The five limbs of Bala

[Guest guest]

Dear spiritual brethren,

Bala's root mantra is aim klim sauh and variations of

this mantra are used in her daily ritual. Many tantrik devatas have

manuals structured along similar lines. The devata is first

visualised as residing in the heart, then later drawn out through

the breath and "placed" in the yantra. On installation or

invocation, various ritual accessories are offered, and the 1,000

adjectives (names) of the particular deity recited. The Devi is then

drawn 'back' into one's heart, and the ritual concludes with various

elements "cleaning up" the area of worship.

 

 

The five limbs of a ritual panchanga are Patala, Paddhati, Kavacha

(Armour), 1,000 Names, and Stotra. The first gives the unfolding of

the mantra, usually in coded form. It also describes the meditation

image and the yantra of the devata, as well as various optional

rites. The second limb describes the ritual worship, including

worship of the avarana or attendants of the devata, which are really

aspects of the god or goddess. The kavacha is an "armour" used to

ward off evil and which may either be recited or written and then

worn on the body. The fourth limb consists of the 1,000 names, of

which there are very many sets in the tantrik literature. The fifth,

the Stotra, is the hymn of praise of the ishtadevata, the tutelary

devata of a tantrik sadhaka.

 

Yours yogically,

Dattu