Text. Verse 4
*
"Hymn to Kali", by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922],
p. 53
Verse 4
O Destructress of the sins of the three worlds, auspicious 1 Klik, who in Thy upper lotus-like left hand holdest a sword. 2 and in the lower left hand a severed head; 3 who with Thy upper right hand maketh the gesture which dispels fear, 4 and with Thy lower right hand that which grants boons; they, O Mother with gaping mouth, 5 who reciting Thy name, meditate in this way 6 upon the greatness of Thy mantra, possess the eight great powers 7 of the Three-Eyed One 8 in the palm of their hands. 9
Commentary
\"'Sword' (Kpam)"
The sword is knowledge (Jna) by which the bonds of ignorance of the desire-free Sdhaka are severed. See ivadharmottara.
"'Severed head' (Chinna-muda)"
The human head is the seat of Tattvaja free of attachment.
"'Terrible countenance' (Prakatita-radane)"
Her white teeth indicative of the white self-manifesting Sattva-Gua bite the red lolling tongue indicative of Rajas Gua and suppress both Rajas and Tamas by Sattva.
"'Precious Mantrs' (Manu-vi-bhava)"
The three 'Kr' Bjas represent the Cidghana aspect of Dev, the two Hm Bjas the Sattva-Gua aspect and the two 'Hrm' Bjas the Rajah-pradhna-sattva-Gua aspect.
[Durgrma-Siddhntavga explains this in the following different ways: ("a") Manuvibhava = the Vibhava or Sapatti (precious possession) of Manus or Mantras. This precious possession is the
p. 54
name in the vocative case 'Dakshie Klike.' The meaning of the passage then is that those who recite Thy name Dakshie Klike, which is the precious possession of Mantras, and meditate on this Thine appearance possess the Powers and so forth. ("b") Manuvibhava is the Vibhava of the Manu that is the twenty-two syllabled Mantra of Kl. This possession is the name Dakshi Klik. ("c") Manuvibhava = Manu (Mantra) vibhava (Ghataka) of which (the Dev's body) is the body of which Mantra is the generator. The bodies of the Devats are produced by their Mantras. The passage thus means that, they who recite Thy name Dakshi Klik and meditate on this Thine appearance generated by Mantra possess the virtues mentioned above.]
See last Verse.
"Klik (Klike)"
"'Three eyed one (Tryabaka)'"
[The same commentator (Durgrma) offers three explanations of the term Tryabaka used for iva ("a") He who has three Abakas or eyes is Tryabaka, ("b") He who has three Mothers or Abs is Tryabaka. The Klikpura says, 'As Hara is born of three Mothers He is known, even amongst Devas, by the title Tryabaka.' ("c") Todala-Tantra says 'the Vidy Bhuvanevar is in Heaven, Earth, and the Nether world (Ptla). He who delights in the Dev as threefold in three places is called Tryabaka. He is with akti and is worshipped in all Tantras.']
p. 55
Footnotes
53:1 p. 54 "Dakshi", the beneficent grantor of "Nirva". (v)
53:2 \"Khadga", the peculiar heavy sword with the blade curved at the tip so named, used to behead the sacrificial animals.
53:3 The Dev is the destroyer of the wicked.
53:4 The Dev is the dispeller of all fear, and makes with Her hand the "mudr". The right upper hand makes the gesture of dispelling fear, or the gesture of assurance of safety ("Abhayamudr") and the right lower hand makes the gesture of granting boons ("Varamudr"). (V) The "Sdhaka" seeks fearlessness, which is the great gift of the Goddess, who is "Bhaypah", 'remover of fear. If thou art remembered in times of p. 55 difficulty, Thou takest away all fear' (Mrkadeya-Pura). At the same time it is she who fills the ignorant with terror (Pauloka-bhayakar) that is, those devoid of the knowledge of non-duality, for 'fear comes when there is duality' (Br. Up. 1-4-2, Lalit, v. 99).
53:5 \"Prakatita-vadane" (see '"Daa-Mahvidy Upsanrahasya",' by Prasanna-Kumra-str). "Vimalnanda" reads "Prakatitaradane", that is, with big protruding teeth. The "Yogin-Tantra" says, 'Supreme eternal, large-toothed, smeared with blood.' The "Trkalpa" speaks of '"Sym" of the colour of a new (freshly formed) cloud, with large breasts, terrible with protruding teeth.' (v)
53:6 As stated--that is, "Kr Kr Kr H H Hr Hr" which with "Dakie" makes ten syllables.
53:7 \"Siddhi"--that is, "Aim", "Laghim", "Garim", "Prpti", "Prkya", "Iitva", "Vaitva", "Kmvasyit" the power of becoming small, great, heavy, light, etc., which are inherent in vara, and are attainable by Yogis who become vara and gain "ivarya". By realization of the self, that Divine state which is the universal Self is manifested, as also the eightfold manifestation of the Divine power.
53:8 \"Tryabaka" or "iva". According to Tarklakra's Commentary on Mahnirva-Tantra, "Tryabaka" means the father of the three Devas, Brahm, Viu, and Rudra. The "gvidhna" uses it as an equivalent of Mahdeva. The Mahnirva-Tantra says: 'As She surveys the entire universe, which is the product of time, with Her three eyes--the Moon, Sun, and Fire--therefore She is endowed with three eyes' ("Ullsa" xiii, verse 8) The Moon, Sun, and Fire are the "Icch", "Kriy", "Jna" and other "aktis" (see the atcakranirpaa of Prnnada-vm) and Serpent Power by A. Avalon.
53:9 'By him who carries a flower its odour is enjoyed without seeking. By him who looks upon himself as the universal Self the powers (of Brahm, etc.) are enjoyed' (Commentary of Surevarcrya on tenth Sloka of "Dakinmrti Stotra").
"Hymn to Kali", by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922],
p. 53
Verse 4
O Destructress of the sins of the three worlds, auspicious 1 Klik, who in Thy upper lotus-like left hand holdest a sword. 2 and in the lower left hand a severed head; 3 who with Thy upper right hand maketh the gesture which dispels fear, 4 and with Thy lower right hand that which grants boons; they, O Mother with gaping mouth, 5 who reciting Thy name, meditate in this way 6 upon the greatness of Thy mantra, possess the eight great powers 7 of the Three-Eyed One 8 in the palm of their hands. 9
Commentary
\"'Sword' (Kpam)"
The sword is knowledge (Jna) by which the bonds of ignorance of the desire-free Sdhaka are severed. See ivadharmottara.
"'Severed head' (Chinna-muda)"
The human head is the seat of Tattvaja free of attachment.
"'Terrible countenance' (Prakatita-radane)"
Her white teeth indicative of the white self-manifesting Sattva-Gua bite the red lolling tongue indicative of Rajas Gua and suppress both Rajas and Tamas by Sattva.
"'Precious Mantrs' (Manu-vi-bhava)"
The three 'Kr' Bjas represent the Cidghana aspect of Dev, the two Hm Bjas the Sattva-Gua aspect and the two 'Hrm' Bjas the Rajah-pradhna-sattva-Gua aspect.
[Durgrma-Siddhntavga explains this in the following different ways: ("a") Manuvibhava = the Vibhava or Sapatti (precious possession) of Manus or Mantras. This precious possession is the
p. 54
name in the vocative case 'Dakshie Klike.' The meaning of the passage then is that those who recite Thy name Dakshie Klike, which is the precious possession of Mantras, and meditate on this Thine appearance possess the Powers and so forth. ("b") Manuvibhava is the Vibhava of the Manu that is the twenty-two syllabled Mantra of Kl. This possession is the name Dakshi Klik. ("c") Manuvibhava = Manu (Mantra) vibhava (Ghataka) of which (the Dev's body) is the body of which Mantra is the generator. The bodies of the Devats are produced by their Mantras. The passage thus means that, they who recite Thy name Dakshi Klik and meditate on this Thine appearance generated by Mantra possess the virtues mentioned above.]
See last Verse.
"Klik (Klike)"
"'Three eyed one (Tryabaka)'"
[The same commentator (Durgrma) offers three explanations of the term Tryabaka used for iva ("a") He who has three Abakas or eyes is Tryabaka, ("b") He who has three Mothers or Abs is Tryabaka. The Klikpura says, 'As Hara is born of three Mothers He is known, even amongst Devas, by the title Tryabaka.' ("c") Todala-Tantra says 'the Vidy Bhuvanevar is in Heaven, Earth, and the Nether world (Ptla). He who delights in the Dev as threefold in three places is called Tryabaka. He is with akti and is worshipped in all Tantras.']
p. 55
Footnotes
53:1 p. 54 "Dakshi", the beneficent grantor of "Nirva". (v)
53:2 \"Khadga", the peculiar heavy sword with the blade curved at the tip so named, used to behead the sacrificial animals.
53:3 The Dev is the destroyer of the wicked.
53:4 The Dev is the dispeller of all fear, and makes with Her hand the "mudr". The right upper hand makes the gesture of dispelling fear, or the gesture of assurance of safety ("Abhayamudr") and the right lower hand makes the gesture of granting boons ("Varamudr"). (V) The "Sdhaka" seeks fearlessness, which is the great gift of the Goddess, who is "Bhaypah", 'remover of fear. If thou art remembered in times of p. 55 difficulty, Thou takest away all fear' (Mrkadeya-Pura). At the same time it is she who fills the ignorant with terror (Pauloka-bhayakar) that is, those devoid of the knowledge of non-duality, for 'fear comes when there is duality' (Br. Up. 1-4-2, Lalit, v. 99).
53:5 \"Prakatita-vadane" (see '"Daa-Mahvidy Upsanrahasya",' by Prasanna-Kumra-str). "Vimalnanda" reads "Prakatitaradane", that is, with big protruding teeth. The "Yogin-Tantra" says, 'Supreme eternal, large-toothed, smeared with blood.' The "Trkalpa" speaks of '"Sym" of the colour of a new (freshly formed) cloud, with large breasts, terrible with protruding teeth.' (v)
53:6 As stated--that is, "Kr Kr Kr H H Hr Hr" which with "Dakie" makes ten syllables.
53:7 \"Siddhi"--that is, "Aim", "Laghim", "Garim", "Prpti", "Prkya", "Iitva", "Vaitva", "Kmvasyit" the power of becoming small, great, heavy, light, etc., which are inherent in vara, and are attainable by Yogis who become vara and gain "ivarya". By realization of the self, that Divine state which is the universal Self is manifested, as also the eightfold manifestation of the Divine power.
53:8 \"Tryabaka" or "iva". According to Tarklakra's Commentary on Mahnirva-Tantra, "Tryabaka" means the father of the three Devas, Brahm, Viu, and Rudra. The "gvidhna" uses it as an equivalent of Mahdeva. The Mahnirva-Tantra says: 'As She surveys the entire universe, which is the product of time, with Her three eyes--the Moon, Sun, and Fire--therefore She is endowed with three eyes' ("Ullsa" xiii, verse 8) The Moon, Sun, and Fire are the "Icch", "Kriy", "Jna" and other "aktis" (see the atcakranirpaa of Prnnada-vm) and Serpent Power by A. Avalon.
53:9 'By him who carries a flower its odour is enjoyed without seeking. By him who looks upon himself as the universal Self the powers (of Brahm, etc.) are enjoyed' (Commentary of Surevarcrya on tenth Sloka of "Dakinmrti Stotra").
