Elements of Kaśmir Śaivism mentioned in ‘Amaraugha-śāsana’ of Gorakṣanāth

Right at the beginning of the text “Amaraugha-śāsanaGorakṣanāth describes various processes, connected with different types of Śakti. The highest ultimate space (parama-sukha) could be acquired via ūrdhva-śaktinipātāna (descent of the upper Śakti), adhaḥ-śaktikuñcanā (folding of the lower Śakti) and madhya-śaktiprabodhena (awakening of the middle Śakti). Further, Gorakṣanāth tells about a practice named ṣaḍadhvagā-sāraṇā (unfolding of six flows), these ṣaḍadhvagās are also described in Trika texts. I’ll briefly explain what that practice is about. Bindu and a tendency to create are manifested through tension of nāda, which is generated by Śiva, playing with Śakti. Then Śiva manifests himself in the forms of vācaka (he who manifests speech) and vācya (what is manifesting), which are designated as arthas (objects). Such self-manifestation of Śiva has three levels: para (supreme), sūkṣma (subtle) and sthūla (gross), each of whom are divided in two, the one where vācaka (subject) prevails and the other, where vācya (objectivity) prevails. On the para level the subject is vārṇa (mātrikas) and the object is kalā (aspects of creation). On the whole, different mātrikas cover certain kalāsvārṇa क्ष corresponds to nivṛtti-kalāvārṇas ह to ट correspond to pratiṣṭhā-kalāvārṇas ञ to घ correspond to vidyā-kalāvārṇas ग ख and क are located in śāntā-kalāvārṇas from visarga to अ are located in śāntyatīta-kalā. Further, mantras and their manifestations as 36 tattvas are located on the sūkṣma level. Pada (word-forms) and manifested worlds of bhuvan are located on the sthūla level. A considerable amount of different mantras, padas and worlds are described in texts. All in all these elements have a match for each other, Śiva manifests them as Macrocosm, whereas they are presented in us as a microcosmic structures. A practice, where these elements are used, is given in “Vijñānabhairava-tantra”:

भुवनाध्वादिरूपेण चिन्तयेत्क्रमशोऽखिलम्।
स्थूलसूक्ष्मपरस्थित्या यावद् अन्ते मनोलयः॥ ५६॥

bhuvanādhvādirūpeṇa cintayetkramaśo’khilam |
sthūlasūkṣmaparasthityā yāvad ante manolayaḥ || 56 ||

It is necessary to contemplate dissolution from bhuvan etc. to all adhvas, from the gross level (sthūla) to the subtle (sūkṣma), and further, to the supreme level (para) and to achieve the dissolution of the mind in the end.

Comments are closed.