Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

SHAKTI AND SHAKTA

“ Having been anointed, He is venerated and praised by

all the Deva Kings.

‘“‘ He summons all the Devas to his assembly by sound-

ing the various instruments of heavenly music

‘“* Accompanied by a celestial Chorus.

‘“* He is greater than yourself.”

On her so saying the Archdemon blazed forth into a fury of pride and wrath and set forth to conquer the Tushita Heavens. The Bodhisattva (Tampa-Togkar) was sitting enthroned on a throne of precious metals, in the midst of thousands of Devat&s, both male and female, and was preaching Dharma to them. The Archdemon seized TampaTogkar from his throne, and threw him down into this world-system. All the Devas and Devis there gathered exclaimed, ‘ Alas, what a fate, O, the sinful wretch !” seven times over. Thereupon the Rutra fiercely said :

“Put on two cloths, and sit down on your seats, every one of you!

“ How can I be conquered by you? Iam the mighty destroyer and subjugator of all.”

(The expression ‘“ Put on two cloths” was said by way of contempt for the priestly robes which consist of three pieces, being a wrapper above, and one below and one over both).

Tampa-Togkar is the Bodhisattva who is coming as Buddha to teach in the human world. He descends from the Tushita Heavens where he reigns as Regent. When the celestial Regent of the Tushita Heavens, (Tampa-Togkar) was about to pass away from there, he uttered this prophesy to his disciples, who were around him:

‘* Listen unto me, Ye my disciples:

“This apostate disciple, Tharpa-Nagpo (Black Salva-

tion)

‘* Who does not believe in the Buddha’s Doctrine,

“ He is destined to pervert the Devas and Asuras,

* And to bend them to his yoke,

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