Kulananda Tantra

Siddhas and devatas become pleased with the colour red used in worship and given in knowledge – Kaulajnananirnaya XI, 35

Like the Akulavira Tantra, this text is also ascribed to Matsyendranath, described in the colophon as Matsyendra Pada. This tantra was also published in Bagchi’s original Kaulajnananirnaya of the School of Matsyendranath, but omitted from the edition published by Prachya Prakashan in 1986. Bagchi found the text in the Darbar Library, No.135 and says it is transcribed in Newari script.

This text is, however, briefer than the Akulavira at only 60 verses, with a few lacunae and omissions marked with asterisks ***. We suspect the worst here – that these are verses with sexual content and which Bagchi has chosen to leave out. The tantra follows a more familiar tantrik pattern, with information about the chakras, the granthis, and piercing the chakras. Opening with the salutation OM namo bhairavaaya, the first four verses describe a familiar scene on Kailasa mountain, where Devadeva, the world guru, is questioned by Uma Devi. However, she wants to know about practices and methods relating to the destruction of old age and death, of samarasa, and of techniques and results of the siddhas, many of which are described in the Kaulajnananirnaya. The text is given below in iTrans format.

In verses seven to 16, Bhairava describes the place of the supreme where a sadhaka should meditate, as well as the heart lotus and the granthis, or knots. Devi asks him about piercing (bheda) these, as he has not spoken of them before.

In reply, Bhairava (vv 18-23), begins by describing the Brahmasthana lotus, which he says has 64 petals, and follows with descriptions of other lotuses including the brow lotus between the two eyes, which appears, although the reading is unclear, to conquer time, as well as giving the ability to see and hear things going on at a distance.

In verse 24, Devi asks about removing wrinkles and decay. Bhairava says (vv 25-34) that while this knowledge is hard to get even for the gods, he will speak of it. A 32 petal lotus exists in the head, and there one should meditate on nectar, made up of the 16 kalas of the Moon, which one should cause to fall to the heart, and then towards the navel chakras. Meditating on the nectar as black in colour, it removes wrinkles and the like within the space of a month, he declares. Another method, he says, involves meditating on the place of 64 petals (described above), the place which is the abode of all the gods. Meditating here destroys the effect of poison, fever and disease. Another method, says Bhairava, seems to be a meditation on junction places, which appear to be situated in the head, the place of Urdhva Shakti, as bright as millions upon millions of fires.

The goddess asks, in verse 35, about methods called dhunanam and kampanam, practices which are often referred to in the Kaulajnananirnaya. Bhairava replies at some length on these and other topics (vv 36-54). These siddhis seem to be achieved by meditating on the Mahavaha Nadi, described as situated in the kuchelya, which may be the same as the bankhnala (see Gorakhbodh). There is a lacuna in the next verse which refers to the heart chakra and the Tivrachakra. Meditating here bestows dhunanam and kampanam siddhis. In verse 38, Bhairava speaks of khechara. Shakti has the appearance of a coiled serpent (kundalya). When she reaches the head, it produces khechara siddha. Bhairava then describes a process involving five svaras or syllables, which a sadhaka is to meditate on concentratedly. Another meditation on the vayus is described.

The state of samarasa is described towards the close of this brief text. Here one is to meditate on Devi as abhava, free of all distinctions. The methods outlined in the tantra, he concludes not only give the ability to see and hear at a distance, but allows yogis to enter other’s bodies. A translation of this text is on our to-do list.

kulaanandatantram.h
OM namo bhairavaaya
kailaasashikharaasiina.m devadeva jagadgurum.h .
paripR^ichChatyumaadevii ekaante GYaanamuttamam.h .. 1..
bhedanimuttamabheda.m yathaa dehavyavasthitam.h .
kathayasva puraabheda.m kulaanandeShu choottamam.h .. 2..
sthaanaantaravisheShaNa viGYaana.m kathayasva me .
sadyaH pratyakaaraka.m yathaa dehe vyavasthitam.h .. 3..
paashastobha~ncha bedhana~ncha dhuunana.m kampana.m tatha .
khechara.m samarasa~nchaiva baliipalitanaashanam.h ..
sarvva.m tattu sureshvara kathayasva mama prabho .. 4..
bhairava uvaacha
shR^iNu devi pravaxyaami purabheda.m samuttamam.h .
etat.h kaulika.m GYaana.m kulaanande chaaShTottamaH .. 5..
brahmasthaane yat.h kamala.m chatuHShaShThidalaanvitam.h .
tatraiva manasaa rodhya laxayeddiipashikhaan.h vratii .. 6..
pashyati sarvvadehe tu divyadR^iShTirvaraanane .
tena laxitamaatreNa jaayate siddhiruttamaa .. 7..
tasyopari naabhimnadavadaa ##[?]## vichaxaNe .
tathaa choparitiShThati devo bhairavo jagat.hprabhuH .. 8..
tasyaagre manasaaropya dR^iDhabhuutavichaxaNaaH .
jaayate dhvanibhirjaati.m tatra marudvisheShataH .. 9..
etad.h viGYaanamaatreNa aaveSha.m jurute dhruvam.h .
jaayate parama.m sthaana.m naatra kaaryyavichaaraNaat.h .. 10..
athaanya.m parama.m devi sadyaH pratyaakaarakam.h .
ta.m pravaxyaami he devi shR^iNuShvaayatalochane .. 11..
a~Ngulyadvitiya.m devi yat.h puurvva.m kathita.m mayaa .
tatraiva sthaapayedvitta.m kathita.m jaayate dhruvam.h .. 12..
atiitaanaagata~nchaiva varttamaana.m tathaiva cha .
tatraivot.hpaadayet.h sR^iShTi.m tivrajyotiHsamakR^itiH .. 13..
hR^idisa.msthakamala.m hitvaa muurdhni yaan.h prapuurayet.h .
paashastobha.m karotyeva.m yadi vishramate manaH .. 14..
athaanya.m para.m devi divyadR^iShTi pravarttate .
jvalajvaalanamadhyastha.m dvijagranthi niriixayet.h .. 15..
tatraiva manasaa rodhya chuulikaagrantu maanayet.h punaH .
sR^iShTi.m pravarttante devi naatra kaaryyavichaaraNaat.h .. 16..
devyuvaacha
tadbedha~ncha shuddhasaara~ncha hita.m mayaa na prakaashitam.h .
kathaysva visheShaNa yathaa jaanaami tat.hxaNaat.h .. 17..
bhairava uvaacha
shR^iNu devi pravaxyaami bedhasaara.m yathaakramam.h .
brahmasthaane##…##padma.m chatuHShaShTidalaanvitam.h .. 18..
tatraivot.hpaadayet.h sR^iShTiH daNDaakaaraagnitejasaa .
bhedayitvaa mahaagranthi.m dvichakra~ncha tathaiva cha .. 19..
muurdhni.m kamalasa.msthaana.m jvalanaakaara.m vichintayet.h .
chalanta.m bhraamayettena niyata.m tu mahitale .. 20..
bedhaye girivR^ixaaNi ki.m punaH xudrajantavaH .
athaanya.m parama.m devi viGYaana.m bhadraka.m shR^iNu .. 21..
bhruvoshchaxurmadhyastha.m cha kaalaavunaa ##[?] ….## vichintayet.h .
yaavadvishramate nitya.m bhramate chakravat.h shiraH .. 22..
duraashravaNaviGYaana.m bhuutadetasya ##[?]## chintayet.h .
vaamastrota.m tu yaavat.h tivratejasamaprabham.h .. 23..
devyuvaacha
baliipalitaxaya.m deva tvayaa khyaata.m mamaagrataH .
etanme sa.mshayo deva kathayasva mama prabho .. 24..
bhairava uvaacha
shR^iNu devi pravaxyaami yat.h suraaNaamapi durllabham.h
dvaatri.mshatidala.m padma.m tiShThati tanmuurdhni madhyataH .. 25..
tatraiva bhaavayedamR^ita.m kalaaShoDashasamanvitam.h .
hR^ichchakra.m paatayedvaara.m ##[?]## yaavadaaanaabjimaNDalam.h .. 26..
chintayet.h kR^iShNavarNa~ncha bheda.m tu sakala.m puraH .
palitaastambhayeddevi maasamekena suvrate .. 27..
athaanya.m parama.m devi guhyasa.mshayasthitikaarakam.h .
yatra chatuShpathasthaana.m tatra sarvvaasuraalayam.h .. 28..
tatraiva sthaapayechchita.m divyabaalapravarttata ##[?]## .
ashrutaa.m vadate baalaa.m##….##divya varaanane .. 29..
viShaprahaara.m kurute jvaravyaadhi.m vinaashayet.h .
tataH paratara.m sthaana.m tatra sarvve pravarttate .. 30..
athaanya.m parama.m devi duraabedha.m vadaamyaham.h .
jvalajjvalanasa.mdhyastha.m tatraiva laxayeddevi .. 31..
ta.m tritakoTisamaprabhaa uurdhva.m shakti nipaataanyataH ##[?]## .
bedhayedvichaxaNaH bedhayitvaa tu ta.m laxayet.h .. 32..
jvalanaakaaShThaprabhaa.m urdhvashakti.m chakrayitva achala.m bhraamayet.h punaH ##[?]##
bedhayet.h saa manaHsahasraaNi samakaani tu kaa kathaa .. 33..
eva.m GYaatvaa viiraarohe vichareta yathaasukham.h .
devaasurmanujaanaa.m durlabho bhavati saadhakaH .. 34..
devyuvaacha
dhuunana.m kampana.m deva yathaakhyaata.m mamaagrataH .
tatashchaapi sa.mshayo deva kathayasva mama prabho .. 35..
bhairava uvaacha
shR^iNu devi pravaxyaami dhuunana.m kampana.m sthitam.h .
yaa saa mahaavahaa naaDii kuchelyaakaarasa.msthitaa .. 36..
tatraivot.hpaadayet.h dR^iShTirddaNDaakaarasutejasaa .
hR^ichchakra##… … … ##tivrashakti suvigrahaa .. 37..
dhuunana.m kampana.m chaiva naatra kaaryyavichaaraNaat.h .
athaanya.m parama.m devi khecharatva.m shR^iNu priye .. 38..
yaa saa mahaavahaa naa##[##Dii##]## kuNDalyaakaarasa.msthitaa .
padadvandvagataa saa tu muurdhnistha.m kamala.m punaH .. 39..
yaa viirataye tajjvalanaaakaara.m subhaavayed.h budhaH .
sarvvashaktito madhyata khecharatva bhavedveH navaahamabhR^ita.m dadaitaH ##[?]## .. 40..
athaanya.m sampravaxyaami mahaavyaapti.m varaanane .
yaavad.h##…##sthaaneShu khyaataa tasya mayaagrataH .. 41..
tathaiva manasaaropya.m naasaagre pavanamaanena .
manasa.m tattva bedhayitvaa niShkala.m yojayed.h budhaH .. 42..
mahaavyaaptirbhaveddevi tavaahamanR^ita.m vadet.h .
athaanya sampravaxyaami yena siddhirbhavet.h dhruvam.h .. 43..
vargaatiitasya dvitiiyamanuloma na suvrate .
jvalanaaruuDha.m kR^itvaa chaturtha.m svarasa.myutaH .. 44..
bindumastakasambhinnamaadau yojayed.h budhaH .
vargaatiita.m punardevi ShaShtasvaravibhuuShitaH .. 45..
sa shikhe kharabindusa.myukta.m yogayeddevi tat.h punaH .
yakaarasya pa~nchama.m gR^ihya.m ta.m tR^itiiyasvarasamanvitam.h .. 46..
svara.m dvitiiyasa.myukta.m kaarayet.h punaH priyaH .
vargasya prathama.m biija.m sR^iShTaraadyato yojayet.h .. 47..
etaddevi samaakhyaata.m kulavidyaasamanvitam.h .
nitya.m tu yojayeddevi ekachittastu paNDitaH .. 48..
tasya sarvvaa bhavet.h siddhiH sarvvaGYaneShu sundari .
na khedayaami kasya chitta.m shiShye.apyuktvaa varaanane .. 49..
athaanya.m parama.m devi kaamena vihvalaarakam.h .
bhasya madhyastha bhagamadho hutaashanam.h .. 50..
preritaH pavanaH shaktyaa jvalanaakaaratejasaa .
visantu chintayeddevi sR^iShTikamalantu yaavat.h .. 51..
shravaNa.m chintayedamR^ita.m tejomaargeNa yogini .
bhavanti vihvalaa naaryyaH xanamekena suvrate .. 52..
athaanya.m parama.m devi phalapuShPaakathana.m cha .
shR^iNuyaat.h parmaadevi aghoravikramaa .. 53..
aakarShayed.h bugho vaayu.m piNDastha.m ruupaNamuchyate .
chaxuShaa yojayeddevi phalapuShpantu chintayet.h .
tejasaarkarShayet.h tu##…##chitta.m susaryyataH .. 54..
devyuvaacha
sarvvatra tu mayaa GYaana.m bhaaShita.m deva tat.h puraa .
adyaapi sa.mshayo devi kathayasva mama prabho .
sa.mgamaanmoxahetuka.m ## *** *** ## .. 55..
bhairava uvaacha
shR^iNu devi pravaxyaami tat.h surairapi durlabham.h
aasana.m tu sthita.m kR^tvaa##…##vishva anivR^ittaH .. 56..
abhaava.m bhaavayeddevi sarvvabhaavavivarjjitam.h .
chitta.m tatra sthita.m kR^itvaa khamadhye viniyojayet.h .. 57..
bhaavayet.h samarasa.m devi prabhubhR^itya.m vichaxaNaH .
etadviGYaanamaatreNa giyate tatra madhyataH .. 58..
duuraashravaNaviGYaana.m bedhastobha.m madhyataH .
aaveSha.m darshana.m duuraat.h kampastobha.m tathaiva cha .. 59..
parakaayapraveshena sampravartteta yoginaH .
##… … …##tadabhyaasena suvrate .. 60..
iti matsyendra##-##paadaavataarita.m kulaananda.m samaaptamiti .. shubhamastu sarvvajagataam.h .

Artwork is © Jan Bailey, 1975-2022. Translations are © Mike Magee 1975-2022.Questions or comments to mike.magee@btinternet.com

Home Page