forget deep sorrows, and is the cause of
joy. But, O Dearest One! The element which is not purified stupefies
and bewilders, breeds disputes and diseases, and should be rejected
by the Kaulas. Beasts bred in villages, in the air, or forest, which
are nourishing, and increase intelligence, energy, and strength, are
the second element. O Beautiful One! Of the animals bred in water,
that which is pleasing and of good taste, and increases the
generative power of man, is the third element. The characteristics
of the fourth element are that it is easily obtainable, grown in the
earth, and is the root of the life of the three worlds. And, O Devi,
the signs of the fifth element are that it is the cause of intense
pleasure to all living things, is the origin of all creatures, and
the root of the world which is without either beginning or end.
Know, Dearest One! That the first element is fire, the second is
air, the third is water, the fourth is the earth, and, O Beauteous
Face! As to the fifth element, know it to be ether, the support of
the Universe. O Sovereign Mistress of Kula, he who knows Kula, the
five Kula-tattvas, and Kula worship, is liberated whilst yet living. |
Kali:
The Dark Mother
Kali,
the Primordial Mother Goddess of Hindu Tantric tradition, has her
origins in India's archaic matriarchal culture. Her radiant
blackness protected the dark-skinned tribes who worshiped her and
inspired fear and dread in their enemies. She was, originally, a
warrior goddess, worshipped with blood sacrifice and offerings of
flesh and liquor. She was always viewed as all-powerful, awesome, as
mysterious as night, fierce, passionately sensual and demanding. Yet
to her worshippers she was always the all-merciful Protectress,
filled with sublime love and compassion, a Granter-of-boons. Above
all, Dark Kali was and still is Kali Ma, "Kali the Mother", Adya
Shakti, the Cosmic Female Power, always available for Her devotees,
ready to remove their suffering, their negative Karma, their fear of
time (Kala) and death, always ready to bestow bliss and liberation.