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Sketch of the Religious Sects of the Hindus c7.s2.t3: Sakti Sodhana

Sketch of the Religious Sects of the Hindus c7.s2.t3

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Sakti Sodhana

c7.s2.t3.1

The object of the ceremony should be either—

c7.s2.t3.2

नटीकपालिनीवेश्यारजकीनापिताङ्गना ।
ब्राह्मणीशूद्रकन्याचतथागोपालकन्यका ॥
मालाकारस्यकन्यापि नवकन्याप्रकीर्त्तिताः ।
एतासुकाचिदानीयपूजयेत्कौलिकः:

c7.s2.t3.3

“A dancing girl, a female devotee, a harlot, a washerwoman, or barber’s wife, a female of the Brahmanical or Sudra tribe, a flower girl, or a milk maid.” It is to be performed at midnight, with a party of eight, nine, or eleven couple, as the Bhairavas and Bhairavis.

c7.s2.t3.4

महानिशायामानीयनवकन्याश्चभैरवान् ।
एकादशनवाष्टौवाकौलिकःकौलिकेश्वरः ।
शोधयेच्चवभिमन्त्रैःपूजयेत्कौलिकोत्तमः ।

c7.s2.t3.5

Appropriate Mantras are to be used, according to the description of the person selected for the Sakti, who is then to be worshipped, according to prescribed form; she is placed disrobed, but richly ornamented—on the left of a circle (Chakra) described for the purpose, with various Mantras and gesticulations, and is to be rendered pure by the repetition of different formulas.

c7.s2.t3.6

तदीवंववमाखिखतस्मिन्तामेवपूजयेत्
श्रोचक्रस्थापयेदामेकन्यांभैरवलक्षमां ॥
मुक्तकेशांवीतलज्जां सर्व्वाभरणभूषितां ।
आनन्दलीनहृदयांसौन्दर्य्यातिमनोहरां ॥
शोधयेत्सुद्धिम वेषसुरानन्तामृताम्बुभिः ।

c7.s2.t3.7

Being finally sprinkled over with wine, the act being sanctified by the peculiar Mantra.

c7.s2.t3.8

मवेषानेनदेवेशिकामिनीमभिषिञ्चयेत्

c7.s2.t3.9

The Sakti is now purified, but if not previously initiated, she is to be further made an adept by the communication of the radical Mantra, whispered thrice in her ear, when the object of the ceremony is complete.

c7.s2.t3.10

which, indeed, it might be supposed they would observe on their own account, and, consequently, will not acknowledge their participation in such scenes. They will not, indeed, confess that they are of the *Sákta* sect, although their reserve in this respect is said, latterly, to be much relaxed. It is contrary, however, to all knowledge of the human character, to admit the possibility of these transactions in their fullest extent;

c7.s2.t3.11

एवं शोधनमवास्तेवर्णिताः पृथकमया ।
योनौ जपेत्कुमारीणां कौलिकः करमालया ॥
सञ्जप्यदक्षकर्णेच मुखमद्यं चिरुचरेत् ।
अदीक्षितापिदेवेविदीक्षितैवभवेत्तदा ॥
दीक्षितां शोधितोवीरोभवेत्सर्वार्थसिद्धये ।

c7.s2.t3.12

The finale is what might be anticipated, but accompanied throughout with *Mantras* and forms of meditation, suggesting notions very foreign to the scene.

c7.s2.t3.13

आनन्दतर्पितां कान्तां वीरः खानन्दविग्रहः ।
रतेनतर्पयेत्तञ्चश्रीचक्रेवीरसंसदि ॥
पठन्प्रणवमुद्धृत्यमद्य राजं कुलेश्वरि ।
धर्म्माधर्म्मञ्चवीर्येप्रिक्षात्माग्यौमनसाधुचा ॥
सुषुम्णा वर्त्मना नित्यमञ्चवृत्तीजुहोभ्यहं ।
स्वाहान्तं मद्यमुच्चार्य्यजपमूलं स्मरन्परं ॥
कुर्य्यान्मधुवनंमद्यं मद्यसिद्धि मवाप्नुयात् ।
रतान्तेसंजपेनमूलं पठेन्मद्यमिदंपुनः ॥
तारदयान्तरगतं परमानन्दकारणं ॥
ओां प्रकाशाकाशहस्ताभ्यामवलंब्योन्मनीसुधा ।
धर्म्माधर्म्मकलास्तेहपूर्णव वह्नौजुहोभ्यहं ।
स्वाहान्तेवायुमध्येण शडक्रमादायपार्व्वति ॥
श्रीचक्रेण्र्ययेविततः सिद्धि मवाप्नुयात् ।
सम्पूज्यकान्तां संतर्प्यस्तुत्वान्त्वापरस्परं ॥
संहार सुह्या मद्यशक्तिवीरान् विसर्जयेत् ।

c7.s2.t3.14

and, although the worship of the SAKTI, according to the above outline, may be sometimes performed, yet there can be little doubt of its being practised but seldom, and then in solitude and secrecy. In truth, few of the ceremonies, there is reason to believe, are ever observed; and, although the Chakra is said to be not uncommon, and by some of the zealous Saktas, it is scarcely concealed, it is usually nothing more than a convivial party, consisting of the members of a single family, or at which men only are assembled, and the company are glad to eat flesh and drink spirits,* under the pretence of a religious observance, In justice to the doctrines of the sect, it is to be observed, that these practices, if instituted merely for sensual gratification, are held to be as illicit and reprehensible, as in any other branch of the Hindu faith.†

c7.s2.t3.15

* The zeal that is prescribed might suit some more civilized associations--

c7.s2.t3.16

पीत्वापीत्वापुनःपीत्वायावत्पततिभूतले । उत्थायच पुनःपीत्वापुनर्जन्म न विद्यते

c7.s2.t3.17

Let him pledge the wine cup again and again, Till he measures his length on the ground. Let him rise and once more the goblet drain, And with freedom for aye, from a life of pain, Shall the glorious feat be crowned.

c7.s2.t3.18

† The Kularnava has the following and many similar passages: they occur constantly in other Tantras.

c7.s2.t3.19

वह्नव कौलिकधम्मं मिथ्याज्ञान विडम्बकाः । स्वबुद्धा कल्पयन्तीत्य पारम्पर्य्यविवर्जिताः ॥ मद्यपानेन मनुजा यदि सिद्धिभभणितत् । मद्यपानरताः सर्वेसिद्धिंयान्तिसमीहितां ॥ मांसभक्षणमात्रेणयदि पुण्यगतिर्भवेत् । लोकेमांसासिनः सर्वेपुरायवन्तोभवन्तिकिम् ॥ स्त्रीसम्भोगेनदेवेशि यदि मोक्षं व्रजन्तितत् । सर्वेपिजनतवलोके मुक्ताः स्यु स्त्रीनिषेवनात् ॥ कुलमार्गपुतोहेविनमयानिन्दितः क्वचित् । आचाररहितायचनिन्दितास्तेनचेतरे ॥

c7.s2.t3.20

The followers are considered as very numerous, especially amongst the Brahmanical tribe: all classes are however admissible, and are equal and alike at the ceremonies of the sect. In the world* they resume their characteristic distinctions, and wear the sectarial marks, and usually adopt the outward worship of any other division, whether orthodoxical or heretical. When they assume particular insignia, they are a semi-circular line or lines on the forehead, of red saunders or vermillion, or a red streak up the middle of the forehead, with a circular spot of red at the root of the nose. They use a rosary of *Rudráksha* seeds, or of coral beads, but of no greater length than may be concealed in the hand, or they keep it in a small purse, or a bag of red cloth. In worshipping, they wear a piece of red silk round the loins, and decorate themselves with garlands of crimson flowers.

c7.s2.t3.21

कुलद्रव्याभिषेकामेत्यन्यदर्शनमाश्रिताः । तदङ्गरोमप्रमाणं पुनर्जन्मभविष्यति ॥

c7.s2.t3.22

“Many false pretenders to knowledge, and who have not been duly initiated, pretend to practise the *Kaula* rites; but if perfection be obtained by drinking wine, independently of my commands, then every drunkard is a saint: if virtue consist in eating flesh, then every carnivorous animal in the world is virtuous: if eternal happiness be derived from sexual intercourse, then all beings will be entitled to it: a follower of the *Kula* doctrine is blameless in my sight; if he reproves those of other creeds who quit their established observances—those of other sects who use the articles of the *Kaula* worship, shall be condemned to repeated generations as numerous as the hairs of the body.”—In fact, the texts of *Menu* are taken as authorities for the penance to be performed for the crimes of touching, smelling, looking at, or tasting the forbidden articles, except upon religious occasions, and when they are consecrated by the appropriate texts.

c7.s2.t3.23

It is only to be added, that if the promulgators of these doctrines were sincere, which is far from impossible, they must have been filled with a strange phrenzy, and have been strangely ignorant of human nature.

c7.s2.t3.24

* प्रवृत्तेभैरवीतन्त्रेसर्वेवर्णा द्विजोत्तमाः । निवृत्तेभैरवीतन्त्रेसर्वेवर्णाः पृथक्पृथक् ॥

c7.s2.t3.25

“Whilst the *Bhairavi Tantra* is proceeding, all castes are *Brahmans*—when it is concluded, they are again distinct.”—*Syáma Rahasya*. According to Ward, such of them as avow their creed, leading at the same time a mendicant life, are termed *Vyaktávadhutas*, or they who are openly free from restraints: those who conceal their creed and observe its practices in privacy, are termed Guptavadhútas, the liberated in secret. II. 296.

Cites (3)