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Text. Verse 19

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"Hymn to Kali", by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922],

p. 89

Verse 19

O Dark
One, 1 wondrous and excelling in every way, 2 becomes the accomplishment, 3 of those worshippers 4 who living in this world 5 freely make offering to Thee in worship 6 of the greatly 7 satisfying flesh, together with hair and bone, 8 of cats, camels, sheep, 9 buffaloes, goats, and men. 10

Commentary

\"'Oh Black one' (Ast)"

Asit means free from bondage. Sit means bound. Asit is therefore 'not bound' or eternally liberated. The root "So", means 'to bind.' Amarakoa gives the meaning of Sita as 'bound.'

"'Wondrous' (Aprv)"

Best.

"'At every step' (Pratipadam)"

In succession, step by step.

"'All Powers' (Sarvasiddhi)"

The five Siddhis which are the five forms of Liberation. The ivagt says, 'Slokya, Srpya, Srti, Syujya and Kaivalya. Know these to be the five forms of liberation.'

"'The flesh of' (Palala)"

These animals represent the Six Enemies (Ripu) or Vices which are specially characteristic of the following animals: The goat stands for Lust (Kma) 'as lustful as a goat (Chhga),' the buffalo, Anger (Krodha) 'as angry as a buffalo (Mahia),' the cat, Greed (Lobha) 'as greedy as a cat' (Mrjra), the sheep, Delusion (Moha), 'as stupid as a sheep' (Mea) the camel, Envy (Mtsarya) 'as envious as a camel' (Utra), Man, Pride (Mada) 'the Pride and arrogance of man' (Nara).

p. 90

The nandkalpa says, 'Worship should be done by making offering of lust as goat, buffalo, and so forth '. Offering is made to Thee who art Cidrp of lust and other vices as articles of offering (Upacra) in worship with the object of ridding oneself of them. Bhannla-Tantra says, 'In the fire of tm which flames with the ghee (Havih) of Dharma and Adharma, I ever offer in Homa by the Suun path, with the mind as ladle, all the functions of the senses--Svh.'

"'In worship' (Pjym)"

In mental worship according to the manner prescribed.

"'With hair and bone' (Loma, asthi)"

That is the whole without omitting any part. Such Sdhakas attain the Slokya and other forms of liberation.

Footnotes

89:1
Asit: That is Klik v. "post".

89:2
\"Pratipadam". The ymarahasya-srasagraha reads "pratidinam" (every day) (K.B.), which seems preferable, for, as K.B. says, the worship ("pj") is the general daily "pj", upon which daily advancement in "siddhi" would follow.

89:3
\"Siddhi": success in work; accomplishment of all which is desired (v).

89:4
\"Sat", that is, "sdhu" (wise, good, pious). "Sat" = "Sdhaknm" (v).

89:5
That is, among men.

89:6
\"Pjy api" (see note 2), "ante".

"Pjy": "Naimittika" or occasional worship (V). The force of the particle "api" is that the offering is not confined to special "Sdhan" but is made in ordinary worship also. (k.b.)

89:7
\"Param" (k.b.).

89:8
That is flesh and all.

89:9
\"Maia". The ymarahasya-srasagraha gives also "mauam", of rat's flesh. The Fetkri-Tantra has both sheep and rat's flesh (k.b.).

\"ymrahasya" says, To him who makes offering of the flesh of cats, sheep, camels, and buffaloes together with bone, hair and skin "Dki" is ever beneficial like a Mother.'

89:10
As to this human sacrifice, K. B. says that Kings alone, and not any other, are entitled to make human sacrifice, citing the Ymala quoted in the Klkalpalat ("Rj naravali dadyn nnyopi paramevari"). For inner sense see Svarpa-vykhy "post".
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