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Hinduism: Hymn to Kali
HYMN TO KaLi
(KARPŪRaDI-STOTRA)
VERSE 1
O MOTHER 1 and Spouse of the Destroyer of the three cities, 2 they who
thrice recite 3 Thy Bija 4 formed by omitting from Karpūra, the middle
and last consonants and the vowels, but adding Vamakṣi and Bindu, 5 the
speech of such, whether in poetry and prose, like that of men who have
attained all powers, 6 issues of a surety with all ease from the hollow
of their mouth, O Thou who art beauteous with beauty of a dark rain
cloud. 7
COMMENTARY
(INNER SENSE)
With respectful obeisance to the beauteous feet of Svami Ramananda I
write this Svarūpa-vyakya named the Grantor of Pure Bliss (Vimalanandadayini).
8
'Oh Mother' (Matah)
The root Ma = to measure, to which is added the suffix tṛch = Matṛ: that
is, She who measures out or gives: She who grants enjoyment or
Liberation according as the Sadhaka is desire-ridden or free from
desires.
'Spouse of the Destroyer of the three cities'
The three cities are three bodies, gross, subtle, causal. She is the
Sakti of Him who grants Liberation from these bodies. As the
p. 44
[paragraph continues] Power-holder (Saktiman) and His Power (Sakti) are
one, it is She who is grantor of such Liberation. Kaivalya-Upaniṣad
says, 'From the atma, the root, the bliss, looking on all alike who
abides within the three cities, is born the multiple and various world
and into Him these three cities are merged.'
'They who recite'
That is meditating on the same as being one with the atma of the Sadhaka.
Kalika-Sruti says, 'One should always think of atma as Kali. Those who
do, attain the fourfold Puruṣartha whether directly desired or not.'
Todala-Tantra (Ch. vi) says, 'Oh Devi, K grants Dharma, R grants Kama, I
grants Artha and M grants Mokṣa. Oh Beloved, the recital of these
combined gives Nirvaṇa Mokṣa.'
'This (Etat)'
Thy Sattva saccidananda aspect denoted by the Bija 'Kriṁ'.
'Triple (Trihkritang)'
That is the triple aspect Sattvika, Rajasika, Tamasika.
'Bija'
Denotes the aspect in which Thou art the Cause or the World. Although as
Saccidanandarūpiṇi Thou art Nirguṇa when free of Maya characterized by
the Karma of Jivas and Kala, Thou becomest the seed in the creation of
the world, what time Jivas must enjoy the fruit of their Karma. In the
Devigita, Devi says 'Then I who am atma, Cit, Parabrahman and called the
"One" assume the Bija (seed) aspect through union with My own Sakti. The
causal body of which I have aforetime spoken is Avyakta in which the
world exists as seed (Bija) from which issues the subtle body.'
'Karpūram'
Saguṇa-Brahman the Kalpaka or fashioner of the World.
'Omitting therefrom'
Omitting from Mūlaprakṛti composed of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas Guṇas the
middle Rajas Guṇa which is Ū and the last Tamas
p. 45
[paragraph continues] Guṇa which is M. It is thus composed of Sattvaguṇa
alone. The Jñanasaṁkalini-Tantra says, 'A is Sattvika, U is Rajasa, M is
Tamasa. Prakṛti is these three.'
'Adding'
Powerful to give Nirvaṇa Mokṣa and by Maya to grant the desires of
Sadhakas; and in whom the pure Sattvaguṇa predominates. The Tantra
Kalpadruma says, 'K on account of its brilliance is the Citkala, Jñana.
'Associated with the fiery letter (R) She is auspicious and full of all
Tejas. As "I" She grants the desires of Sadhakas. As Bindu She grants
Kaivalya.'
'Beauty of dark clouds'
Thou who should be meditated upon as of a dark (Nila) colour because
Thou art CidakaSa and dost possess the compact Tejas Suddhasattvaguṇa.
In the Nirvana Prakaraṇa of YogavaSiṣṭa it is said, 'Because Siva is
Vyoma She is seen as black.' Tripurasarasamuccaya says, 'As being
Liberation, She who is attained by devotion (Bhakti) should be meditated
on as being like the sky itself free from clouds.'
p. 46
Footnotes
43:1 p. 45 The Divine Mother of the World in Her aspect as
Dakṣiṇa-kalika that is the beneficent Grantor of Nirvaṇa.
The Kalikahṛdaya says: 'I worship Kali the Destructress of Kala the
Shining One, who is the Bija Krim who is Kama who is beyond Kala and who
is Dakṣinakalika.' Gandharva-Tantra says: 'Hrim, I bow to Mahadevi who
is Turiya and Brahman. He who remembers Her does not sink in the ocean
of existence.' Candi says: 'Oh Thou whose Body is pure Plana who hast
three divine eyes, who weareth the crescent moon, to Thee I bow for the
attainment of all good.' (V)
43:2 Sakti of MaheSa who destroyed the Asura named Tripura (Tri = three;
Pura = city) along with his three cities in Heaven, Earth and the Nether
regions (V).
43:3 Recite (Japanti); utter repeatedly with mind fixed on the meaning
of the Mantra (V). Lit, 'make Japa.' The word 'recite' is employed as
the nearest English equivalent, but is not accurate, in so far as in p.
46 manasa Japa the action is purely mental, and in Japa of the next
lower degree (UpaṁSu) there is movement of the lips only, but no
utterance.
43:4 The 'seed' mantra. Bija is seed, the cause of the Mantra body (V).
According to the Nitya-Tantra, Mantras are of four kinds—Pinda, Kartari,
Bija and Mala according to the number of syllables, See as to Bija, A.
Avalon's 'Garland of LetterS.
43:5 That is, Karpūraṁ, less the vowels a, ū, a, and the consonants pa
and ra m = Kṛ + Vamakshi ('the left eye' or long vowel i), with the
Nadabindu superimposed = Kriṁ which accomplishes all desire (Tantrasara),
is Mantraraja (Syamarahasya-Tantra) (K.B.). Tantraraja says, 'letter Ka
is Thy form.'
43:6 Siddhi, or success. Siddhi is that which is sought for (Sadhya) and
is the result of sadhana, the training of the higher psychical and
spiritual faculties. It includes the eight great powers, Aṇima, Laghima,
etc., the power of motion and suspension in space, and others mentioned
in the Skanda Puraṇa and other works. The Devi is Herself Mahasiddhi (Lalitasahasranama,
v. 55).
43:7 Dhvantadharadhararucirucire. Just as dark clouds, by shedding
nectar-like rain, cool the earth parched by the sun's rays, so too dost
Thou, by shedding the nectar of Thy Grace, give immortality to Sadhakas
tormented by the three forms of pain (adhyatmika, adhibhautika,
adhidaivika). The Rudrayamala says, 'Devi is Supreme Sakti and delivers
from all difficulties. She is dark with the refulgence of a million suns
and is cooling like a million moons.' (V).
43:8 Vimalananda is also the name of the Commentator.
from Hinduism: Hymn to Kali
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