6. PRAKAMYA: The Khadgamala Devis Series

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The sixth Devi of the Khadgamala is called PRAKAMYA. Prakamya Siddhe

(the recitation in the Khadgamala) means, "O Siddhi named Prakamya"

(i.e. what Guruji identifies as the power of ACHIEVEMENT). She is the

sixth stop on our journey to the center of Srichakra.

 

[To review our presentations on the previous five Siddhis, simply

click on:

 

http://www.shaktisadhana.org/Photo%20Gallery/khadgamalamain.html

 

This page is a work in progress in which we are in the process of

compiling the all Khadgamala Devis. Series posts for easy reference.

Please contribute your thoughts, experiences, impressions, knowledge

and questions on the series to enhance its usefulness to others!]

 

Again, the power represented by Prakamya is ACHIEVEMENT, which can

also be understood as the power of irresistible willpower, or of

sovereignty over one's own mind and impulses. It is a force to be

found to some degree in every sadhak, the power by which you bring

your plans into fruition, attain your desires, complete your

intentions, achieve your goals. By assimilating Prakamya into

yourself, you create the conditions for this power to develop beyond

your wildest dreams.

 

As always, however, there is an essential caveat concerning this

siddhi: Prakamya is the driving power behind both black and the white

magic – which are essentially the same thing, the only difference

between how you choose the ground the energy generated; i.e. for the

good of the world (in which case the power expands outward from you

and blossoms), or for your own personal gain and satisfaction (in

which case the power turns back in upon itself, essentially creating a

black hole with you at its center).

 

The sadhak who chooses black magic has essentially allowed her- or

himself to become ensnared by Prakamya, and will advance no further

into SriChakra. However, the sadhak who surrenders to Devi's will

shall absorb Prakamya with the other siddhis and shall use the

resultant power only to fulfill Her will. All of the elements shall

obey the will of the siddha of Prakamya.

 

As stated before in this series, each Siddhi represents only one

preliminary component of Devi's infinite totality. And so we must not

fall in love with Prakamya, or with any Siddhi, as an object outside

ourselves. Instead we must absorb Her; we must become Her. That way we

become infused ourselves with Devi's own willpower; and Prakamya

ceases to be an attractive snare in the path of our sadhana, and

becomes instead our internal guide, leading us yet another step closer

to Devi's essence at the center of Srichakra.

 

As noted in previous posts of this series, each Devi of the Khadgamala

– each Devi of the Srichakra – merges into the next as we progress in

slow, methodical, counterclockwise circles toward the center. Each

Devi is internalized from Her place, and carried with

us to the next Devi, and merged with Her. So when we reach Prakamya,

we are actually worshiping Her together with the powers of Her

predecessors, Anima, Laghima and Mahima, Isitva, and Vasitva. Thus we

have, in essence, destroyed or overcome these five siddhis by merging

Them into Prakamya; and it will continue thus, through the

Siddhis and other Devis of the Khadgamala.

 

Now let us review the locations of the Khadgamala Devis as we continue

to circumambulate the SriChakra:

 

1. ANIMA - Looking at Srichakra, Anima sits to the right side of the

gate closest to you on the square, outermost enclosure wall (i.e., the

white line).

 

2. LAGHIMA - As you circumambulate counterclockwise around the

outermost square enclosure, Laghima sits to the right side of the gate

on the next wall.

 

3. MAHIMA - Continuing to circumambulate counterclockwise around the

corner, Mahima sits to the right side of the gate on the next wall.

 

4. ISITVA - Continuing to circumambulate counterclockwise around the

corner, Isitva sits to the right side of the gate on the next wall.

 

5. VASITVA – Continuing to circumambulate counterclockwise around the

corner, you return to the first wall (the one closest to you), move

past the gate, and find Vasitva sitting at the next corner (on a flat

yantra, the lower left corner of the outer enclosing wall).

 

6. PRAKAMYA - Continuing to circumambulate counterclockwise around the

corner, you move past the next gate, and find Prakamya sitting at the

next corner (on a flat yantra, the upper lower left corner of the

outer enclosing wall).

 

Prakamya's mantra is:

 

aIM hrIM shrIM prakamYA siddhi shrI pAdukAM poojayaami

 

But again, please note that the beauty of the Khadgamala Stotram is

that NOTHING is required for its recitation except for your time,

attention and concentration: You need simply sit and recite the

Stotram. The mantra given just above is not part of the stotram; it

is offered merely for informational purposes. The entire stotram is

self-contained, as explained in earlier posts. The full text is

located here: http://www.chinmudra.com/SKS.htm

 

OTHER NOTES:

 

Again, the full pooja of these Devis takes hours, because at each

point we pause and do smaller, detailed poojas. Hence the sages of

yore created an ALTERNATIVE, SHORT-FORM recitation known as the

Khadgamala Stotram more suitable for the demands of modern life.

 

According to Sri Bhasurananda Natha, an accomplished Srividya upasak

as well as a member of and advisor to this group: "All of the sadhana

of Srividya can be achieved by the recitation of the Khadgamala. Hours

of long ritual compressed to less than half an

hour of intense meditation that will give you a ticket on the same

plane as the great Srividya Upasakas. Whatever your developmental

stage, this is IT." Even those who have not been initiated into

Srividya can benefit from the Khadgamala, which is why we chose to

offer it to our members here.

 

Once again, it is important to note that the Devis representing the

Siddhis are *outside* the Sriyantra proper (i.e. the RED area in this

graphic: http://www.chinmudra.com/s9.gif ). Metaphorically, this

teaches that we must get past the Siddhis (powerful and/or

attractive side effects of Srividya sadhana) before we can enter the

Sriyantra (the higher benefits of sadhana) and reach Devi (the goal of

Sadhana; even though each of these Siddhis are themselves aspects of

Devi).

 

[With sincere thanks and appreciation to Sri Amritananda Natha and Sri

Bhasurananda Natha, who kindly provided detailed and substantive

content for this commentary.]

 

Aum Maatangyai Namahe