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The highest sadhaka who recites a mantra whilst holding the rosary of
human skullbone holds in his hand the eight siddhis, and is like the
imperishable Shambhu. As the Ganges is situated at the top of one's
head, what need is there to bathe in the (external) Ganges? Whosoever is
devoted to the great rosary of human skullbone gains the merit of
bathing in all sacred waters such as Varanasi, Kamarupa, Haridvara,
Prayaga, River Gandaki, Vadarika and the Ganges Delta -
Matrikabhedatantra IV, 27-29
The male spouse of Mahakali is the outwardly frightening Mahakala (Great
Time), whose meditation image (dhyana), mantra, yantra and meditation
image is given in the Shaktisamgama Tantra.
According to this work, the mantra of Mahakala is Hum Hum Mahakala
praside praside Hrim Hrim Svaha. The seer of the mantra is Kalika, it is
pronounced in the Virat meter, the bija of the mantra is Hum, the shakti
is Hrim and the linchpin is Svaha.
Mahakala has four arms and three eyes, and is of the brilliance of
10,000,000 black fires of dissolution, dwells in the midst of eight
cremation grounds, is adorned with eight skulls, seated on five corpses,
holding a trident, a damaru, a sword and a kharpa in his hands.
With a beautiful body adorned with ashes from the cremation ground, on
various corpses he dallies with Kalika, fondling her and making love
with her and fiercely kissing her, surrounded by numbers of loudly
shrieking vultures and jackals, adorned with a heap of braided hair, in
a deserted place.
Kalika is of the form of the void, ornamented with skulls, with a sweet
and charming face, in the midst of that five-fold love-yantra. Her yoni
is the wheel of time (kalachakra), the tantra states.
Then follow various meditations that his devotees can perform.
"Meditate on Ganapati in the Muladhara, in the linga on Ganapati's
beloved one, in the navel Vatuka Natha, in the heart on Vatuka Natha's
beloved one, in the throat Oddiyana Pitha, in the brow the auspicious
blazing one, in the forehead Karavira, and in the lock of hair
Kshetrapala."
[Kshetrapala is lord or protector of the place. According to the
Tantraraja Tantra, Shiva bestowed a boon on him which made him
unconquerable in the three worlds. The only way the gods could subdue
him was by 64 of them sitting on him at once.]
"Meditate on Devi Kalika in the trikona, in the six petals the six
limbs, in the navel the Shaktis of the directions, in the heart the
twelve suns, in the throat the sixteen kalas of the moon, in the
two-petalled lotus Kala and Kali together.
"On the head Kalika, the mother holding dominion over the void; in the
forehead the Khecari; on the brow the Dikcari; in the heart the Gocari;
in the navel the Bhucari; in the linga the Khaga; and in the Muladhara
Vicitra "
[These are various classes of Shakti, some of which help the sadhaka
towards his goal and some of which throw up obstacles.]
"In the forehead the sun, in the right eye the lord of time, in the left
eye the lord of fire, in the throat Kalika, in the heart the demon-born,
in the navel the demon Siddhas.
"Meditate in the head on Brahmi with Manthana-Bhairava; in the forehead
Maheshvari with Satcakra-Bhairava; in the throat Kaumari with Phatkara
Bhairava; in the heart Vaishnavi with Vibhaksha Bhairava; in the navel
Varahi with Viresha Bhairava; in the genitals Indrani with
Shrimanteshvara Bhairava; in the Muladhara Camunda with Hamsa Garbha
Bhairava; in all the limbs Mahalakshmi with Candikeshvara Bhairava."
[These are the eight Siddha Devis, together with the eight Bhairavas, or
Terrible Ones.]
Hymn to Mahakala Shani Mrityunjaya
There is a remarkable hymn attributed to the Martandabhairava Tantra
which identifies Mahakala with Shani, or the planet Saturn, as well as
with Mrityunjaya, or Shiva as conqueror of death. According to various
sources, in the past there were five schools of tantra: the Shakta,
which worshipped Devi; the Shaiva, which worshipped Shiva; the
Ganapatya, which worshipped the elephant-god Ganesh; the Vaishnava,
which worshipped Vishnu in his various forms; and the Saura. While the
Saura were nominally worshippers of the Sun, in practice, they
worshipped the son of the Sun, Shani. Here we translate the hymn to
Mahakala Shani Mrityunjaya into English:
Shambhu Mahakala Shani, his body of sapphire hue, beautiful, celestial,
resembling the cremation fire, holding axe, trident, arrow and a bow,
enemy of the Puras and the conqueror of all other demons, sitting on the
Meru mountain peak, in a state of samarasa, was bowed to by Gauri, and
questioned.
Parvati said: Holy god of all gods, cause of devotion and grace, tell me
what lengthens life, you have not talked of this before. Tell me about
your mighty form which promotes friendship in the worlds. Tell me about
your special Mahakala form. Relate the hymn of praise to Shani
Mrityunjaya, who gives freedom from time, bestows immortality, destroys
untimely disease and give the Shani mantra particular to this hymn!
Ishvara said: Gauri, I always love you because you love the universe!
This is the highest secret of all secrets, heavenly, the cause of
creation in the universe. I am going to tell you the hymn of Shani
Mrityunjaya. It gives good luck, kills all enemies, cures all disease,
saves from accidental death, and promotes good health and longevity.
Gauri, if you love me, hide this carefully! Maheshvari, listen to that
which is hidden in all tantras!
Pippalada is the seer (rishi) of this mantra-song of Shri Mahakala Shani
Mrityunjaya. Anustubh is the metre. Mahakala Shani is the god. Sham is
the seed, ayasi is the Shakti, kalapurusa is the kilaka. When reciting
it, its result is freedom from untimely death.
Do rishi nyasa, hand nyasa and body nyasa. Place Maha Ugra on the head,
Yaivasvata on the mouth, Shani on the mouth, and Mahagraha on the arms.
Place Mahakala in the heart, Krisnatanu in the genitals, Tuducara on the
knees, and Shanaiscara on the feet.
After doing nyasa according to rule, the body becomes like Shani, the
lord of time. Now I will tell you of the meditation nyasa for the body,
which a person should do after meditating.
Put the kalpa and its divisions in the hands and limbs. [These are the
major divisions of time according to the Hindu viewpoint]
Say: "Hail to you Mrityunjaya! You are Mahakala's real form and the form
of all manvantaras!" Place Kalatma on the body.
Say: "Hail Mahakala!" and meditate on all the limbs.
Meditate on the source of years, saying "Hail to you, conqueror of
time."
Say: "Hail to you, served by eternity!" on the eyes and brow.
Say: "Hail to you Saura," on the cheeks.
Say: "Hail to you, black looking one!" on the hair.
Say: "Hail to you, lucky Maha Ugra," on the arms.
[Now follow the 27 naksatras or lunar constellations]
Say: "Hail to you, one hard to see," putting Asvina on the mouth.
Say: "Hail to you, blue rayed one," putting Kartika on the throat.
Say: "Hail to you, Maharudra," putting Margasiras on the arms.
Say: "Hail to you, celestial, strong and unconquerable one," putting
Pausya on the heart.
Say: "Hail to you, revealer of time," putting Magha on the belly.
Say: "Hail to you, slow mover," putting Phalguna on the penis.
Say: "Hail to you, source of all," putting Caitra on the thighs.
Say: "Hail to you, dissolver of the world," putting Vaisakha on the
knees.
Say: "Hail to you, Bhairava," putting Jyesta on the legs.
Say: "Hail to you, night," putting Asadh on the feet.
Say: "Hail to you, dark fortnight," from the feet to the head.
Say: "Hail to you, bright fortnight," from the top of the head to the
feet.
Say: "Hail to you, Saturn, Mula, soles of feet.
Say: "Hail to you, Conquerer of all, Toya all the toes.
Say: "Hail to you, Scorching star, Visva, ankles.
Say: "Hail to you, Star of learning, Visnabha, legs.
Say: "Hail to you, Black rayed one, Dhanista, knees.
Say: "Hail to you, Support of time, Varuna, thighs.
Say: "Hail to you, Having dishevelled and matted locks, Purvabhadra,
penis.
Say: "Hail to you, Formidable one, Uttarabhadra, back.
Say: "Hail to you, Slow mover, Revati, navel.
Say: "Hail to you, Dark planet, Hasta, belly.
Say: "Hail to you, Yama, Bhogisraja, breasts.
Say: "Hail to you, Liking sesame, Krittika, heart.
Say: "Hail to you, Axe bearer, Rohini, right hand.
[Now follow the 12 Suns]
Say: "Hail to you, Carrying trident happily, Mrga, left hand.
Say: "Hail to you, Supporting life, Raudra, upper right hand.
Say: "Hail to you, Holding bow, Punarvasu, upper left hand.
Say: "Hail to you, Destroyer, Tisya, right arm.
Say: "Hail to you, Terrifying archer, Sarpa, left arm.
Say: "Hail to you, Smeared in ash, Magha, throat.
Say: "Hail to you, Cruel planet, Bhaga, mouth.
Say: "Hail to you, Yogi, Yama, right nostril.
Say: "Hail to you, Support, Hasta, left nostril.
Say: "Hail to you, Eating little, Tvastra, right ear.
Say: "Hail to you, Made of the absolute, Svati, left ear.
Say: "Hail to you, Knower of things, Visakha, right eye.
[Now different yogas of Hindu astrology follow.]
Say: "Hail to you, Kala, Viskambha, joints of timple.
Say: "Hail to you, Great slow one, Pritiyoga, brow joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Awesome one, Ayusmanyoga, eye joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Giving slow results, Saubhagya, nose joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Lucky being, ?obhana, ear joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Black one, Hanu (?), jaw joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Skeleton, Sukarmana, neck.
Say: "Hail to you, Shadowy son, Dhriti, right shoulder joint.
Say: "Hail to you, Ugra, Shula, shoulder joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Eternally gladdening, Karpura, chest.
Say: "Hail to you, Knowing time, Vrddhi, middle of chest.
Say: "Hail to you, Krishna, Dhruva, wrist joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Skinny one, Vyaghata, back of shoulder.
Say: "Hail to you, Destroying things, Harsana, shoulder joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Blissful, Vajra, elbows.
Say: "Hail to you, Fire of time, Siddhi, centre of chest (?).
Say: "Hail to you, Self of time, Variyasa, right side joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Hail and hail to you, Parigha, left side joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Self evident time, Shiva, right thigh joints.
Say: "Hail to you, One of great mass, Siddhi, right knee joint.
Say: "Hail to you, Terrifying, Sadhya, right ankle joint.
Say: "Hail to you, Raudra, Shubha, right toe joints.
Say: "Hail to you, Knower of time, Shukla, left thigh joint.
Say: "Hail to you, True yogi, Brahmayoga, left knee joint.
Say: "Hail to you, Knower of yoga, Aindra, left ankle joint.
Say: "Hail to you, Gracious one, Vaidhrita, left toe joints.
[Now the seven dhatus or components of the human body according to
Ayurveda, follow.]
Say: "Hail to you, Sacrificer, Vavakarana, skin.
Say: "Hail to you, Destroyer, Balava, blood.
Say: "Hail to you, All consumer, Kaulava, bone.
Say: "Hail to you, Lover of flesh, Taitila, flesh.
Say: "Hail to you, All-chewer, Gara, fat.
Say: "Hail to you, Killer of all, Vanija, marrow.
Say: "Hail to you, Wrathful terrible fire, Visti, semen.
Hail to the lord of space, the essence of space, invoked by many, the
100-fold one, the piercer of the Moon!
Hail to the faithful one, the true one, the eternally true one, hail to
you lord of siddhas! Hail to you lord of yoga, naked flame, mover,
origin of Varuna and time!
Hail to you rising in the ascendant, tall one, guide, moving in direct
motion!
Hail to you, crooked one, very cruel one, moving in retrograde motion!
Hail to you in the constellations, to you who moves in the
constellations, you who causes the constellations to tremble, you the
Natha of constellations, you the giver of results in constellations.
Hail to you!
Hail to you, time, supporter of Yama, Agni, Moon and Sun!
Hail to you, planet of Capricorn and Aquarius, exalted in Libra!
[Now the days of the week follow.]
Say: "Hail to you, Black looks, Sunday, forehead.
Say: "Hail to you, Lover of death, Monday, mouth.
Say: "Hail to you, Absolute one, Tuesday, belly.
Say: "Hail to you, Embodied self, Wednesday, penis.
Say: "Hail to you, True form of mantra, Thursday, testicles.
Say: "Hail to you, Cause of results, Friday, anus.
Say: "Hail to you, Skeleton, Saturday, feet.
[Now various divisions of time according to Hindu astrology, follow.]
Say: "Hail to you, Subtle one, ghatikas, in hairs.
Say: "Hail to you, Form of time, killer of all evil, destroyer of the
demon Tripura, origin of Shambhu!
Say: "Hail to you, Body of time, origin of time
Say: "Hail to you, varied parts of time, bliss of time.
Say: "Hail to you, Immeasurable measurer
Say: "Hail to you, god of time, time itself, essence of time.
Form of time, Bhairava, both nimesa and mahakalpa. I bow to you
Mrtyunjaya Mahakala Shani!
Cause of all, alleviator of all fear, peril and the wicked, I bow to
you...
Slayer of all, origin of all planets, cause of all results, I bow to
you...
Giver of peace and prosperity to all living beings, I bow to you...
Cause of all happiness and misery, true form of all that exists, I bow
to you...
Dispeller of untimely and accidental death, I bow to you...
Form of time, great planet, destroyer of samsara, I bow to you...
One of baleful glance, coarse haired one, terrifying one, long eyed one,
I bow to you...
Dispeller of all planets, essence of the planets themselves, I bow to
you...
Because you are the essence of time, I bow before you Shani! The whole
world and time itself dissolves in you, the god of time! You are the
body of time, the self, Shambhu, the Kalatma, the planetary devata! |
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