Text. Verse 1
*
"Hymn to Kali", by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922],
p. 43
Hymn To Kl
(karprdi-stotra)
Verse 1
O Mother 1 and Spouse of the Destroyer of the three cities, 2 they who thrice recite 3 Thy "Bja" 4 formed by omitting from "Karpra", the middle and last consonants and the vowels, but adding Vmk 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 Svm Ramnanda I write this Svarpa-vyky named the Grantor of Pure Bliss (Vimalnandadyini)". 8
\"'Oh Mother' (Mtah)"
The root M = to measure, to which is added the suffix tch = Mt: that is, She who measures out or gives: She who grants enjoyment or Liberation according as the Sdhaka 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 akti of Him who grants Liberation from these bodies. As the
p. 44
[paragraph continues] Power-holder (aktimn) and His Power (akti) are one, it is She who is grantor of such Liberation. Kaivalya-Upaniad says, 'From the tm, 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 tm of the Sdhaka. Klik-ruti says, 'One should always think of tm as Kl. Those who do, attain the fourfold Pururtha whether directly desired or not.' Todala-Tantra (Ch. vi) says, 'Oh Dev, K grants Dharma, R grants Kama, I grants Artha and M grants Moka. Oh Beloved, the recital of these combined gives Nirva Moka.'
"'This (Etat)'"
Thy Sattva saccidnanda aspect denoted by the Bja 'Kr'.
"'Triple (Trihkritang)'"
That is the triple aspect Sttvika, Rjasika, Tmasika.
"'Bja'"
Denotes the aspect in which Thou art the Cause or the World. Although as Saccidnandarpi Thou art Nirgua when free of My characterized by the Karma of Jvas and Kla, Thou becomest the seed in the creation of the world, what time Jvas must enjoy the fruit of their Karma. In the Devgt, Dev says 'Then I who am tm, Cit, Parabrahman and called the "One" assume the Bja (seed) aspect through union with My own akti. The causal body of which I have aforetime spoken is Avyakta in which the world exists as seed (Bja) from which issues the subtle body.'
"'Karpram'"
Sagua-Brahman the Kalpaka or fashioner of the World.
"'Omitting therefrom'"
Omitting from Mlaprakti composed of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas Guas the middle Rajas Gua which is and the last Tamas
p. 45
[paragraph continues] Gua which is M. It is thus composed of Sattvagua alone. The Jnasakalin-Tantra says, 'A is Sttvika, U is Rjasa, M is Tmasa. Prakti is these three.'
"'Adding'"
Powerful to give Nirva Moka and by My to grant the desires of Sdhakas; and in whom the pure Sattvagua predominates. The Tantra Kalpadruma says, 'K on account of its brilliance is the Citkal, Jna. 'Associated with the fiery letter (R) She is auspicious and full of all Tejas. As "I" She grants the desires of Sdhakas. As Bindu She grants Kaivalya.'
"'Beauty of dark clouds'"
Thou who should be meditated upon as of a dark (Nla) colour because Thou art Cidka and dost possess the compact Tejas uddhasattvagua. In the Nirvna Prakaraa of Yogavia it is said, 'Because iv is Vyoma She is seen as black.' Tripursrasamuccaya 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 "Dakia-klik" that is the beneficent Grantor of "Nirva".
The Klikhdaya says: 'I worship "Kl" the Destructress of "Kla" the Shining One, who is the "Bja Krm" who is "Kma" who is beyond "Kla" and who is "Dakinaklik".' Gandharva-Tantra says: 'Hrm, I bow to "Mahdev" who is "Turya" and "Brahman". He who remembers Her does not sink in the ocean of existence.' "Cand" 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 \"akti" of Mahea 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 "mnasa Japa" the action is purely mental, and in "Japa" of the next lower degree (Upu) there is movement of the lips only, but no utterance.
43:4 The 'seed' "mantra". "Bja" is seed, the cause of the "Mantra" body (V). According to the Nity-Tantra, "Mantras" are of four kinds--"Pinda", "Kartar", "Bja" and "Ml" according to the number of syllables, See as to "Bja", A. Avalon's 'Garland of Letter.
43:5 That is, "Karpra", less the vowels "a", ", "a", and the consonants "pa" and "ra m" = "K" + "Vmksh" ('the left eye' or long vowel "), with the Ndabindu superimposed = "Kr" which accomplishes all desire (Tantrasra), is "Mantrarja" (ymrahasya-Tantra) (K.B.). Tantrarja says, 'letter "Ka" is Thy form.'
43:6 \"Siddhi", or success. "Siddhi" is that which is sought for ("Sdhya") and is the result of "sdhana", the training of the higher psychical and spiritual faculties. It includes the eight great powers, "Aim", "Laghim", etc., the power of motion and suspension in space, and others mentioned in the Skanda Pura and other works. The Dev is Herself "Mahsiddhi" ("Lalitsahasranma", v. 55).
43:7 \"Dhvntadhrdhararucirucire". 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 Sdhakas tormented by the three forms of pain ("dhytmika", "dhibhautika", "dhidaivika"). The "Rudraymala" says, '"Dev" is Supreme "akti" 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 Vimalnanda is also the name of the Commentator.
"Hymn to Kali", by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922],
p. 43
Hymn To Kl
(karprdi-stotra)
Verse 1
O Mother 1 and Spouse of the Destroyer of the three cities, 2 they who thrice recite 3 Thy "Bja" 4 formed by omitting from "Karpra", the middle and last consonants and the vowels, but adding Vmk 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 Svm Ramnanda I write this Svarpa-vyky named the Grantor of Pure Bliss (Vimalnandadyini)". 8
\"'Oh Mother' (Mtah)"
The root M = to measure, to which is added the suffix tch = Mt: that is, She who measures out or gives: She who grants enjoyment or Liberation according as the Sdhaka 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 akti of Him who grants Liberation from these bodies. As the
p. 44
[paragraph continues] Power-holder (aktimn) and His Power (akti) are one, it is She who is grantor of such Liberation. Kaivalya-Upaniad says, 'From the tm, 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 tm of the Sdhaka. Klik-ruti says, 'One should always think of tm as Kl. Those who do, attain the fourfold Pururtha whether directly desired or not.' Todala-Tantra (Ch. vi) says, 'Oh Dev, K grants Dharma, R grants Kama, I grants Artha and M grants Moka. Oh Beloved, the recital of these combined gives Nirva Moka.'
"'This (Etat)'"
Thy Sattva saccidnanda aspect denoted by the Bja 'Kr'.
"'Triple (Trihkritang)'"
That is the triple aspect Sttvika, Rjasika, Tmasika.
"'Bja'"
Denotes the aspect in which Thou art the Cause or the World. Although as Saccidnandarpi Thou art Nirgua when free of My characterized by the Karma of Jvas and Kla, Thou becomest the seed in the creation of the world, what time Jvas must enjoy the fruit of their Karma. In the Devgt, Dev says 'Then I who am tm, Cit, Parabrahman and called the "One" assume the Bja (seed) aspect through union with My own akti. The causal body of which I have aforetime spoken is Avyakta in which the world exists as seed (Bja) from which issues the subtle body.'
"'Karpram'"
Sagua-Brahman the Kalpaka or fashioner of the World.
"'Omitting therefrom'"
Omitting from Mlaprakti composed of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas Guas the middle Rajas Gua which is and the last Tamas
p. 45
[paragraph continues] Gua which is M. It is thus composed of Sattvagua alone. The Jnasakalin-Tantra says, 'A is Sttvika, U is Rjasa, M is Tmasa. Prakti is these three.'
"'Adding'"
Powerful to give Nirva Moka and by My to grant the desires of Sdhakas; and in whom the pure Sattvagua predominates. The Tantra Kalpadruma says, 'K on account of its brilliance is the Citkal, Jna. 'Associated with the fiery letter (R) She is auspicious and full of all Tejas. As "I" She grants the desires of Sdhakas. As Bindu She grants Kaivalya.'
"'Beauty of dark clouds'"
Thou who should be meditated upon as of a dark (Nla) colour because Thou art Cidka and dost possess the compact Tejas uddhasattvagua. In the Nirvna Prakaraa of Yogavia it is said, 'Because iv is Vyoma She is seen as black.' Tripursrasamuccaya 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 "Dakia-klik" that is the beneficent Grantor of "Nirva".
The Klikhdaya says: 'I worship "Kl" the Destructress of "Kla" the Shining One, who is the "Bja Krm" who is "Kma" who is beyond "Kla" and who is "Dakinaklik".' Gandharva-Tantra says: 'Hrm, I bow to "Mahdev" who is "Turya" and "Brahman". He who remembers Her does not sink in the ocean of existence.' "Cand" 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 \"akti" of Mahea 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 "mnasa Japa" the action is purely mental, and in "Japa" of the next lower degree (Upu) there is movement of the lips only, but no utterance.
43:4 The 'seed' "mantra". "Bja" is seed, the cause of the "Mantra" body (V). According to the Nity-Tantra, "Mantras" are of four kinds--"Pinda", "Kartar", "Bja" and "Ml" according to the number of syllables, See as to "Bja", A. Avalon's 'Garland of Letter.
43:5 That is, "Karpra", less the vowels "a", ", "a", and the consonants "pa" and "ra m" = "K" + "Vmksh" ('the left eye' or long vowel "), with the Ndabindu superimposed = "Kr" which accomplishes all desire (Tantrasra), is "Mantrarja" (ymrahasya-Tantra) (K.B.). Tantrarja says, 'letter "Ka" is Thy form.'
43:6 \"Siddhi", or success. "Siddhi" is that which is sought for ("Sdhya") and is the result of "sdhana", the training of the higher psychical and spiritual faculties. It includes the eight great powers, "Aim", "Laghim", etc., the power of motion and suspension in space, and others mentioned in the Skanda Pura and other works. The Dev is Herself "Mahsiddhi" ("Lalitsahasranma", v. 55).
43:7 \"Dhvntadhrdhararucirucire". 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 Sdhakas tormented by the three forms of pain ("dhytmika", "dhibhautika", "dhidaivika"). The "Rudraymala" says, '"Dev" is Supreme "akti" 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 Vimalnanda is also the name of the Commentator.
