Bhavana Upaniṣad and Prayoga

She is the ultimate unified Śakti, the Parameshvari, triple Tripurā, the very self of Brahma, Viṣṇu and Iśa, the being who is Jnaña Śakti, Kriyā Śakti and Icchā Śakti. – Vāmakeśvaratantra 4, 10-11

This is a seminal upaniṣad of the Śrī Vidyā tradition. Here, the text is translated, along with the prayoga, or ritual application, composed by Bhaskararaya Machin. The verses of the upanishad are in red, the commentary is below and my notes are italicised. Refer to the Śrī Yantra to follow the meditation from the outside to the centre. The image on the top left is Lalitā Devī. You may also find it worthwhile to look at Gopinath Kaviraj’s introduction to the Yoginihridaya where he discusses how the 21,600 breaths humans, ideally, breathe a day. See also the page about Yoginihridaya.

Om. Peace and Good Fortune be to those who hear this!

1. Śrī Guru is Śakti from Whom all the elements are created.

(The wise man) should bow, using the root mantra, and having done Rishi Nyāsa should say, having touched the 1000 petalled lotus: Hail to the Continuous Consciousness-Śakti Form, the Suṣumnā Self, Śrī Guru.

The root mantra is the fifteen-syllable mantra of Lalitā: Ka E I La Hrīṃ, Ha Sa Ka Ha La Hrīṃ, Sa Ka La Hrīṃ. Ṛṣi Nyāsa is the sixfold nyāsa preceding most tāntrika rites. The 1000 petalled lotus, here above the head. The self of Suṣumnā, that is to say the central nāḍī, running from the base of the spine to the top of the head.

2. Of this (Śakti) the body, with its nine orifices, is the form.

Hail to Payasvinī, Prakaśananda Nātha, on the right ear. Śaṅkhinī, Vimarśānandanātha, on the left ear. Sarasvatī, to Śrī Ānandānātha, on the tongue. Pūṣā, to Jñānanandanātha, on the right eye. Gāndhārī, to Satyānandanātha, on the left eye. Kuhu, to Purṇānandanātha, on the penis. Pingala, to Svabhāvandanātha, on the right nostril. Ida, to Pratibhanandanātha, on the left nostril. Alambusha, to Subhaganandanātha, on the anus.

These are the Nine Nāthas placed on different parts of the body.

3. The Śrī Cakra is of ninefold form.

(The wise man) should touch these places (and say): Hail to the Self of the Śrī Cakra in the Form of nine Cakras in the whole body.

4. Vārāhī is the father-form. Kurukullā, the mother, is the receiver of offerings

Hail to the Father-Form, to the Selves of Bone (and the other three Dhātus), to Vārāhī.
Hail to the Mother-Form, to the Selves of Flesh (and the other four Dhātus), to Kurukullā,  the Receiver of Offerings.

5. The aims of mankind are the oceans.

Hail to the back of the body, the Dharma Self, the Sugarcane Ocean.
Hail to the right of the body, the Artha Self, the Salt Ocean.
Hail to the front of the body, the Kama Self, the Ghee Ocean.
Hail to the left of the body, the Moksha Self, the Milk Ocean.

6. The body is the island of nine gems.

Hail to the Body which is the Very Self of the Island of 9 Gems.

7. Skin first, then the seven bodily elements and hair (are the nine).

Hail to the Flesh Self, the Topaz Gem
Hail to the Hair Self, the Sapphire Gem.
Hail to the Skin Self, the Vaidurya Gem.
Hail to the Blood Self, the Manikya Gem.
Hail to the Semen Self, the Pearl Gem.
Hail to the Marrow Self, the Emerald Gem.
Hail to the Bone Self, the Diamond Gem.
Hail to the Fat Self, the Gomeda Gem.
Hail to the Ojas Self, the Ruby Gem.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Flesh, to the Lady of the Time Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Hair, the Lady of the Mudra Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Skin, the Lady of the Letter Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Blood, the Lady of the Gem Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Semen, the Lady of the Space Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Marrow, the Lady of the guru Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Bone, the Lady of the Tattva Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Fat, the Lady of the Planet Cakra.
Hail to the Presiding Deity of Ojas, the Lady of the Form Cakra.

8. Resolutions are the wish-fulfilling trees, energy the grove of aeon trees.

Hail to the Resolution Self, the Aeon Trees.
Hail to the Energy Self, the Garden of Aeon Trees.

9. The tastes sweet, sour, bitter, pungent, astringent and salty as perceived by the tongue are the six seasons.

Hail to the Sweetness Self, Spring Season.
Hail to the Sour Self, Summer Season.
Hail to the Bitter Self,
Hail to the Pungent Self, Rainy Season.
Hail to the Astringent Self, Winter Season.
Hail to the Sense Selves, the Horses.
Hail to the Objects of the Senses, the Elephants.
Hail to the Compassion Self, the Moat.
Hail to the Ojas Heap, the Ruby Bower.

10. Knowledge is the Offering, The Known is the Oblation, the Knower is the Sacrificer. The meditation on Knowledge-Known-Knower and on their non-difference is the worship offered to the Śrī Cakra.

Hail to the Knowledge Self, the Special Offering.
Hail to the Object of Knowledge Self, the Oblation.
Hail to the Knower, one’s Own Self.
Hail to the Consciousness Self, Śrī Māhatripurasundarī.
Having accomplished this mentally one (should say): Hail to Knower-Knowledge-Object of Knowledge.
Then one should worship the 15 Nityās, placing the hand on the heart:
Hail to 1440 breaths, 1st Day of the waxing moon, Kāmeśvarī Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths,2nd Day, Bhagamalini Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 3rd Day, Nityaklinna Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 4th Day, Bherunda Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 5th Day, Vahnivasini Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 6th Day, Vajreshvari Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 7th Day, Shivaduti Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 8th Day, Tvarita Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 9th Day, Kulasundari Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 10th Day, Nityā Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 11th Day, Nilapataka Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 12th Day, Vijaya Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 13th Day, Sarvamangala Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, 14th Day, Jvalamalini Nityā.
Hail to 1440 breaths, Full moon, Chitra Nityā.
This Nityā Meditation should be accomplished inwardly.

The breaths add up to 21,600, one with time. And the Nityās’ arms, according to the Tantrarājatantra, number 108.

11. Fate, love, and the other sentiments are Anima etc-

Hail to the outer line of the earth Square. (Diffusion Nyāsa)
Hail to the Peaceful Sentiment, Anima Siddhi, on the back of the right shoulder.
Hail to the Miraculous Sentiment, Laghima Siddhi, on the tips of the fingers of the right hand.
Hail to the Compassionate Sentiment, Mahima Siddhi, on the right buttock. Hail to the Heroic Sentiment, Ishitvta Siddhi, on the tips of the toes of the right foot.
Hail to the Laughter Sentiment, Vashita Siddhi, on the tips of the toes of the left foot.
Hail to the Fearful Sentiment, Prakamya Siddhi, on the left buttock. Hail to the Angry Sentiment, Bhukti Siddhi, on the tips of the fingers of the left hand.
Hail to the Anxious Sentiment, Iccha Siddhi, on the back of the left shoulder.
Hail to the Erotic Sentiment, Prapti Siddhi, at the root of the penis. Hail to the Principle of Restraint, Sarva Kama Siddhi, on the back of the penis.

12. Desire, cruelty, greed, delusion, euphoria, envy, merit and demerit are the eight Śaktis — Brahmi being the first.

Hail to the middle line of the earth Square.
Hail to Brahmi, the Desire Self, on the two big toes.
Hail to Maheshvari, the Cruelty Self, on the right side.
Hail to Kaumari, the Greed Self, on the head.
Hail to Vaishnavi, the Delusion Self, on the left side.
Hail to Varahi, the Pride Self, on the left knee.
Hail to Indrani, the Envy Self, on the right knee.
Hail to Chamunda, the Merit Self, on the right arm.
Hail to Mahalakshmi, the Demerit Self, on the left arm.

13. The nine root centres are the Mudra Śaktis.

Hail to the inner line of the earth Square.
Hail to the 1000 Petalled Lotus, the All Bewildering Mudra, on the two big toes.
Hail to the Muladhara Lotus, the All Agitation Causing Mudra, on the right side.
Hail to the Svadishtana, the All Attracting Mudra, on the head.
Hail to the Manipura, the All Subjugating Mudra, on the left side. Hail to the Anahata, the All Lust Making Mudra, on the left knee. Hail to the Vishuddha, the Great Goad Mudra, on the right knee.
Hail to the Three Yonis, the Khechari Mudra, on the right inside shoulder.
Hail to the Ajna, the All-Bija Mudra, on the left inside shoulder.
Hail to the 1000 petalled Lotus of the head, to the All-Yoni Mudra.
Hail to the Nine Adharas, the Trikhanda Mudra, on the big toes.
Hail to Tripurā in the heart, in the Cakra Bewildering the Three Worlds.
Hail to the Prakata Yoginis, one’s Own Self, Anima Siddhi and so forth.
Hail to one’s Unlimited Own Self, the All Bewildering Mudra.

14. Earth, water, fire, air, aether, ear, skin, eye, tongue, nose, speech, hands, feet, anus, penis, and mind’s wavering are the sixteen Śaktis, Kamakarṣiṇī being the first.

Hail to the 16 petalled Lotus.
Hail to Kamakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, the element earth, on the back of the right ear.
Hail to Buddhikarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, the element water, on the right shoulder.
Hail to Ahamkarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, the element fire, on the right elbow. Hail to Shabda Karshini Nityā Kala, the element air, on the back of the right hand.
Hail to Sparshakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, the element aether, on the right thigh.
Hail to Rupakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Hearing, on the right knee.
Hail to Rasakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Touch, on the right ankle.
Hail to Gandhakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Sight, on the sole of the right foot.
Hail to Chittakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Taste, on the sole of the left foot.
Hail to Dhairyakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, breath, on the left ankle.
Hail to Smrityakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Speech, on the left knee.
Hail to Namakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Hands, on the left thigh.
Hail to Bijakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Feet, on the back of the left hand.
Hail to Atmakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Anus, on the left elbow.
Hail to Amritakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Genitals, on the left shoulder.
Hail to Sharirakarṣiṇī Nityā Kala, Mind, on the back of the left ear.
Hail to Tripureshvari in the heart, in the Cakra Fulfilling All Desires.
Hail to the Gupta Yoginis, one’s Own Self, Laghima Siddhi.
Hail to one’s Unlimited Own Self, the All Panic Making Mudra.

15. Speech, holding, moving, excreting, generating, rejecting, accepting and being detached are the eight (Śaktis) like Anaṅgakusuma.

Hail to the right temple, Speech Self, Anaṅgakusuma.
Hail to the right collarbone, Walking Self, Anaṅgamekhala.
Hail to the right thigh, Sexuality Self, Anaṅgamadana.
Hail to the right ankle, Evacuation Self, Anaṅgamadanatura.
Hail to the left ankle, Bliss Self, Anaṅgarekha.
Hail to the left thigh, Relinquishment Self, Anaṅgavega.
Hail to the left collarbone, Concentration Self, Anaṅgankusha.
Hail to the left temple, Detachment Self, Anaṅgamalini.
Hail to the heart, the Cakra Bewildering All, Tripurasundarī.
Hail to One’s Unlimited Own Self, the All Attracting Mudra.
Hail to the Guptatara Yoginis, One’s Own Self, Mahimasiddhi.

16. Alambusha, Kuhu, Vishvodara, Vatnrta, Hastijihva, Yashovati, Payashvini, Gandhari, Pusha, Shankhini, Sarasvati, Ida, Pingala and Suṣumnā are the fourteen nāḍīs — Sarvasankshobhini being the first of the 14 Śaktis.

Hail to the Cakra of 14 triangles.
Hail to the middle part of the forehead, Alambusha (nāḍī), the Śakti bewildering all.
Hail to the right part of the forehead, Kuhu, the Śakti causing panic. Hail to the right of the cheek, Vishvodara, the Śakti attracting all. Hail to the right shoulder, Varuna, the Shaktl gladdening all.
Hail to the right side, Hastijihva, the Śakti deluding all.
Hail to the right thigh, Yashovati, the Śakti paralysing all.
Hail to the right leg, Payasvini, the Śakti crushing all.
Hail to the left leg, Gandhari, the Śakti subjugating all.
Hail to the left thigh, Pusha, the Śakti colouring all.
Hail to the left side, Shankhini, the Śakti causing wantonness. Hail to the left cheek, Ida, the Śakti causing prosperity.
Hail to the left part of the forehead, Pingala, the Śakti made of Mantra.
Hail to the centre of the forehead, Suṣumnā, the Śakti destroying
Duality.
Hail to the heart, the Cakra Creating Great Good Fortune,
Tripurā-Vasini.
Hail to the Sampradaya Yoginis, one’s Own Self, Ishita Siddhi. Hail to One’s Own Self, the All Subjugating Mudra.

17. Prana, Apana, Vyana, Udana, Sama, Naga, Kurma, Krikara, Datta and Dhananjaya are the 10 breaths — Sarvasiddhidana being the first of the devatas of the outer 10 (triangles}.

Hail to the chakra of 10 Triangles.
Hail to the right eye, the breath Self, the devi giving all Siddhi.
Hail to the root of the nose, the Demerit Self, the devi giving prosperity.
Hail to the left eye, the Vyana, the devi dear to all.
Hail to the middle of the belly, the Udana, the devi causing all subjugation.
Hail to the diaphragm, the Samana, the devi giving all sexual desire. Hail to the left knee, the Naga, the devi destroying unhappiness. Hail to the anus, the Kurma, the devi alleviating death.
Hail to the right knee, Krikara, the devi destroying all obstacles. Hail to the south west of the belly, Devadatta, the devi beauteous in all limbs.
Hail to the south east of the belly, Dhananjaya, the devi giving good fortune.
Hail to the heart, the Cakra Giving All a Sadhaka’s Objects, Tripurā shri.
Hail to the Kulakaula Yoginis, One’s Own Self, Vashita Siddhi.
Hail to One’s Unlimited Own Self, the Mudra Causing All Wantonness.

18. The biological fire is fivefold through differences based on its association with the major breaths — being Rechaka, Pachaka, Shoshaka, Dahaka and Plavaka.

19. Ksharaka, Utgaraka, Kshobaka, Jrimbhaka and Mohaka are fires associated with the lesser breaths. They assist digestion in a fivefold way — what is eaten, chewed, sucked, licked and drunk.

20. These ten kalas of fire are the devatas of the ten inner (triangles).

Hail to the Inner Cakra of ten triangles.
Hail to the right nostril, Rechaka fire, the All Knowing devi.
Hail to the right corner of the mouth, Pachaka fire, the devi giving all energy.
Hail to the right breast, Shoshaka fire, the devi giving all dominion.
Hail to the right of the penis, Plavaka fire, the devi destroying all ailments .
Hail to the penis, Dahaka fire, the devi made of Knowledge.
Hail to the left of the penis, Ksharaka fire, devi who is the true form of all adharas.
Hail to the left breast, Udgara fire, the devi destroying sin.
Hail to the left corner of the mouth, Kshobaka fire, devi who is all bliss.
Hail to the left nostril, Jrimbhini fire, the devi who is the true form of all protection.
Hail to the tip of the nose, Mohaka fire, the devi giving desired objects.
Hail to the heart, the Cakra Giving All Protection, Tripurā-Malini.

21. Cold, warmth, pleasure, unhappiness, desire, sattvas, rajas and tamas are the eight Śaktis Vashini etc

Hail to the Cakra of eight triangles.
Hail to the right of the lip, Coldness, Vashini Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the right of the throat, Warmth, Kāmeśvarī Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the right of the heart, Pleasure, Modini Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the right of the navel, Desire, Aruna Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the left of the navel, Unhappiness, Vimala Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the left of the heart, Sattva Guna, Jayini Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the left of the throat, Rajoguna, Sarveshvari Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the left of the lip, Tamoguna, Kaulini Goddess of Speech.
Hail to the heart, to One’s Own Self, Bhukti Siddhi.
Hail to the Rahasya Yoginis, One’s Own Self, Tripurā-Siddha-
Hail to One’s Unlimited Own Self, Khechari Mudra.

22. The five flowery arrows are the sense-impressions, of which sound is the first.

23. Mind is the bow made of sugar-cane.

24. Attachment is the noose.

25. Repulsion is the goad.

Hail to the lower part of the heart triangle, the Five Substances of the Senses, the All-Piercing Arrows.
Hail to the right part of the heart triangle, the Mind, the All Deluding Bow.
Hail to the upper part, Attraction, the All Subjugating Noose.
Hail to the left part, Repulsion, the All Paralysing Goad.

26. Nature, intelligence and ‘I am’ are the devatas of the inner triangle -Kāmeśvarī , Bhagamalini and Vajreshvari.

Hail to the tip of the heart, the Great Tattva, Kāmeśvarī devi.
Hail to the right part, ‘I am’, Vajreshvari.
Hail to the left part, Manifestation, Bhagamalini devi.
Hail to the heart, the Cakra Giving All Siddhi, Tripurā-Amba.
Hail to the Very Secret Yoginis, One’s Own Self, Iccha Siddhi.
Hail to One’s Unlimited Own Self, Bija Mudra.

27. Truly, awareness without attributes in Kāmeśvara.

28. One’s very own self, true, blissful, complete, is the supreme Goddess Lalitā.

29. The red glow of all this is the mirror.

30. Presence of consciousness is siddhi.

31. When one meditates in this way action is Homage.

32. The dissolving in one’s Being of distinctions such as ‘I’, ‘You’, ‘Existence’, ‘Non-existence’, ‘what is to be done’, ‘what is not to be done’ and the duty to worship is the act of Oblation.

33. The thought of the sameness of all objects of mind is the act of Nourishment .

34. The fifteen days of the transformation of time are the Eternities (the Nityās).

Hail to the Bindu Cakra.
Hail to the centre of the heart, the chief devi without characteristics or form, Pure Consciousness, the Ultimate Devata Lalitā in sexual union with Kāmeśvara, the One Absolute known as Truth- Consciousness-Bliss, Māhatripurasundarī.

35. One who meditates in this way for three, two or even one moment is liberated whilst living, and is called a śivayogin.

36. These thoughts on the centre of the chakra have been discussed according to the tenets of the Kadi school.

37. Whosoever knows this is a student of the Atharvaśira.

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

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