CHANDIKA PARAMESHWARI MURTHI RAHASYA

[K.N.RAMESH]

Courtesy: Sri.Venkata Sriram

 

Dear All,
 
This being the period of Navaratri, i thought of presenting a small article on the
swarupa of the Chandika Devi that presides over "Devi Mahatmya" of Markandeya Purana which is chanted by most of the devi worshippers during Navaratri Festival. 
 
Shri Kavyakanta Ganapati Muni and Shri Kapala Sastry have wonderfully interpreted the episode of slaying of Madhu/ Kaitabha, Mahishasura, Dhumralochana, Chanda / Mundra, Rakthabija, Shumbha / Nishumbha from tantric view. 
 
Shri Bhaskarananda Saraswati, hailing from the lineage of Shri Vasudevananda Saraswati (Tembe Swamigal who authored Guru Charitra in Sanskrit) wrote beautiful commentary on Devi Mahatmya whose manuscripts i possess which is pregnant with Advaita Siddhanta. 
This i would present when i get free time. 
 
CHANDIKA PARAMESHWARI MURTHI RAHASYA
 
The Devi Mahatmyam or Sri Chandi Sapthasathi, which forms the core text in
Markandeya Purana which is revered by most of the Shaktas or Worshippers of
Divine Mother as Durga. Essentially Sri Chandi reflects on 3 cycles.  It represents the evolution of spiritual aspirant towards the self realization, an internal struggle for the communion with his Soul, the Mother Divine. During this process of perfection, he encounters several barriers and bottlenecks in the form of his Vasanas (mental tendencies) that come his way and make the path obscure and quite difficult. Falling prey to these pleasures, he gets snared and entangled in the phenomenal and mundane existence. He gets tired, dejected and depressed. And during this hard times, that Mother comes in the form of Guru and imparts the supreme knowledge and makes him aware of his divine self, and infuses him with revitalized energy, stays beside him in his hardships, holds his hand in the tortuous, thorny path and makes him realize his true Self which is non-different from Her.
 
The three charitas of this Chandi Sapthasathi represent the gross, subtle, causal bodies or the physical, mental and psychic bodies of the individual aspirant who accompany him till he reaches the supreme goal. The Chandika Parameshwari, who is non different from Supreme Brahman, is also the Maha Maya / Adya Sakti/ Agni / Vaak that manifests itself in 3 forms as 3 Vyahritis. They are Bhu, Bhuvah and Suvah which represent Prathama, Madhyama and Uttama Charitras respectively. Agni, Vaayu and Surya are the deities that
represent these 3 cycles. The Chandi Sapthasathi, otherwise called “The Battle of Life” is a chronicle of the battles fought between the Devi and the Divine Forces on one side and Asuric, Anti-Divine Forces on the other. It is a great sadhana shastra. Chandi denotes the sovereign queen of the supreme Brahman. The word is derived from the root ‘ChaD’ means anger, which actually denote a sense of extra-ordinary quality not limited by any standard or measure; “whom even the Gods fear when he gets angry in battles”, “through the fear of him the wind blows, the sun rises, Indra, Agni, Death hasten their courses”. So, the
command of this Sovereign Queen instills fear in all the Gods and makes them
perform their respective duties. It is in this sense that the root ‘Cad’ is used. Hence, the sruti says “Mahat Bhayam Vajramudyatam..”. Here “Vajra” denotes Brahma.
 
The word “Sapthasati” denotes the parable of 7 satis or matrikas. The Prathama
Charitra extols 1) Kali 2) Tara 3) Chinnamasta 4) Sumukhi 5) Bhuvaneshwari 6)
Bala 7) Kubja respectively. The Madhyama Charitra extols 1) Lakshmi 2) Lalitha
3) Kali 4) Durga 5) Gayatri 6) Arundhati 7) Saraswati respectively. The Uttama
Charitra extols 1) Brahmi 2) Maheshwari 3) Kaumari 4) Vaishnavi 5) Varahi 6)
Mahendri 7) Chamunda respectively. If we take these 21 devi as a whole in samasti rupa, 1) Nanda 2) Satakshi 3) Sakambari 4) Bhima 5) Rakthadantika 6) Durga 7) Brahamari Devis are euologized respectively.  These 7 samasti devis are called Saptha-Sathis.
 
THE MURTHI RAHASYA OF CHANDI
 
MULAPRAKRITI / CHANDI
 
This Chandi is the Mula Prakriti having 4 hands with weapons 1) Matulinga
fruit (a kind of sweet lime with seeds inside) 2) Gada (Mace) 3) Khetaka
(shield) 4) Pana / Madhu Patra. She wear a crown having Naga, Linga and Yoni
over it. Matulinga denotes that she is karma phala pradatri, Gada denotes her
Kriya rupa Vikshepa Sakti, Khetaka denotes Jnana sakti and Pana Patra denotes
her Turiya Vritti. She is also called “Maha Lakshmi” (not the 18-handed
Mahalakshmi of Madhyama Charita). Linga is Purusha, Yoni is Prakrit and Naga
denotes the Time (Kala). This implies that she is beyond Prakrit, Purusha and
Time. She is the Parasakti that transcends the 3 dimensions. This is the
Avyakta Swarupa of Brahma which is without any Nama, Rupa. This Chandi is the
Upaasya Devata of the entire Sapthasathi. This is the Samasti Rupa of Mahakali
of Prathama Charita, Mahalakshmi of Madhyama Charita and Mahasaraswathi of
Uttama Charita.
 
The Dhyana sloka for this Mula Prakriti / Chandi is :
 
“Sarvaadhyaam Agunaam Alakshya Vapusham Vyaapyakhilam Samsthithaam
Lakshyaam Cha Trigunaatmikaam Kanakaabham Hemaadibhushaanvitaam
Bijapura Gade Cha Khetaka Suraapaatre Karaih Bhibhratim
Yonim Lingamahim cha murdhni dadhatim Chandim Bhaje Chinamayeem”
 
The above dhyana sloka exactly fits the murthi dhyana of Mahalakshmi of
Kolhapur at Maharashtra.  Kolhapur Mahalakshmi in Her 4 hands holds Matulinga, Gada, Khetaka & Pana Patra and on her crown holds Naga, Linga & Yoni.
 
MAHAKALI
 
When, this Avyakta Brahma rupa Mahalakshmi which is Triguna (of three qualities in saamya avastha) decides to become many ie, “Bahusyaam Prajayeya..”, then comes her Tamo Guna Pradhana form of Maha Kali with 4 arms. She has 4 arms holding 1) Khadga (sword) 2) Pana Patra 3) Severed Head 4) Shield. The dhyana sloka is “Sa bhinnanjana sankaasa damstramkita varaanana, vishala lochana naari babhuva tanumandhyama, khadga paatra sirah khetaih alamkrita chaturbhuja, kabandhahaaram sirasa bhibhrana hi sirah srajam”. 
 
This 4-armed Mahakali is the Source of the 10-armed Mahakali which is the presiding deity of prathama charitra (1st episode).  It is this 10-armed Kali that kills the demons Madhu & Kaitabha.  It is this 10-armed Kali whom the Brahma extolls as Yoganidra and Mahamaya.
 
From the tantric view point, the hands of the devatas denote their respective functions that philosphically represent their functional aspects. The functions of the 10-handed Mahakali (Presiding Deity of Prathama Charitra) as described in the *Pradhanika Rahasya* of Chandi Sapthasathi:
 
1) To delude the devatas 2) To help Mahakala at the time of Pralaya 3) To Dissolve Brahma at the time of Mahapralaya 4) To create Hunger 5) To create Thirst 6) To create Sleep 7) To create Desire 8) To perform Dushta Sikshana 9) To make the Mahavishnu sleep at the time of Mahapralaya before the start of new creation 10) Not letting the devatas to know Her *True Nature* and hence duratyayA.

MAHASARASWATHI
 
Now, from the above mentioned 4-armed Mahalakshmi, with Sattva Guna Pradhana,
4-armed Mahasaraswathi came forth. She holds 1) Aksha Mala 2) Ankusa 3) Vina 4)
Pushtaka in her 4 arms. The dhyana sloka is “Akshamaala Amkusa Dhara Vina
Pushtakadharini….”. This 4-armed Sattva Guna Pradhana Mahasaraswathi is the source of origin the 8-handed Mahasaraswathi which is presiding deity for the Uttama Charita.
 
It is to be noted that the devata "Kausiki" mentioned in 5th chapter of Uttama
Charita that emanated from Gauri / Parvati is non-different from 8-handed Mahasaraswati which presides over the Uttama Charita.  This Kausiki is also called "Kalika". From this “Kalika” shakti, “Kali” shakti originated.  This “Kali” in 7th chapter, kills the two demons Chanda and Munda.   Chanda & Mundra denote mulAvidya & tUlAidya that are annihilated by chamunda.  Many scholars have interpreted Chanda & Munda differently as per their own sampradaya.
 
So, Mahakali, Kalika and Kali all three are different aspects. Mahakali is the
presiding deity of Prathama charita; Kalika is the Kausiki Devi that manifested
from Parvathi and Kali, which gets manifested from the anger of Kausiki (Kalika)
does the chanda-munda samhara.
 
The functions of the 8-handed Mahasaraswathi (Presiding Deity of Uttama
Charitra) As per the Tantra, there are 8 bondages / chains which bind the soul.
 
These 8 bondages arise from Asmita (I-ness) and Mamakara (Possessiveness). These
bondages are 1) Ghrina (Hate) 2) Lajja (Shame) 3) Bhaya (Fear) 4) Shankaa
(Doubt) 5) Jugupsaa (Reproach) 6) Kula Abhimana (Caste) 7) Jaati (Creed) 8)
Sheela (Modesty).
 
Any consciousness which is bound by these 8 bondages is called
Jiva and the Consciousness that is free from all these chains is called Sadasiva
(Universal consciousness). The Chapter 8 of Sapthasathi describes allegorically
these 8 types of bondages. They are given below: 1) Hatred is depicted by Asura Udayudha 2) Shame is depicted by Asura Kambu 3) Fear is depicted by Asura Kotivirya 4) Doubt is depicted by Asura Dhaumra 5) Reproach is depicted by Kalaka 6) Caste is depicted by Asura Dauhadri 7) Creed is depicted by the Asura Kalkeya 8) Modesty is depicted by the Asura Maurya.
 
These 8 types of demons are under the control of Shumbha and Nishumbha that
are Asmitha (I-ness) and Mamakara (Possessiveness).
 
Mahasaraswathi severs these 8 pasas / bondages with the help of her 8 aspects
of Vidya Vrittis of Ashta (8) Matrikas and grants the swa-swarupa jnana. She
manifests these 8 vidya vrittis, each vidya vritti severing each of the Pasa /
bondage.
 
Thus, Her 8 hands and the weapons she holds are meant to sever the 8 bondages. Her 8 vidya murtis or 8 matrikas are: 1) Brahmi 2) Maheshwari 3) Kaumari 4) Vaishnavi 5) Varahi 6) Narasimhi 7) Indrani 8) Chamunda
 
Unless, these 8 bonds are severed, the sense of I-ness and My-ness that are
Shumbha and Nishumbha (these qualities are the two sides of same coin and hence
they are brothers) would be conquered, which is a barrier to become Siva Swarupa.
 
MAHALAKSHMI
 
Now, it is to be noted that this 4-armed Mahalakshmi herself with her own Rajo
Guna remains as Mahalakshmi. The 18-handed Mahalakshmi of Madhyama Charita which
is the Rajo Guna Swarupa contains in her both the aspects of Tamogunaatmika
Mahakali of 10 hands and Sattvagunaatmika Mahasaraswathi of 8 hands.
 
The Functions of 18-handed Mahalakshmi (Presiding Deity of Madhyama Charitra)
 
The 18 hands of the Mahalakshmi denotes that She presides over these 18 chitta vrittis ie.,  1) Buddhi 2) Nidra 3) Kshudha 4) Chaaya 5) Sakthi 6) Trishna 7) Kshanti 8) Jaati 9) Lajja 10) Shanti 11) Sraddha 12) Kaanti 13) Lakshmi 14) Vritti 15) Smriti 16) Daya 17) Tushti 18) Bhranti respectively..
 
These 18 manifestations are the 18 chitta vrittis of the Jiva. The detailed reference of these manifestations are reflected in 5th chapter of Uttama Charita. 
 
These also form the avarana devatas in the ShaTkoNa ChanDi Yantra and are duly worshipped as a part of chanDi navAvaraNa archana.

Wishing you a happy & blissful navaratri....