Gorakhnath and the Kanphata Yogis c19.104

c19.104

The circle, or lotus, of the heart is called anāhata, hṛdasthāna.⁵ Its name suggests the sabdha brahma (sound) which is heard, produced without striking two things together. It is the seat of the prāṇa, and the puruṣa or jīvātman, and includes, according to the *Upaniṣads*, both heart and lungs. Its element is air. The lotus consists of twelve petals of a golden colour, upon which are the letters, कं, खं, गं, घं, ङं, चं, छं, जं, झं, जं, टं, ठं (k, kh, g, gh, c, ch, j, jh, ñ, ṭ, ṭh, each with its bindu, and all painted red). The circle is bright-red in colour; within this is a double triangle, smoke-coloured, in the centre of which is a golden triangle containing a liṅga, bright like shining gold, with a white crescent in its head, above which is a bindu. The bīja-mantra of this cakra is यं (y, yaṃ), black, resting on an antelope. Above the double triangle, but within the circle sits Īśvara with hands in gesture for granting boons and dispelling fear. The god is three-eyed. With him is associated Kākinī Śakti with two hands as Īśvara, her other two containing a noose and a skull. She is yellow in appearance, happy (that is, in excited mood), auspicious, three-eyed, benefactress. Her heart is softened from drinking the nectar. She sits on a red lotus and wears the skin of a black antelope. This lotus is the seat of desires, of the *saṃskāras* or records of deeds, and of the egoizing faculty. It contains also the celestial wishing-tree bestowing more than the suppliant desires. (But below the *anāhata* is a small eight-petalled, red lotus containing the wishing-tree, considered also as the seat of the *iṣṭha devatā* wandering among trees laden with fruit, flowers, and birds. It is called the *ānandakanda*.)¹ When the *manas* is completely restrained or fixed in the heart, the Yogī attains consciousness of identity with Śiva.