Cidgaganacandrika (study)
by S. Mahalakshmi | 2017 | 83,507 words
Cidgaganacandrika 298 [Cakranavaka], English comparative study extracted from the two available commentaries—the Divyacakorika and the Kramaprakashika. The Cidgagana-candrika is an important Tantric work belonging to the Krama system of Kashmir Shaivism. Written by Kalidasa (Shrivatsa) in 312 Sanskrit verses, it deals with the knowledge regarding both the Macrocosmic and Microcosmic phenomena
This book contains Sanskrit text which you should never take for granted as transcription mistakes are always possible. Always confer with the final source and/or manuscript.
Verse 298 [Cakranavaka]
Sanskrit text, Unicode transliteration and English commentary of verse 298:
सृष्टितः प्रभृति यच्चतुष्टयं यत्प्रकाशनिभमूर्तिवृन्दजम् ।
यच्च खण्डपदमम्ब ! पीठगं देहि चक्रनवकं नुतं तव ॥ २९८ ॥sṛṣṭitaḥ prabhṛti yaccatuṣṭayaṃ yatprakāśanibhamūrtivṛndajam |
yacca khaṇḍapadamamba ! pīṭhagaṃ dehi cakranavakaṃ nutaṃ tava || 298 ||
Comparative analysis of commentaries and excerpts in English:
[Cakranavaka/Navacakra is sum of Kāli’s pentad functions and quarted Pīṭhas]
Kālidāsa pleads with Kāli to bless him with the worship of Cakranavaka [Navacakra?], which is praised by Devas, Dānavas, Ṛṣis, Siddhas and Gandharvas. Pentad of Śakti’s functions start with Sṛṣṭi are Sṛṣṭi, Sthiti, Saṃhāra, Nigraha and Anugraha; in other words Sṛṣṭi, Sthiti, Saṃhāra, Anākhya and Bhāsa; or her form of Vāmeśvarī, Khecarī, Dikcarī, Gocarī and Bhūcarī. These are equal to Śiva in brilliance emerging off the Mūrtivṛnda. Citicakra is Mātṛkacakra with 50 mātṛkas which reflects the shine of Śiva as a-kāra[1]. Four pīthas are Kāmarūpā, Pūrṇagiri, Jālandhara and Oddyāna which are ruled by Śaktis. Kāli’s Kṛtyapañcaka [Pañcakṛtya?] and the pīṭhacatuṣṭaya [catuṣpīṭha?] put together form the Cakranavaka.
Notes and Sanskrit references:
[1] Cf. [Kramaprakāśikā] p 204 [Cidgaganacandrikā] 298.—
sarvā'pi mātṛkā śivasadṛśīti subahuśa uktaṃ tantreṣu - “mantrā varṇātmakāḥ sarve sarvevaṇārḥ śivātmakāḥ” iti, “svatantraściticakrāṇāṃ cakravartī maheśvaraḥ” iti ca | citicakraṃ mātṛkācakramave, “aum iti brahma” iti śrutiḥ mūrtivṛndadhāmacakranāmnā mahānayaprakāśe kiñcidbhinnameva varṇitam, kintvatra cakranirdeśābhāvena mūrtivṛndapadena pañcāśanmātṛkācakramave gṛhyate |