Devi Rahasya I

Devirahasya Tantra As water merges in water, as fire merges in fire, as (the void within) a broken pot dissolves in aether, & as air merges with air, so too the brahmana & brahmani dissolve in the supreme essence by drinking wine. Mountain Born One, there is no doubt about it! - Matrikabheda Tantra, III, 34-35 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 Devirahasya, 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 & sadhana of the different gods & goddesses discussed. Rahasya means secret & the work does cover most of the topics a practitioner would need to know. These include purashcarana, which is the preparatory work before puja proper can start. This is very arduous, involving the recitation of mantra & a ritual which spans many hours. The Devirahasya, however, introduces some short-cuts for the Kaula initiate. The panchangas (five limbs) in this work give essential puja info: for a sadhaka or sadhvini & give intriguing insights into various aspects of devata worshipped by the Hindu tantrikas. (An eg, translated on this site, is the Bala Panchanga.) Chapter 1:: This deals with the characteristics of guru & pupil, with the planetary positions & times of initiation, & with the attendant dis-qualifications on both pupils & gurus. It also deals with the sequence of initiation, the purification of the disciple, & the initiation of shaktis. Chapter 2: The diff: mantras of Devis are given. The Devis mentioned are Bala (an aspect of Tripura-Sundari as a young girl), Panchadashi & Sodasi (Tripura-Sundari), Tripura, Vidyarajni (Queen of Vidya), Bhadrakali, Matangi, Bhuvaneshvari, Ugratara, Chinnamasta, Sumukhi (Pretty Face), Sarasvati, Annapurna (Full of Food), Mahalaksmi, Sarika (Small Bodied), Sarada (Autumnal), Indraksi (Indra's eyes), Bagalamukhi, Mahaturi (The Transcendent Fourth), Maharajni (Great Queen), Jvalamukhi (FireMouth), Bhida, Kalaratri (Night of Time), Bhavani, Vajrayogini, Dhumravarahi (Smoky Varahi Devi), Siddhalakshmi, Kulavagisvari,

Padmavati, Kubjika (Crooked One), Gauri (Fair One), Khecari, Nilasarasvati, Parasakti. Chapter 3: Gives the diff: Saiva mantras such as: Mrtyunjaya (Siva as Conqueror of Death), Amrtesvara, Vatukabhairava (Siva in His aspect as a terrifying boy), Mahesvara, Shiva, Sadasiva, Rudra, Mahadeva, Karala(Formidable One), Vikarala, Nilakantha, Sarva, Pasupati (Lord of Beasts), Mrda, Pinaki, Girisa, Bhima, Mahaganapati, Kumara, Krodhanesa, Isa, Kapalisa, Krurabhairava (Cruel Bhairava), Samharabhairava (Dissolution Bhairava), Isvara, Bharga, Rurubhairava, Kalagnibhairava, Sadyojata (instantly arising -- a name of Siva as penis), Aghora, Mahakala & Kamesvara. Chapter 4: The diff: mantras of Visnu are here given. These are the LaksmiNarayana mantra, & mantras of Radhakrsna, Visnu, Laksmi-Nrsimha, Laksmi-Varaha, Bhargava, Sita-Rama, Janardana, Visvaksena & LaksmiVasudeva; Chapter 5: The different Utkeelana (laying open) of the mantras given above are given. These are mantras which themselves open the mantras up to use. Chapter 6: Gives the vitalising mantras of Devatas described in chapters 2,3 & 4. Chapter 7: In this chapter the mantras used for reminding any curses that may have become attached to the mantras in chapters 2, 3 & 4 are given. Chapter 8: The method of reciting mantras is here described. The guru puja mantra is given. Chapter 9: Deals with the method of putting together the mantras already described in chapters 2,3 & 4. Chapter 10: Purascarana, 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 400,000, 200,000 or 100,000 times. It should be performed under a fig tree, in the wilderness, in the cremation ground, in a desert, at crossroads, & should be started at midnight or mid-day. Purascarana should be done under auspicious astrological configurations after having worshipped one’s own guru.

A yantra is described which should be used in its application. The sadhaka has to fill four pots at the cardinal points. At the end of the chapter alternative methods of doing this necessary act are described. -These are through sexual 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 & set, in a solar or in a lunar eclipse.

Chapter 11: Continues the topic of the previous chapter, & describes the homa which should be done. Chapter 12: Describes in code form the unfolding of the different yantras of the Devatas described in chapters 2,3 & 4. Chapter 13: This chapter describes how an amulet (kavacha) may be made of the yantra of one's own Ista-devata, bound into a ball, & carried upon the person. This amulet is said to give miraculous results. The yantra should be drawn upon birch-bark using 8-different kinds of scent. These are described as svayambhu, kundagola, Rocana, Aguru, camphor, musk, honey, & that arising from Malaya (i.e. sandal). The first two are well-known in the tantras as arising from various Kula women at the menstruation time. The others have similar significance in the left handed & Kaula tantras. Various methods of purification are given in the text, & it is declared that the 1,000 names of the particular Devata should be written around the yantra. Chapter 14: Gives details of the Rishis or seers of the various mantras. Chapter 15: The sadhana of the cremation ground. Begins to be described. This chapter contains only 13 verses but there is an extensive commentary provided.

Chapter 16: Continues the topic. The different Bhairavas of the elements have to be worshipped. Mahakala-bhairava is the Seer of the mantra, Ushnik is the metre, Sri Smasana is the Devata, Hrim is the bija, Hum is the sakti & Krim is the kilaka. The application of the mantra is in the attainment of the four aims of mankind. Chapter 17: Purification of the rosary formed from human skulls is discussed here. Chapter 18: In this chapter rosary & yantra purification is dealt with. The nature of the 05-products of cow & Yantresvari mantra are also discussed. Chapter 19: origin of wine is the subject of this chapter. Nine vessels which form the receptacles in which wine is kept are discussed. The presiding Devatas of these are Sadasiva, Isvara, Rudra, Visnu, Paramesti, Indra, Guru, (Jupiter), Sukra (Venus) & the Sun & the Moon 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, & discusses how the same may be purified. It gives details concerning Ananda-bhairava & his Sakti Suradevi. The gayatri of the former is given as: Anandesvaraya vidmahe Sri Suradevyai Dhimahi tanna Ardhanarisvara pracodayat. (Let us think of the Lord of Bliss, let us contemplate the Auspicious Suradevi. May that half-Siva & half-Sakti form direct us?) The dhyana of Tiraskarani Devi is given towards the end of the

chapter together with her prayogas (rituals) etc. She confers invisibility on a sadhaka. Chapter 23: This chapter deals with the purification of 09-Saktis, who are Nati (actress), Kapaliki(bearing skulls), Vesya (whore), Rajaki (washer-woman), Napitangana (barber' s wife), Brahmini, Sudra-kanya (Sudra's daughter), Gopala-kanyaka (Cowherd' s daughter) & Malakara-kanya (Daughter of a Garland-Maker). Devata of this rite to follow is called Parambika-. The best time for the rite is at midnight. The puja sequence is given, & it is stated that the girl should be placed on the left of sadhaka in a Sri Cakra. She has to have dishevelled hair, be free from shame, & adorned with jewels. The various mantras of each of these 09-Kumaris are given. Details are given of the left handed chakra of eight or eleven couples & the mantras to be used. Chapter 24: This gives various materials of which a rosary may be made, as also the way knots & so on are to be tied. Rosary made of human skulls is described, as well as rosaries made from various trees, tulasi rosaries, crystal, rudraksha, jewels, gold, & rosaries made from lotus seeds & human teeth. The last, & the first, are to receive specific kinds of purification. Chapter 25: The purification of yantras & the various materials from which they are made are discussed in detail. Yantras are spoken of as 08-fold as being made from gold, silver, copper, crystal, birch, bone, hide & Visnu-stone. The mantras for purifying these 08-materials are given, & rites performed at night are discussed at the end of the chapter. Chapters 26-30: These chapters comprise the Ganapati Pancangam (5 limbs). These limbs are (i) Mantra, Yantra, Dhyana & the six karmas or magical acts (ii) The worship of Mahaganapati (iii) The Kavaca or Armour of Mahaganapati (iv) The 1000 Names of Mahaganapati & (v) the Mahaganapati Stotra or Hymn. Chapters 31-35: The Surya Pancangam or the Five Limbs of the Sun. Chapters 36-40: The 5 limbs of Laksmi-Narayana. Chapters 41-45: The 5 limbs of Mrtyunjaya. Chapters 46-50: The 5 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, & with its putting together. Chapter 53: Discusses Nila-kantha, or the blue-throated manifestation of Shiva, when he drunk the poison produced by the churning of the Milk Ocean. It gives his mantra, dhyana, & the seer. Chapter 54: Discusses initiation, & its time, & deals with Guru initiation..

Chapter 55: This chapter discusses purashcharana & deals with the same done for the disciple by the Guru. It describes, in addition, the best places for doing the same. Chapter 56: Pancha-ratnesvari, or the Devi of the five jewels, together with the mantra unfolding of Durga, Sarada, Sarika, Sumukhi & Bagala are dealt with here. Chapter 57: Homa 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) & the giving of bali or animal sacrifice. At the end Kanya-puja, or worship of virgins, is described. Chapter 59: This chapter discusses the different paths, such as Daksinacara, Vamacara, & Kulacara. Chapter 60: Deals with the guru.

*** Appendices

(i) The 5 Limbs of Jvalamukhi-Devi (ii) The 5 Limbs of Sarika-Devi (iii) The 5 Limbs of Maharajni-Devi (iv) The 5 Limbs of Bala-Tripurasundari (v) Uddharakosa, a compilation which deals with the mantras & dhyanas of a host of Tantrik deities, & also contains a compendium of the letters of the Sanskrit alphabet & their tantrika meaning. There are 48 tantras mentioned in the text. They are Agamalaharitantra, Agamasiromani, Agamasindhu, Agamamrtatantra, Agamamrtmanjari, Agamarnavapiyusatantra, Agamalankaratantra, Agamadotatantra, Uddamaratantra, Kaminikalpa, Kamesvaratantra, Kalaratrikalpatantra, Kalikasarvasvatantra, Kalipatalatantra, Kalirahasyatantra, Kalisarvasvatantra, Kubjikasiromani, Kulacudamani, Kulasiddhasantana, Kulikarnava, Chinnarahasya, Chinnasiromani, Jvalasiromani, Tantramuktavali, Tripurasundarisarvasvam, Tripuratika, Tripuratilakatantra, Tripurasiromani, Tripurarasasarasarvasvam, Bhairavatantra, Bhairavasarvasvam, Mantrasagara, Mundamalatantra, Rudrayamala, Vamakesvaratantra, Visvanathasaroddhara, Visvayamala, Saradatilaka, Saradapatala, Saradatika, Syamatantra, Syamarahasya, Siddhasarasvatatantra, Sundarisiromani, Sundarisarvasvam, Svatantratantra. Many, if not most of these, are not available.