Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

SHAKTI AND SHAKTA

are thus described in the Devyagama cited in the Tantrarahasya (See also, with some variation probably due to corrupt text, Patala Il of Samayachara Tantra):—‘ (1) The face in the East (that is im front) is of pearl-like lustre with three eyes and crowned by the crescent moon. By this face I (Shiva) revealed (the Devis) Shri Bhuvaneshvazri, Triputa, Lalita, Padma, Shilini, Sarasvati, Tvarité, Nitya, Vajraprastarini, Annaptirna, Mahalakshmi, Lakshmi, Vagvadini with all their rites and Mantras. (2) The southern face is of a yellow colour with three eyes. By this face I revealed Prasfdasadashiva, Mahaprasadamantra, Dakshinamarti, Vatuka, Manjughosha, Bhairava, Mritasanjivanividya, MrityunjayaA with their rites and Mantras (3) The face in the West (that is at the back) is of the colour of a freshly formed cloud. By this face I revealed Gopala, Krishna, Narayana, Vasudeva, Nrisingha, Vamana, Varaha, Ramachandra, Vishnu, Harihara, Ganesha, Agni, Yama, Stiryya, Vidhu (Chandra) and other planets, Garuda, Dikpalas, Hanuman and other Suras, their rites and Mantras (4) The face in the North is blue in colour and with three eyes. By this face I revealed the Devis Dakshinakaliké, Mahakali, Guhyakali, Smashanakalika, Bhadrakali, Ekajata, Ugratara, Tarini, Katyayani, Chhinnamastaé, Nilasarasvati, Durga, Jayadurga, Navadurga, Vashuli, Dhtimavati, Vishalakshi, Gauri, Bagalamukhi, PratyanggirA, Matanggi, Mahishamardini, their rites and Mantras, (5) The upper face is white. By this face I revealed Shrimattripurasundari, Tripureshi, Bhairavi, Tripurabhairavi, Smashanabhairavi, Bhuvaneshibhairavi, Shatkutabhairavi, Annaptirnabhairavi, Panchami, Shodashi, M4lini, Valivala, with their rites and Mantras (6) The sixth face (below) is lustrous, of many colours and concealed. It is by this mouth that I spoke of Devatasthana, Asana, Yantra, Mala, Naivedya, Validana, Sadhana, Purashcharana, Mantrasiddhi. It is called Tshanamnaya.” The Samay achara Tantra (Ch. 2) says that whilst the first four Amnayas are for the Chaturvarga or Dharma, 76