Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 165

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Traverses on less trodden path...
and indestructible. $1 Bhāskararāya gives fifteen meanings of this mantra.99 Three hundred meanings of Pancadasākşari is explained in Trisatibhâsya by Sankara.98 The fifteen letters of this Mantra are divided into three groups (Katas) viz. Vägbhava, Kamara ja aru Sakti. Vāgisvari is the JnanaŚakti which is in the Vagbhava division and confers salvation, Kamaraja is the Kāmyasakti, the ruler of desire and fuláls desire. The sakti division is the will power-the supreme energy and is in the form of Siva.94 Again, each group represents specific divine powers, such as Fire, Sun and the Moon. These three groups represent, the three states of waking, dreaming and dreamless sleep--Visva. Tai jasa and Prajña and willpower, power of knowledge and power of action. In essence, this Mantra is said to comprise all the fundamental truths of the Universe. This is considered as a very powerful Mantra and recitation of this is sure to yield results. It is said that the man who has been intiated to this Mantra has no more rebirth.98 This Pancadašākşari is known as either Hādi or Kādi, on the basis of beginning letter of the Mantra. It is said that Hādi is followed by Lopamudra and Kadi path is followed by Haya. griva, Agastya and Dürvâsa. For the very highly advanced and initiated, a sixteenth letter is added, and it is called sodasáksari. This sixteenth letter is kept very secret and not openly stated.
The Paths of Yoga and Japa Sadhanī are purely internal type of worship. The mind cannot remain steady on, what is formless (amürta). Therefore a form is accepted as aid to meditation. Form is also of two kinds-gross and subtle. The grossest form is pictorial that which is with hands, feet and so forth. Subtle form is the diagrm which is also called the body of Mantras. The well known Sriyantra or Sricakra is adopted for the worship of Tripura or Lulita. Details of Sricakra are given in Vāmakeśvra Tantra, Tantrarāja, Saundar yalahari, Saubhāgya Vardhani and Lakşmidhară.96
91 (a) Lalitā sahasranama, p. 50-52. (b) Daśāpañcakabhedena prapancasya vilasinah. Säkşiņi cūkgari Sasınāt tasmāt
pāncadaśaksari'-Saundar yalahari with Saubhāg ya vardhani, p. 49. 92. Varivas yārahasya p. 37-110. 93. Lalitātrisati, p. 166-290. 94. Nityāșodasikarnava-IV-11, p. 207-196. 95 (a) Yasya 110 pascimam janma yadi va Sankarah svayam.
Tenaiva labhyate vid vā śrīmatpaficadasăk şari.-Lalitātrisati, p. 293. (b) Yasya vijñānamätrena punarjanma na vidyate. ---Mātrkābhedatantra-VII-1, p. 38. 96 (a) Nityāşodasikārnava Vāmakes vara Tantra), I-29-43, P. 50-67 and 1-59 75 p. 83-88.
(b) l'antrarāja Tantra-VIII-52-71. (c) Saundaryalahari with Saubhāgya vardhani and Lakşmidharu-10. (d) 'Bindu trikona vasukoņadaśarayugmaman vasranāgadalasamyutaşodasāram.
Vịttatrayam ca dharani sadanatrayam ca sricakrarajainuditam paradevatäyāh.' ---quoted in Setubandha by Bhaskararāya, p. 27.