7

Devi Rahasya Tantra

There are many compilations or tantrik digests, discussing a variety of topics a sadhaka or sadhvini needs to know. Below is a summary of the contents of the Devi Rahasya, which will give an idea of the scope of this type of work. There is little philosophy here; practically the entire contents of the work deals with mantra, yantra, puja and sadhana of the different gods and goddesses discussed. I have translated some of these chapters as part of The Magic of Kali. Rahasya means secret and the work does cover most of the topics a practitioner would need to know. These include purascarana, which is the preparatory work efore puja proper can start. This is very arduous, involving the recitation of mantra and a ritual which spans many hours. The Devi Rahasya, however, introduces some short!cuts for the "aula initiate. The panchangas #five!lim s$ in Devi Rahasya give the essential information for a sadhaka or sadhvini and give intriguing insights into various aspects of devata worshipped y the %indu tantrikas. . Chapter 1 This deals with the characteristics of Guru and pupil, with the planetary positions and times of initiation, with the attendant disqualifications on both pupils and gurus. It also deals with the sequence of initiation, the purification of the disciple, and the initiation of Shaktis. Chapter 2 The different mantras of the Devis are given. The Devis mentioned are ala !an aspect of Tripurasundari as a young girl", #anchadashi and Sodasi !Tripurasundari", Tripura, $idyara%ni !&ueen of $idya", hadrakali, 'atangi, huvaneshvari, (gratara, )hinnamasta, Sumukhi !#retty *ace", Sarasvati, +nnapurna !*ull of *ood", 'ahalaksmi, Sarika!Small odied", Sarada!+utumnal", Indraksi!Indra,s eyes", agalamukhi, 'ahaturi!The Transcendent *ourth", 'ahara%ni!Great &ueen", -valamukhi!*ire. *aced .. Devi as a volcanic mountain", hida, /alaratri !0ight of Time", havani, $a%rayogini, Dhumravarahi!Smoky $arahi Devi", Siddhalakshmi, /ulavagisvari, #admavati, /ub%ika !)rooked 1ne", Gauri !*air 1ne", /hecari, 0ilasarasvati, #arasakti. Chapter 3 Gives the different Saiva mantras such as2 'rtyun%aya!Siva as )onqueror of Death", +mrtesvara, $atukabhairava !Siva in 3is aspect as a terrifying boy", 'ahesvara, Siva, Sadasiva, 4udra, 'ahadeva, /arala!*ormidable 1ne", $ikarala, 0ilakantha, Sarva, #asupati !5ord of easts", 'rda, #inaki, Girisa, hima, 'ahaganapati, /umara, /rodhanesa, Isa, /apalisa, /rurabhairava !)ruel hairava", Samharabhairava !Dissolution hairava", Isvara, harga, 4urubhairava, /alagnibhairava, Sadyo%ata !instantly arising .. a name of Siva as penis", +ghora, 'ahakala and /amesvara. Chapter 4 The different mantras of $isnu are here given. These are the 5aksmi.0arayana mantra, and the mantras of 4adhakrsna, $isnu, 5aksmi.0rsimha, 5aksmi.$araha, hargava, Sita.4ama, -anardana, $isvaksena and 5aksmi.$asudeva6 Chapter 5 The different (tkelana !laying open" of the mantras given above are given. These are mantras which

8 themselves open the mantras up to use. Chapter 6 Gives the vitalising mantras of the Devatas described in chapters 8,9 and :. Chapter 7 In this chapter the mantras used for reminding any curses that may have become attached to the mantras in chapters 8, 9 and : are given. Chapter 8 The method of reciting mantras is here described. The Guru.pu%a mantra is given. Chapter 9 Deals with the method of putting together the mantras already described in chapters 8,9 and :. Chapter 10 #urascarana, or the performance of acts by which a given mantra may be made efficacious, is described in this chapter. This is performed by reciting it :;;,;;;, 8;;,;;; or 7;;,;;; times. It should be performed under a fig tree, in the wilderness, in the cremation ground, in a desert, at crossroads, and should be started at midnight or midday. #urascarana should be done under auspicious astrological configurations after having worshipped one, s own guru. + yantra is described which should be used in its application. The sadhaka has to fill four pots at the cardinal points. +t the end of the chapter alternative methods of doing this necessary act are described. These are through se<ual intercourse with an initiated sakti, by reciting the mantra during the birth of a child of the in.group, on a dead body in a cremation ground, during the time the Sun takes to rise and set, in a solar or in a lunar eclipse. Chapter 11 )ontinues the topic of the previous chapter, and describes the 3oma which should be done. Chapter 12 Describes in code form the unfolding of the different yantras of the Devatas described in chapters 8,9 and :. Chapter 13 This chapter describes how an amulet may be made of the yantra of one, s own Istadevata, bound into a ball, and carried upon the person. This amulet is said to give miraculous results. The yantra should be drawn upon birch.bark using = different kinds of scent. These are described as Svayambhu, /undagola, 4ocana, +guru, camphor, musk, honey, and that arising from 'alaya !i.e. sandal". The first two are well.known in the tantras as arising from various /ula women at the menstruation time. The others have similar significance in the left handed and /aula tantras. $arious methods of purification are given in the te<t, and it is declared that the 7,;;; names of the particular Devata should be written around the yantra. Chapter 14 Gives details of the 4sis or Seers of the various mantras.

9 Chapter 15 The sadhana of the cremation ground. begins to be described. This chapter contains only 79 verses but there is an e<tensive commentary provided. Chapter 16 )ontinues the topic. The different hairavas of the elements have to be worshipped. 'ahakala.bhairava is the Seer of the mantra, (shnik is the metre, Sri Smasana is the Devata, 3rim is the bi%a, 3um is the sakti and /rim is the kilaka. The application of the mantra is in the attainment of the four aims of mankind. Chapter 17 #urification of the rosary formed from human skulls is discussed here. Chapter 18 In this chapter rosary and yantra purification is dealt with. The nature of the five products of the cow and the >antresvari mantra are also discussed. Chapter 19 The origin of wine is the sub%ect of this chapter. 0ine vessels which form the receptacles in which wine is kept are discussed. The presiding Devatas of these are Sadasiva, Isvara, 4udra, $isnu, #aramesti, Indra, Guru,!-upiter", Sukra !$enus" and the Sun and the 'oon taken together. Chapter 20 Gives further details concerning wine. Chapter 21 The Santi Stotra commences this brief chapter. This hymn removes the curse attached to wine. Chapter 22 This continues the topic of wine, and discusses how the same may be purified. It gives details concerning +nandabhairava and his Sakti Suradevi. The gayatri of the former is given as2 +nandesvaraya vidmahe Sri Suradevyai Dhimahi tanna +rdhanarisvara pracodayat. !5et us think of the 5ord of liss, let us contemplate the +uspicious Suradevi. 'ay that half.Siva and half.Sakti form direct us. " The dhyana of Tiraskarani Devi is given towards the end of the chapter together with 3er prayogas !rituals" etc. She confers invisibility on a sadhaka. Chapter 23 This chapter deals with the purification of nine Saktis, who are 0ati !actress", /apaliki!bearing skulls", $esya !whore", 4a%aki !washer.woman", 0apitangana !barber, s wife", rahmini, Sudrakanya !Sudra,s daughter", Gopalakanyaka !)owherd, s daughter" and 'alakarakanya !Daughter of a Garland.'aker". The Devata of this rite to follow is called #arambika.. The best time for the rite is at midnight. The pu%a sequence is given, and it is stated that the girl should be placed on the left of the sadhaka in a Sri )akra. She has to have dishevelled hair, be free from shame, and adorned with %ewels. The various mantras of each of these nine /umaris are given. Details are given of the left handed cakra of eight or eleven couples and the mantras to be used.

: Chapter 24 This gives various materials of which a rosary may be made, as also the way knots and so on are to be tied. The rosary made of human skulls is described, as well as rosaries made from various trees, tulasi rosaries, crystal, rudraksa, %ewels, gold, and rosaries made from lotus seeds and human teeth. The last, and the first, are to receive specific kinds of purification. Chapter 25 The purification of yantras and the various materials from which they are made are discussed in detail. >antras are spoken of as eightfold as being made from gold, silver, copper, crystal, birch, bone, hide and $isnu.stone. The mantras for purifying these eight materials are given, and rites performed at night are discussed at the end of the chapter. Chapters 26-30 These chapters comprise the Ganapati #ancangam !? limbs". These limbs are !i" 'antra, >antra, Dhyana and the si< karmas or magical acts !ii" The worship of 'ahaganapati !iii" The /avaca or +rmour of 'ahaganapati !iv" The 7;;; 0ames of 'ahaganapati and !v" the 'ahaganapati Stotra or 3ymn. Chapters 31-35 The Surya #ancangam or the *ive 5imbs of the Sun. Chapters 36-40 The ? limbs of 5aksmi.0arayana. Chapters 41-45 The ? limbs of 'rtyun%aya. Chapters 46-50 The ? limbs of Durga Devi Chapter 51 Deals with the rahasya or secret of Durga Devi. Chapter 52 This brief chapter describes the mantra sadhana of the Durgarahasya, deals with enlivening of the mantra, and with its putting together. Chapter 53 Discusses 0ilakantha, or the blue.throated manifestation of Siva, when he drunk the poison produced by the churning of the 'ilk 1cean. It gives 3is mantra, dhyana, and the seer. Chapter 54 Discusses initiation, and its time, and deals with Guru initiation..

? Chapter 55 This chapter discusses #urascarana and deals with the same done for the disciple by the Guru. It describes, in addition, the best places for doing the same. Chapter 56 #ancaratnesvari, or the Devi of the five %ewels, together with the mantra unfolding of Durga, Sarada, Sarika, Sumukhi and agala are dealt with here. Chapter 57 3oma done at night in the cremation ground forms the substance of this section. Chapter 58 Deals with the characteristics of cakra worship, the nature of those sadhakas entitled to it, the placing of the pot !kumbha" and the giving of bali or animal sacrifice. +t the end /anyapu%a, or worship of virgins, is described. Chapter 59 This chapter discusses the different paths, such as Daksinacara, $amacara, and /ulacara. Chapter 60 Deals with the guru. Thus ends the Devirahasya proper Appendices !i" The ? 5imbs of -valamukhi.Devi !ii" The ? 5imbs of Sarika.Devi !iii" The ? 5imbs of 'ahara%ni.Devi !iv" The ? 5imbs of ala.Tripurasundari !v" (ddharakosa, a compilation which deals with the mantras and dhyanas of a host of Tantrik deities, and also contains a compendium of the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet and their tantrika meaning. There are := tantras mentioned in the te<t. They are +gamalaharitantra, +gamasiromani, +gamasindhu, +gamamrtatantra, +gamamrtman%ari, +gamarnavapiyusatantra, +gamalankaratantra, +gamadotatantra, (ddamaratantra, /aminikalpa, /amesvaratantra, /alaratrikalpatantra, /alikasarvasvatantra, /alipatalatantra, /alirahasyatantra, /alisarvasvatantra, /ub%ikasiromani, /ulacudamani, /ulasiddhasantana, /ulikarnava, )hinnarahasya, )hinnasiromani, -valasiromani, Tantramuktavali, Tripurasundarisarvasvam, Tripuratika, Tripuratilakatantra, Tripurasiromani, Tripurarasasarasarvasvam, hairavatantra, hairavasarvasvam, 'antrasagara, 'undamalatantra, 4udrayamala, $amakesvaratantra, $isvanathasaroddhara, $isvayamala, Saradatilaka, Saradapatala, Saradatika, Syamatantra, Syamarahasya, Siddhasarasvatatantra, Sundarisiromani, Sundarisarvasvam, Svatantratantra.