Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

CHINACHARA

of breath) he should be Mauni (given over to silence) and full of intent devotion (EkA4nta-bhakti) to Shiva, Krishna and Brahm&. The pure one should realise by mind, action, and speech that Brahm&, Vishnu, and Shiva are restless like the moving air (Vayavigatichanchalah. Quaere. Perhaps the transient nature of these Devat&s, as compared with the supreme Shakti, is indicated.) The man of steady mind should fix it on Shakti, who is consciousness (Chidrfipa). Thereafter the Mantrin should practice Mahavirabhava (the feeling of the great hero) and follow the Kula path, the Shakti-chakra, the Vaishnava Sattva-chakra and Navavigraha and should worship Kulakaty&yani, the excellent one, the Pratyaksha Devat& (that is the Deity who responds to prayer) who grants prosperity and destroys all evil. She is consciousness (Chidrfipa) She is the abode of knowledge (Jn&na) and is Consciousness and Bliss, lustrous as ten million lightnings, of Whom all Tattvas are the embodiment, who is Raudri with eighteen arms, fond of wine and mountains of flesh (the text is Shivamdangsachalapriyam, but the first word should be Sur). Man should do Japa of the Mantra, taking refuge with Her, and following the Kula path. Who in the three worlds knows a path higher than this? By the grace gained therein, the great Brahm& Himself became the Creator, and Vishnu, whose substance is Sattva-guna, the object of adoration of all, highly deserving of worship, the great, and Lord of Yajurveda became able to protect. By it Hara the Lord of Viras, the wrathful one, Lord of wrath and of mighty power became the Destroyer of all. By the grace of Virabhava the Dikpdalas (Protectors of the quarters) became like unto Rudra. By a month’spractice Akarshanasiddhi (power to attract) is attained. In two months one becomes the Lord of Speech. In four months one becomes like unto the Dikpalas, in five months one becomes the five arrows (probably masters the five Tanmatras), and in six months he becomes Rudra Himself. The fruit of this method (Ach4ra) is beyond all others. This 109