Kulachudamani Tantra                                      KULACHU.TXT
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       If it is presumed that Rahu swallows the Sun or the Moon, how is it
       that the Sun or the Moon at the seventh sign from it is also swallowed
       by Rahu which is far from it?...Really the Moon is the hiding object of
       the Sun and of the Moon the hiding object is the huge shadow of the
       earth. This shadow of the earth will always be at the seventh sign from
       the Sun, moving with a velocity equal to the Sun's - Goladipika by
       Parameshvara (1443 c.e.) The Kulachudamani Tantra, previously
       serialised in Azoth Magazine, is an important Kaula text and, most
       likely, far older than many others. Here, Shiva asks Shakti questions,
       making this a nigama rather an agama. Throughout the text the Devi,
       answering his questions, addresses him as son. A relatively brief work
       of eight chapters, the Kulachudamani - which means the crest gem of the
       Kaulas - deals chiefly with the worship of Mahishamardini, a form of
       the Devi who suppressed the great antigods. It also covers a wide range
       of Kaula topics, including various siddhis which may be attained by a
       devotee. It also has some information on Svapnavati Devi (the goddess
       who goes in sleep), and a fine hymn to the Kumaris (princesses). Sir
       John Woodroffe, who published a Sanskrit edition of this work in his
       Tantrik Texts series, believed this tantra pre-dated many, later, Kaula
       works.



       Chapter One
       Sri Bhairava said: Innumerable are Tripura (tantras), innumerable those
       of Kalika, countless those of Vagishvari, numberless the beautiful
       Kulakulas known as Matangini, Purna, Vimala, Candanayika,
       Tripura-Ekajata, Durga and Kulasundari. Numberless the Vaisnava,
       Ganapatya, Saura, Shaivite, and the different doctrines of Shankara.
       The highest of the doctrines are the 64 tantras: the Mahasarasvata,
       Yoginijala, Shambhara, Tattva- Shambhara, the eight Bhairavas, the
       eight Bahurupas, the Jnana, the eight Yamalas, the Tantrajnana, the
       Vasuki, the Mahasammohana, the Mahasuksma, the Vahana and the Vahana
       Uttaram, the Hrdbheda, the Guhyatattva, the Kamika, the Kalapaka, the
       Kubjika Mata, the Maya Uttara, the Vina, the Trodala Uttara, the
       Pancamrta, the Rupabheda, the Bhutadamara, the Kulasara, the Kullodisa,
       the Visvatmaka, the Sarvajnatmaka, the Mahapitrmata, the Mahalakshmi
       Mata, the Siddhi Yogesvari Mata, the Kurupika Mata, the Rupikamata, the
       Sarvaviramata, the Vimalamata, the tantras of east, south, west and
       north, the Niruttara, the Vaisesikajnanatantra, the Sivabali, the
       Arunesa, the Mohanesa and the Visuddhesvara.

       O Lovely Hipped One, now speak to me of their essence if you have love
       for me. Devi said: Listen Deva, supremely blissful quintessence, the
       Lord of Kula, to the very essence of knowledge of the ocean of Kula
       tantra, concealed by my Maya. I am Great Nature, consciousness, bliss,
       the quintessence, devotedly praised. Where I am, there are no Brahma,
       Hara, Shambhu or other devas, nor is there creation, maintenance or
       dissolution. Where I am, there is no attachment, happiness, sadness,
       liberation, goodness, faith, atheism, guru or disciple. When I,
       desiring creation, cover myself with my Maya and become triple,
       becoming ecstatic in my wanton love play, I am Vikarini, giving rise to
       the various things. The five elements and the 108 lingams come into
       being, while Brahma and the other devas, the three worlds,
       Bhur-Bhuvah-Svah spontaneously come into manifestation. By mutual
       differences of Shiva and Shakti, the (three) gunas originate. All
       things, such as Brahma and so forth, are my parts, born from my being.
       Dividing and blending, the various tantras, mantras and kulas come into
       being. After withdrawing the five fold universe, I, Lalita, become of
       the nature of nirvana. Once more, men, great nature, egoism, the five
       elements, sattvas, rajas and tamas become manifested. This universe of
       parts appears and is then dissolved. O All-Knowing One, if I am known,
       what need is there for revealed scriptures and sadhana? If I am
       unknown, what use for puja and revealed text? I am the essence of
       creation, manifested as woman, intoxicated with sexual desire, in order
       to know you as guru, you with whom I am one. Even given this, Mahadeva,
       my true nature still remains secret. Devi said: Listen son, to the very
       plain exposition of the teachings of utmost bliss. I speak of the
       method relating to the yoga of liberation. This is the one essence of
       all tantras, worshipped by all devas, giving every sort of knowledge,
       secret, giving a clear idea of the essence of enlightenment, free of
       good or evil, giver of both enjoyment and liberation, consisting of all
       paths. Dear son, it deludes even the wise! It is of various and
       numerous meanings and is the goal and refuge of all pure disciples. It
       is known as the best path according to all the paths, yet is reviled by
       all doctrines. It should be known only through the best of teachers. It
       should be protected and hidden in the heart very carefully, as I did
       not reveal it to Vishnu, Dhatra or Ganapati. Dear son, whoever is
       unaware of this tantra is incompetent. Dearest, I speak of the pure
       knowledge of Kulacara. Arising at dawn, a sadhaka should bow to a Kula
       tree. After meditating on the Kulas from the Muladhara to the one
       thousand petalled lotus, he should meditate on the gurus. Then he
       should meditate on and worship the Kulagurus Prahladanandanatha,
       Sanakanandanatha, Kumaranandanatha, Vasistanandanatha,
       Krodhanandanatha, Sukhanandanatha, Jnananandanatha, and Bodhanandanatha
       as being intoxicated by the nectar of the absolute, whose blissful
       hearts show in their eyes, their darkness cut and crushed by their
       having embraced Kulasastra, merciful to Kula disciples, complete,
       compassionate and effulgent, giving boons and dispelling fear, knowing
       the essence of all Kulatantras. After bowing to the Kulagurus, one
       should give worship to the Kula Matrikas, fashioning a Kula place and
       bathing oneself in all the holy waters (tirthas). Dear son, a Kulaguru
       is an accomplished being and said to be the vehicle of happiness. Dear
       son, conceal this very secret marvellous doctrine from the sight of
       pashus. They who should reject the Kulanatha, who alone is a Shakta,
       served by the Kulas, for them initiation and sadhana is black magic.
       Because of this, one should by every effort resort to a Kulina guru. It
       is said a Kulina is competent in all vidyas and is able to initiate in
       all mantras.