Shree Kamalaambikayaa Kataakshitoham (Avarana 3 of Navavarana Krithis)
Ragam: Shankarabharanam (29th melakartha)
ARO: S R2 G3 M1 P D2 N3 S ||
AVA: S N3 D2 P M1 G3 R2 S ||
Talam: Rupakam (2 kalai)
Composer: Muthuswami Dikshitar
Version: D.K. Jayaraman (https://youtu.be/-k9QMSDGFGA?t=1311 (21:50))
Lyrics / Meaning Courtesy: https://guru-guha.blogspot.com/2007/09/dikshitar-kriti-sri-kamalaambikayaa.html
Youtube Class: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36y4Xad83_M
Audio MP3 Class: http://www.shivkumar.org/music/srikamalambikaya-shankarabharanam-class.mp3
Pallavi:
SrI kamalAmbikayA kaTAkshitO(a)haM
saccidAnanda paripUrNa brahmAsmi
Anupallavi:
pAka SAsanAdi sakala dEvatA sEvitayA
pankajAsanAdi panca- kRtyAkRtbhAvitayA
Madhyama kAla sAhityam:
SOka hara catura padayA
mUka mukhya vAkpradayA
kOkanada vijaya padayA
guru guha tat-trai-padayA
CaraNam:
ananga kusumAdyashTa SaktyAkArayA
aruNa varNa saMkshObhaNa cakrAkArayA
ananta kOTyaNDa nAyaka Sankara nAyikayA
ashTa vargAtmaka gupta-tarayA varayA
Madhyama kAla sAhityam:
anangAdyupAsitayA ashTa daLAbja sthitayA
dhanurbANa dhara karayA dayA sudhA sAgarayA
Meaning: Courtesy https://guru-guha.blogspot.com/2007/09/dikshitar-kriti-sri-kamalaambikayaa.html
Sahityam: SrI kamalAmbikayA
kaTAkshitO(a)haM
Meaning: I am blessed with merciful glances by Goddess Kamalamba.
kaTAkshitO-ahaM
- I am blessed with merciful glances
SrI kamalAmbikayA - by Goddess Kamalamba.
Sahityam: saccidAnanda paripUrNa brahmAsmi
Meaning: She is the supreme being, filled with the bliss of
existence and consciousness.
Asmi - (Hence) I am
sat-cit-Ananda
paripUrNa brahma - the supreme being, filled with the
bliss of existence and consciousness.
Sahityam: pAka SAsanAdi
sakala dEvatA sEvitayA
Meaning: She is the One served by all the gods led by Indra
(slayer of the demon Paka),
pAka SAsana-Adi sakala dEvatA sEvitayA
- (by) the one served by all the gods led by Indra (slayer of the demon Paka),
Sahityam: pankajAsanAdi panca- kRtyAkRtbhAvitayA
Meaning: She is the One meditated upon by the doers of the
five cosmic actions, starting with the lotus-seated Brahma,
pankaja-Asana-Adi panca-kRtyAkRt-bhAvitayA
- the one meditated (bhAvitayA) upon by the doers (kRtyAkRt) of the five (panca) cosmic
actions, starting with (Adi) the lotus-seated (pankaja-Asana)
Brahma,
Sahityam: SOka hara catura padayA mUka mukhya vAkpradayA
Meaning: The One whose feet are skilful at removing sorrows … the
One who granted eloquence to many led by the mute poet (Mooka
kavi),
SOka hara catura padayA - the
one whose feet (pada-yA) are skilful
(chatura) at removing (hara) sorrows (SOka),
mUka mukhya vAk-pradayA - the one who granted (pradayA) eloquence (vAk) to many
led by the mute poet (Mooka mukya
- kavi),
Sahityam: kOkanada vijaya padayA guru guha tat-trai-padayA
Meaning: The One whose feet surpass the lotus (in loveliness),… the embodiment of the three-word (Mantra) of Guruguha,…
kOkanada vijaya padayA - the one whose feet (padayA) surpass (Vijaya) the lotus (kOkanada) in loveliness
guru guha
tat-trai-padayA - the embodiment of the three-word (tat-trai-padayA) Mantra of Guruguha,
Sahityam: ananga kusumAdyashTa
SaktyAkArayA
Meaning: The One manifest as the eight
goddess beginning with Ananga-kusuma,
ananga kusuma-Adi-ashTa Sakti-AkArayA - the One manifest
(AkArayA) as the eight goddess (ashTa
Sakti) beginning (Adi) with Ananga-kusuma,…
Sahityam: aruNa varNa
saMkshObhaNa cakrAkArayA
Meaning: The One residing in the red-coloured
Samkshobana Chakra, the Chakra that agitates or
excites,
aruNa varNa saMkshObhaNa
cakra-AkArayA - the one residing in the red-coloured (aruNa varNa) Samkshobana Chakra, the
Chakra that agitates or excites (AkArayA).
Sahityam: ananta kOTyaNDa
nAyaka Sankara nAyikayA
Meaning: … the consort of Shiva (Shankara),
the lord of the infinite crores of universes,
ananta kOTi-aNDa nAyaka Sankara nAyikayA - the consort (nAyikayA)
of Shiva (Shankara), the lord (nAyaka)
of the infinite crores (ananta kOTi)
of universes (aNDa)
Sahityam: ashTa vargAtmaka
gupta-tarayA varayA
Meaning: … the immensely secret embodiment of letters grouped
in eight sections ( a,ka,ca,etc.)… the eminent one,…
ashTa varga-Atmaka gupta-tarayA - the immensely (tarayA)
secret (Gupta) embodiment (Atmaka) of letters grouped
in eight sections ( ashTa varga - a,ka,ca,etc.)
varayA - the eminent one,
Sahityam: anangAdyupAsitayA ashTa daLAbja sthitayA
Meaning:.. the One worshipped by Manmatha and others, … the
One who resides in the eight- petal lotus,
ananga-Adi-upAsitayA - the one worshipped (upAsitayA)
by Manmatha (ananga) and
others (Adi)
ashTa daLa-abja sthitayA - the
one who resides (sthitayA) in the eight (ashTa) petal (daLa) lotus (abja)
Sahityam: dhanurbANa dhara karayA dayA
sudhA sAgarayA
Meaning: the One holding a bow and
arrows in her hands, … the ocean of the nectar of compassion.
dhanurbANa dhara karayA - the one holding (dhara)
a bow and arrows (dhanurbANa) in her hands (kara-yA)
dayA sudhA sAgarayA - the ocean (sAgarayA)
of the nectar (sudhA) of compassion (dayA).
Pallavi:
SrI kamalAmbikayA kaTAkshitO(a)haM
saccidAnanda paripUrNa brahmAsmi
Sahityam: SrI kamalAmbikayA
kaTAkshitO(a)haM
Meaning: I am blessed with merciful glances by Goddess Kamalamba.
kaTAkshitO-ahaM
- I am blessed with merciful glances
SrI kamalAmbikayA - by Goddess Kamalamba.
O 1 2 3 4
SR ; ; G ; MG | R M G R S ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- ma- lAm- - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mdP ; ; mgR ; ; M G G R S ; N ; ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Am ba-
SR ; ; G ; MG | R pm G rg rsS ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- ma- lAm- - - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mdP ; ; mgR ; ; M G G R S ; N ; ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Am ba-
SR ; ; G mp GR | sr rp gm rg rs ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- - ma- lAm- - - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mddp P ; mgR ; ; M G G R S rg rsS ,n ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Am ba-
SR ; ; G , p mM, ,g | R,m gG, R S ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- - ma- lAm- - - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mddp P ; mgR ; ; M G G R S rg rsS ,n ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Am ba-
SR ; ; G ; M ,p | G ,m R ,g rs , ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- - ma- lAm- - - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mddp P ; mgR ; ; M G G R S rg rsS ,n ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Am ba-
SR ; ; G ; M ,p | G ,m R ,g rs , ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- - ma- lAm- - - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mddp P ; mgR ; ; M G G R S ; S ,n ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Sa- cci-
Sahityam: saccidAnanda paripUrNa brahmAsmi
Meaning: She is the the supreme
being, filled with the bliss of existence and consciousness.
Asmi - (Hence) I am
sat-cit-Ananda
paripUrNa brahma - the supreme being, filled with the
bliss of existence and consciousness.
O 1 2 3 4
D ; ; ; dmP ; ; ; | M ; ; ; G ; M p g Gmp Gmr G R S ; ||
dA - - nan- - - da - - - pa- ri - - pU -- - - - - - rNa
N R S N D S N P | D N S – D N ; sn sr ; S ; ; rpmg rsS , n ||
Brah - - - - - - - mA- - - - - smi - - - - - Am - ba - - (repeat Sri kamalAm…)
N R S N D S N P | D N S – D N ; sn sr ; S ; ; ; ; ; ; ||
Brah - - - - - - - mA- - - - - smi - - - - - - - - - (finish pallavi)
Anupallavi:
pAka SAsanAdi sakala dEvatA sEvitayA
pankajAsanAdi panca- kRtyAkRtbhAvitayA
Sahityam: pAka SAsanAdi
sakala dEvatA sEvitayA
Meaning: She is the One served by all the gods led by Indra
(slayer of the demon Paka),
pAka SAsana-Adi sakala dEvatA sEvitayA
- (by) the one served by all the gods led by Indra (slayer of the demon Paka),
O 1 2 3 4
P ; ; ; M ; G ; | gpM G ; RG M dp M G – rGm mgR S ; ||
pA- - ka- SA- - - - sa- nA- - - - di - sa- - ka- - la-
S ; ; ; S R r s S | ; ; ; ; S ; ; ,n M ; G ; Mpg M ; ||
dE - - va - tA-- - - - - sE - - - vi - ta - yA - - -
DP ; ; pmM ; G ; | gpM G ; RG M dp M G – rGm mgR S ; ||
pA- - ka- - SA- - - - sa- nA- - - - di - sa- - ka- - la-
S ; ; ; S R rgmg | r s S ; ; S ; ; ,n M ; G ; Mpg M ; ||
dE - - va - tA-- - - - - sE - - - vi - ta - yA - - -
Sahityam: pankajAsanAdi panca- kRtyAkRtbhAvitayA
Meaning: She is the One meditated upon by the doers of the
five cosmic actions, starting with the lotus-seated Brahma,
pankaja-Asana-Adi panca-kRtyAkRt-bhAvitayA
- the one meditated (bhAvitayA) upon by the doers (kRtyAkRt) of the five (panca) cosmic
actions, starting with (Adi) the lotus-seated (pankaja-Asana)
Brahma,
O 1 2 3 4
P ; ; ; P D D P | ; ,d pmM ; M G M ; mdP P M gpM MR ||
Pan - - ka - jA- - - sa - - - nA- - - di-- pan- - - ca-
M G M ; P ; dpmg | M ; ; ; P ; ; ,n MP DN S ; ; ; ||
kR - - - tyA kR- - - - - - tbhA- - vi – ta - yA - - -
D P ; ; prssD; D P | ; ,d pmM ; M G M ; mdP P M gpM MR ||
Pan - - ka - - jA- - - sa - - - nA- - - di-- pan- - - ca-
M G M ; P ; dpmg | M ; ; ; M P ; ,n MP DN S ; ; ; ||
kR - - - tyA kR- - - - - - tbhA- - vi – ta - yA - - -
Madhyama kAla sAhityam:
SOka hara catura padayA
mUka mukhya vAkpradayA
kOkanada vijaya padayA
guru guha tat-trai-padayA
Sahityam: SOka hara catura padayA mUka mukhya vAkpradayA
Meaning: The One whose feet are skilful
at removing sorrows … the One who granted eloquence to many led by the mute
poet (Mooka kavi),
SOka hara catura padayA - the
one whose feet (pada-yA) are skilful
(chatura) at removing (hara) sorrows (SOka),
mUka mukhya vAk-pradayA - the one who granted (pradayA) eloquence (vAk) to many
led by the mute poet (Mooka mukya
- kavi),
O 1 2 3 4
S ; N – R R – S N D | P D N ; S ; R – sn D P – M ; P dn dP, ; ||
SO ka ha ra ca tu ra pa da yA mU-ka mu- - khya vAk- prada-yA--
Sahityam: kOkanada vijaya padayA guru guha tat-trai-padayA
Meaning: The One whose feet surpass the lotus (in loveliness),… the embodiment of the three-word (Mantra) of Guruguha,…
kOkanada vijaya padayA - the one whose feet (padayA)
surpass (Vijaya) the lotus (kOkanada) in loveliness
guru guha
tat-trai-padayA - the embodiment of the three-word (tat-trai-padayA) Mantra of Guruguha,
O 1 2 3 4
mpS R G M - P D N | S rg rS , S D P M mgR rsS ; P D N ; ||
kO - ka na da vi ja ya pada- yA guru guha tat-- trai-- padayA-
Sahityam: SrI kamalAmbikayA
kaTAkshitO(a)haM
Meaning: I am blessed with merciful glances by Goddess Kamalamba.
SR ; ; G ; M ,p | G ,m R ,g rs , ; ; ; N R S N D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- - ma- lAm- - - - - - - - bi - ka- yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M ; | mddp P ; mgR ; ; M G G R S ; S ,n ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - - - - Sa- cci-
Sahityam: saccidAnanda paripUrNa brahmAsmi
Meaning: She is the the supreme
being, filled with the bliss of existence and consciousness.
Asmi - (Hence) I am
sat-cit-Ananda
paripUrNa brahma - the supreme being, filled with the
bliss of existence and consciousness.
O 1 2 3 4
D ; ; ; dmP ; ; ; | M ; ; ; G ; M p g Gmp Gmr G R S ; ||
dA - - nan- - - da - - - pa- ri - - pU -- - - - - - rNa
N R S N D S N P | D N S – D N ; sn sr ; S ; ; ; ; ; ; ||
Brah - - - - - - - mA- - - - - smi - - - - - - - - -
CaraNam:
ananga kusumAdyashTa SaktyAkArayA
aruNa varNa saMkshObhaNa cakrAkArayA
ananta kOTyaNDa nAyaka Sankara nAyikayA
ashTa vargAtmaka gupta-tarayA varayA
Sahityam: ananga kusumAdyashTa
SaktyAkArayA
Meaning: The One manifest as the eight
goddess beginning with Ananga-kusuma,
ananga kusuma-Adi-ashTa Sakti-AkArayA - the One manifest
(AkArayA) as the eight goddess (ashTa
Sakti) beginning (Adi) with Ananga-kusuma,…
O 1 2 3 4
S ; P ; ; ; pmM ; | G ; G R rp mg M ; ; ; G ,p mgR S ; ||
A nan - - ga - - ku su - mA- - - - - dya- - - - shTa
D ; N ; S ; ; ; | ; ; ; ; S M G ; Mpg G mr rG, ; ; ||
Sa - - - ktyA - - - - - kA - - - ra -- yA-- - - - -
RS DP ; ; pmM ; | G ; G R rm mg M ; ; ; G ,p mgR S ; ||
A nan - - ga - - ku su - mA- - - - - dya- - - - shTa
S ,d N ; S rg rgmg | rsS ; ; S M G ; Mpg G mr rG, ; ; ||
Sa - - - ktyA - - - - - kA - - - ra -- yA-- - - - -
S ; DP ; ; pmM ; | G ; G R rm mg M ; ; ; G ,p mgR S ; ||
A nan - - ga - - ku su - mA- - - - - dya- - - - shTa
S ,d N ; S rg rgmg | rsS ; ; S M G ; Mpg G mr rG, ; ; ||
Sa - - - ktyA - - - - - kA - - - ra -- yA-- - - - -
Sahityam: aruNa varNa
saMkshObhaNa cakrAkArayA
Meaning: The One residing in the red-coloured
Samkshobana Chakra, the Chakra that agitates or
excites,
aruNa varNa saMkshObhaNa
cakra-AkArayA - the one residing in the red-coloured (aruNa varNa) Samkshobana Chakra, the
Chakra that agitates or excites (AkArayA).
O 1 2 3 4
N R S,n N P – D ; | N ; S ; S R G ,r R G M,g Gmp mgR ||
A - ru- Na- var - - Na saM- - - - - - - kshO- - - -
S ; S ; S R G ; | M ; ; ; G ,m P ; ; ; - P sd dm P ; ; ||
Bha Na ca - - - krA - - kA- - - - - ra -- yA- - - -
Sahityam: ananta kOTyaNDa
nAyaka Sankara nAyikayA
Meaning: … the consort of Shiva (Shankara),
the lord of the infinite crores of universes,
ananta kOTi-aNDa nAyaka Sankara nAyikayA - the consort (nAyikayA)
of Shiva (Shankara), the lord (nAyaka)
of the infinite crores (ananta kOTi)
of universes (aNDa)
O 1 2 3 4
S ; spM G ; G M | P ; ; ; ; ,m D ; ; ; P ; P M P ; ||
A nan- - - ta - kO - - - - - TyaN - - Da nA- - -
D ; N ; S ; ; ,n | S ,n S rg r s S ; ; N R S N DN ; ; ||
ya ka San - -- ka -- ra- - nA- - - yi- ka - yA - -
Sahityam: ashTa vargAtmaka
gupta-tarayA varayA
Meaning: … the immensely secret embodiment of letters grouped
in eight sections ( a,ka,ca,etc.)… the eminent one,…
ashTa varga-Atmaka gupta-tarayA - the immensely (tarayA)
secret (Gupta) embodiment (Atmaka) of letters grouped
in eight sections ( ashTa varga - a,ka,ca,etc.)
varayA - the eminent one,
O 1 2 3 4
dP, ; ; ; R ; rs ; | ; ; ; ; sp ; ; ; D ; N ; S ; ; ; ||
a - - - shTa va- - - - - rgA- - - tma ka gu
; ,n – N D P M - P dn | dmP ; ; ; ; ; ; ; G ; mpG Gmr rG, ||
pta- ta - ra - - yA - - - - - - - va- ra-- yA- - -
Madhyama kAla sAhityam:
anangAdyupAsitayA ashTa daLAbja sthitayA
dhanurbANa dhara karayA dayA sudhA sAgarayA
Sahityam: anangAdyupAsitayA ashTa daLAbja sthitayA
Meaning:.. the One worshipped by Manmatha and others, … the
One who resides in the eight- petal lotus,
ananga-Adi-upAsitayA - the one worshipped (upAsitayA)
by Manmatha (ananga) and
others (Adi)
ashTa daLa-abja sthitayA - the
one who resides (sthitayA) in the eight (ashTa) petal (daLa) lotus (abja)
O 1 2 3 4
S S pm; G ; M P ; | D N S ; S,n R – rg mgR S,n N D N ; ||
A nan- -gA - dyu pA- si ta yA a - shTa da- LA—bja- sthita yA –
Sahityam: dhanurbANa dhara karayA dayA
sudhA sAgarayA
Meaning: the One holding a bow and
arrows in her hands, … the ocean of the nectar of compassion.
dhanurbANa dhara karayA - the one holding (dhara)
a bow and arrows (dhanurbANa) in her hands (kara-yA)
dayA sudhA sAgarayA - the ocean (sAgarayA)
of the nectar (sudhA) of compassion (dayA).
O 1 2 3 4
R , S , N D P – M M | P dn d P, R , S ,- D , P , mp S R mp R S ||
Dha nur bA - Na dhara kara- yA- da yA su - dhA sA-- ga ra- - yA -
Sahityam: SrI kamalAmbikayA
kaTAkshitO(a)haM
Meaning: I am blessed with merciful glances by Goddess Kamalamba.
SR ; ; G ; M ,p | G ,m R ,g
rs , ; ; ; N R S N
D S N P ||
SrI - - ka- - ma-
lAm-
- - - -
- - - bi
- ka-
yA- - -
D N – S,r G ; M
; | mddp P ; mgR ; ; M G G R S
; S ,n ||
Ka- TA - - kshi tO- - - (a)haM - - - -
- - Sa- cci-
Sahityam: saccidAnanda paripUrNa brahmAsmi
Meaning: She is the the supreme
being, filled with the bliss of existence and consciousness.
Asmi - (Hence) I am
sat-cit-Ananda
paripUrNa brahma - the supreme being, filled with the
bliss of existence and consciousness.
O
1 2 3
4
D ; ; ; dmP ; ;
; |
M ; ; ; G
; M p g Gmp Gmr G R S ; ||
dA - - nan- -
- da - - - pa- ri - - pU -- - - - -
- rNa
N R
S N D S N P | D N
S – D N ; sn sr ; S ;
; ; ; ; ; ||
Brah - - - - - - - mA- -
- - - smi - - - -
- -
- - -
===============================================================
Alt Meaning (From Todd Mc Comb's web page: http://www.medieval.org/music/world/carnatic/lyrics/srao/kamala.html;
Original: TK Govinda Rao's book):
Shri Kamalambika
has cast Her gracious glance ("kata-akshi")
on me ("to-aham"), and now I am identified
("asmi") with the nature of Absolute
("paripurna") Brahman ("brahma"),
the fullness of existence ("sat"), consciousness ("chit")
and bliss ("ananda").
Indra ("paaka-shaasana") and other ("aadi")
celestials ("sakala devataa")
attend ("sevitayaa") on Her.
She is adored ("bhaavitayaa") by Brahma ("pankaja-asana")
and others ("aadi") who perform the Pancakritya, the five ("pancha")
cosmic acts ("krut").
Her feet are adroit
("chatura") at removing ("hara")
grief ("shoka").
She endowed ("pradayaa")
the gift of speech ("vaak") in Mooka and made
him a Kavi.
Her victorious ("vijaya") feet ("padayaa")
are like red lotus ("kokanada").
She is the embodiment of
the three-word ("trai-padayaa") mantra Tat-Tvam-Asi imparted by Guruguha.
Her form ("aakaaryaa") is of eight ("ashta")
Shaktis ("shktyaa"),
Anangakusuma and the rest.
She is the color
("varna") of dawn, Aruna (i.e. red color).
She is enshrined ("arayaa") in the Samkshobhana
Chakra.
She is the consort
("nayikayaa") of Shankara,
who is the Lord ("naayaka") of innumerable
universes ("ananta-kotyananda").
She is of the nature
("aatmaka") of eternal and hidden ("gupta") Ashtavarga, the
eight ("ashta") groups ("varga") of alphabets.
She is worshipful
("tarayaa varayaa"),
seated ("sthitayaa") on an eight-petalled
("ashta-dala") lotus ("abja").
She is worshiped ("dyupaasitayaa") by Ananga
the Cupid.
She holds ("dhara") in her hand ("karayaa")
a bow ("dhanur") and arrows ("baana").
She is an embodiment
("saagarayaa") of the nectar ("sudha") of compassion ("dayaa").
Notes from Sri Dikshita Kirtana Mala by Sri. A.
Sundaram Iyer:
3rd Avarana
Keertanam:
1)
The
following are the essence of the “Brahman”:
a.
“Sath” is the everlasting imperishable quality
b.
“Chith” is the revealer
c.
“Anandam” manifests the enjoyment.
2)
All
things in the universe manifest the above essential qualities.
3)
Immovable
things reveal the subsistence (“sath”) quality in
greater measure than other qualities. Movable things reveal the knowledge (“chith”) quality in greater measure than other qualities.
The Gods reveal the bliss (“anandam”) quality in
greater measure than other qualities.
4)
This
3rd avarana is called Sarva
Samkshobana chakra (the agitator of everything).
5)
By
reciting this mantra 15 lakh times, one shall achieve
a.
True
wisdom
b.
All
auspicious things with the aid of Sri Lalita Mahatripurasundari
==========================================================================
Thanks to Mrs. Janaki
Krishnamoorthy for the following notes based upon “KritiManiMaalai”
(Dikshitar editition) by
Ranga Ramanuja Iyengar and “Yantra” by Madhu Khanna (Thames and Hudson Limited,
Publishers)
Sri Chakra, A brief
introduction
The Saktam
sect of Hinduism approaches the Brahman or Absolue
consciousness through the worship of Sri Tripura Sundari,
the Supreme Mother. She is the source of all creation. In Her knowledge aspect,
She is called Sri Vidya. The Sri Yantram
is the most celebrated of all yantras and is employed in Sri Vidya Upasana.
Yantra and mantra together represent the union of space and sound. They are
inseparable, with mantra being the soul and yantra being the body of Subtle
Sound (Nada Brahman). Yantras are geometric objects (involving shapes of
triangle, squares and circles) in either 2 or 3
dimensions.
They are used as an aid in
meditation and in tantric worship practices. In most yantras for meditation, the
stages of progression from material or gross to subtle are clearly marked. Closed, concentric circuits (mandalas) of
various geometric shapes correspond to the planes of consciousness of the sadhaka. Each enclosure is an ascent of one’s being, a way
station, toward the innermost, the Absolute Unity.
The Sri Yantra is composed of
interpenetrating triangles, symbolizing the unity of Siva and Sakti.. The four upward pointing triangles emanate from the
Siva Principle and denote the individual soul and its vital energies. The five
downward pointing triangles represent the Sakti principle and from them arise
the five material elements (Pancha Bhootas, earth, water, fire, air
and space). All the vowels and consonants in Sanskrit are inscribed in the
vertices of the Sri Yantra. The Sri Yantra also has nine circuits (avaranas). In each
of the enclosures specific deities are invoked, each circuit being considered
as a cosmological form which supports devata-clusters, or groups of goddesses.
The deity-clusters are like veils concealing the yantra’s innermost essence.
After the sadhaka has invoked all the devatas in the
prescribed manner for meditation, he reaches a level of consciousness in which
all the devata-circles are fused to become the presiding deity at the center of
the yantra. Gradually, this central
deity itself disappears and merges into the center of spiritual consciousness,
the Bindu (the focal point or center) of the yantra and the highest psychic
center between the adept’s eyebrows.
A spiritual journey is taken
as a pilgrimage in which every step is an ascent to the center, a movement
beyond one’s limited existence. Traditionally such a journey is mapped in nine
stages, and each of these stages corresponds with one of the nine circuits of
which the yantra is composed. Starting from the outer square and moving
inwards, the nine rings bear specific names, related to their characteristics.
(1) The first Avaranam
is Bhoopuram and the Chakram is Trailokyamohana
chakra ‘enchants the three worlds’;The
yogini is Prakata, the mental state of the aspirant
is Jagrata, Chakra Iswari
is Tripura and the Saktis are 28 that include the ten
starting with Anima, the eight starting with Brahmya
and the the ten Mudra Saktis. [ANANDA BHAIRAVI: Kamalamba
Samrakshatu]
(2) The second Avaranam is Shodasa Dalam, and the Chakram is Sarvasaparipuraka
chakra, ‘fulfills all expectations’; The yogini is Gupta Yogini. The mental
state is Swapna, the Chakra Iswari is Tripurasi and the Saktis are the
sixteen starting with Kamakarshini. [KALYANI: Kamalambam Bhajare]
(3) The third Avaranam is Ashtha Dalam; The Chakram is Sarvasamkshobana
chakra, ‘agitates all’; the Yogini is Gupta Tara Yogini. The mental state is Sushupti, the Chakra Iswari is
Tripura Sundari and the Saktis
are the eight starting with Ananga Kusuma. [SHANKARABHARANAM: Shree Kamalaambikayaa
Kataakshitoham]
(4) The fourth Avaranam is Chaturdasaram; the
Chakram is Sarvasaubhagyadayaka chakra, ‘grants excellence’;
the Yogini is Sampradaya Yogini. The mental state is Iswara
Vicharam, Chakra Iswari is
Tripura Vasini and the Saktis
are the fourteen starting with Samkshobhini. [KAMBODHI:
Kamalaambikaayai Kanakamshukaayai]
(5) The fifth Avaranam is Bahirdasaram; the
Chakram is Sarvarthasadhakachakra, is the ‘accomplisher
of all’; the Yogini is Kulotteerna yogini. The mental
state is Guroopa Sadanam;
the Chakra Iswari is Tripura Sri and the Saktis are the ten starting with Sarva
Siddhi Prada. [BHAIRAVI: Shree Kamalaambikaayaah
Param Nahire]
(6) The sixth Avaranam is Antardasaram; the
Chakram is Sarvaraksakara chakra, ‘protects all’; the
Yogini is Nigarbha Yogini. The mental state is Upadesam; the Chakra Iswari is
Tripura Malini and the Saktis are the ten starting
with Sarvagnya. [PUNNAGAVARALI: Kamalaambikaayaastava Bhaktoham]
(7) The Seventh Avaranam is Asthakonam; the
Chakram is Sarvarogahara chakra, ‘cures all ills’;
the Yogini is Rahasya Yogini. The mental state is Mananam; the chakra Iswari is
Tripura Siddhaa and the Saktis
are the eight, starting with Vashini. [SAHANA: Shree
Kamalaambikaayaam Bhaktim Karomi]
(8) The eighth Avaranam is Trikonam; the Chakram
is Sarvasiddhiprada chakra, ‘grants all perfection’;
the Yogini is Ati Rahasya
Yogini. The mental state is Nitidhyasanam; the Chakra
Iswari is Tripuramba and
the Saktis are the three starting with Kameshwari. [GHANTA: Shree Kamalaambike
Avaava]
(9) The ninth Avaranam is the Bindu and the highest Chakram is Sarvanandamaya chakra , ‘replete with bliss’. The mental
state is Savikalpa Samadhi; the Chakra Iswari is Maha Tripura Sundari and the Shakti is Maha
Tripura Sundai, the very personification of Para Brahman. [AHIRI:
Shree Kamalaambaa Jayati]
At the periphery of the Sri
Yantra, the square, the adept contemplates his own passions such as anger,
fear, lust, etc., to overcome or conquer them. The eight psychological
tendencies that are considered obstacles of the mind are also invoked, as eight
Matrika Saktis, in the
second line of the outer periphery. Either they flank the four ‘doors’ of the
yantra or they are invoked in the square band (bhupura).
Generally they are what we experience of the world
through sense-activity and the cravings of our egotism.
Note on Sri Kamalamba Nava Avarana Kritis
A spiritual aspirant needs to
seek a guru and be initiated into the esoteric practice of Sri Vidya Upasana.
The practice itself requires strict adherence to lists of Do’s and Don’t’s. Most people would find that the task of finding
the guru and the rigors of the pracice are difficult.
Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar
was a great Devi Upasaka and was well versed in all
aspects of Sri Vidya Upasana. Out of his devotion to Sri Kamalamba,
(one of the 64 Sakti Peethams in India), the
celebrated deity at the famous Tyagaraja Temple in Tiruvarur and his compassion for all bhaktas, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar composed the
the Kamalamba Nava Avarana kritis, expounding in
each of the nine kritis, the details of the each avarana of the Sri Chakra, including the devatas and the
yoginis. Singing these kritis with devotion, sraddha
and understanding would be the easy way to Sri Vidya Upasana for most people.
The set also includes a dhyana
kriti, a mangala kriti and traditionally sung on the nine days of Navaratri.
One starts with the Ganasa kriti
followed by the guru kriti (to Sri BalaSubrahmanya) and continues with the dhyana and each of
the avarana kritis. The
rendering concludes with the mangalam kriti.