Consorts of Dasa Mahavidyas Given in Todala Tantra

June 9, 2009

Hare Rama Krishna

Namastestu Mahamaye...

Dear Narsimha,

(Narasimha) Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers

used to a different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any

scripture and yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to

respond to all the mails.

An outcry??? Regarding what?? No, no you have got the wrong end of the stick

here. The planet-mahavidya mapping is used by many priests and pundits who

are in no way associated with SJC. They even have them up in their websites.

So please do not start an agenda of saying this is " SJC " 's

version/unsanctioned etc. Let us instead have an intellectual theological

debate, which is far more interesting. YOU can say that though in practice

most priests and books follow a certain norm of planet-mahavidya

co-relation, but on reflection a different order appeals to you and you are

sharing that with us.

Mundamala Tantra is just one of the tantras, and not the top of the rung. It

would be interesting to see what the Mahanirvan, the Gyanarnava, the

Pranatoshini, the Mahanil, the Kularnava tantras and specially the Yamala

texts have to say on this. I am delighted that you have at last succumbed to

Devi worship. I remember 2-3 years back in Boston you rejected all kinds of

Devi worship including the Sri Sri Chandi.

Mahavidya is THE supreme knowledge. When you write:

(Narasimha) From the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality needs to

be enjoyed and not run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta depicted

accompanied by a naked couple in copulation and associates drinking wine is

that nothing is impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus

(enjoyment).

Correctly you have pointed out that we should not be superficial. To say

that the symbolism behind the copulating couple in Chhinnamasta's

iconography is about enjoyment is highly superficial. You have missed the

boat here. Chhinnamasta is all about suppressing that. There have been many

works by renowned scholars in both east and the west on this. There is

surely nothing wrong with Venus. The problem occurs when Rahu is associated

Venus. That's when we talk of re-directing that undesirable carnal energy.

Chhinnamasta represents that unleashed carnality of Rahu. Venus on the other

hand is the purest of them all. After all he gets exalted in the sign of

maharishis. Venus has the capacity to bloom like the lotus from the cesspool

like mud of life. At a deeper level, this blooming of the lotus is really

the blooming of our soul, the awakening. That is why the Sharadatilaka

tantra advises us to worship Kamalatmika in water as the sun rises. In her

mantra she is addressed as Jagatprasutyai ...the one who gives birth h to

this world. I think you need to work a little more on this, and I am sure

Mother will show the way. There are fantastic works done on the mahavidyas

by many exponents from the different gurukuls of India, though of course no

one writes the really deeper level experiences which can only stem from

sadhana.

Incidentally, there are many quiet members in these lists who are extremely

spiritual and any of whom have years of experience in devi worship. I appeal

to them to share their experiences with us.

Best Regards,

Sarbani Rath

Homepage: <http://sarbani.com/> http://sarbani.com

Sagittarius Publications: <http://sagittariuspublications.com/>

http://sagittariuspublications.com

Sohamsa: <http://sohamsa.com/> http://sohamsa.com

Sri Jagannath Centre: <http://.org/> http://.org

sohamsa [sohamsa ] On Behalf Of

Narasimha P.V.R. Rao

09 June 2009 09:48

sohamsa ; ;

vedic astrology ;

Consorts of Dasa Mahavidyas Given in Todala Tantra

Namaste,

> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so

> Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

I never talked of superficial things such as " complexion " . Moreover, you are

replacing Kaalika with crows in your sircasm and making fun really of Tantra

and Parasara.

* * *

> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:

>

> <see below for list>

>

> These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that

> Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha

> implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your

> list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and

> the list you have derived?

Instead of getting caught in superficial and extraneous factors, let us go

to the crux.

Mahavidyas and their consorts are not showing the same thing, but two

different things that have a synergy. The list of planets mapping to

mahavidyas and those mapping to mahavidya consorts will accordingly have to

be different. I will elaborate with examples.

Each mahavidya represents one form of liberating supreme knowledge that

helps one overcome duality and become liberated, starting from different

vantage points within duality and approaching liberation from them. Consorts

are the factors that aid in that approach.

* * *

For example, Kaali is equated to Krishna by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Krishna

is equated to Moon by Parasara. So Kaali is shown by Moon. From the

perspective of Moon (mind), this duality is a very troublesome temptation

and the way to overcome it is to realize its impermanence and destroy the

duality so that it cannot tempt again.

During this process, the ideal companion of Moon is Saturn (vairagya and

discipline). So the consort of Kaali shown by Moon is Mahakala shown by

Saturn.

Take Taaraa. She is equated to Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Raama is

equated to Sun by Parasara. So Taaraa is shown by Sun. From the perspective

of Sun (soul), this duality is an ocean of delusion that needs to be waded

across to reach the supreme cosmic soul.

During this process, the ideal companion of Sun is Jupiter (intelligence and

discrimination). Just as rajaguru (Jupiter) guides king (Sun), the intellect

and discrimination will aid soul in the process of wading the ocean of

duality and reaching the supreme. So the consort of Taaraa shown by Sun is

Akshobhya shown by Jupiter.

Take Chhinnamasta. She is equated to Bhaargava Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra

and Bhaargava Raama is equated to Venus by Parasara. So Chhinnamasta is

shown by Venus. From the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality

needs to be enjoyed and not run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta

depicted accompanied by a naked couple in copulation and associates drinking

wine is that nothing is impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus

(enjoyment).

During this process, the ideal companion of Venus (enjoyment) is Ketu

(detachment and egolessness). Only when the enjoyment is gone through

without ego and identification can it be conducive to liberation. So the

consort of Chhinnamasta shown by Venus is Shiva-Kabandha shown by Ketu.

Kabandha means the headless one.

As Dhumaavati is shown by Jupiter (dhee, i.e. intellect and discrimination),

there is no need for a companion. If the force of dhee is there, one

realizes that all is god and does not distinguish between good and bad,

happy and sad etc and becomes liberated easily. One with a strong aatmabala

or manobala can waver and may need supplementing influences, but one with a

strong dheeshakti is fine. There is no supplementing influence.

* * *

Now let us take your example. Mahatripuarasundari is equated to Kalki by

Munda Mala Tantra and Kalki is equated to lagna by Maharshi Parasara. So

Tripura is lagna.

While Sun and Moon show the soul and mind, lagna shows the individualized

consciousness through which we operate in the world. It includes body and

more. It is lagna through which we act in the world. From the point of view

of lagna, duality is to be overcome by doing what is expected from us by

Nature and engaging in actions. Tripura personifies the supreme liberating

knowledge of using the individualized consciousness to engage in perfect

actions in the world to liberate oneself.

Now, the most useful companion of lagna in this process is Moon (mind). The

actor within you (lagna) needs mind as mind tells the actor what to do.

Thus, the ideal companion of lagna is Moon. Accordingly, the consort of

Mahatripurasundari shown by lagna is Somanatha shown by Moon.

* * *

You can find similar logic for all of them. Here is the full list:

1. Kaali (Moon) - Mahaa Kaala (Saturn)

2. Taaraa (Sun) - Akshobhya (Jupiter)

3. Mahatripurisundari (Lagna) - Somanaatha (Moon)

4. Bhuvaneswari (Rahu) - Tryambaka (Venus)

5. Bhairavi (Mars) - Dakshinaamurti (Sun)

6. Chhinamastaa (Venus) - Shiva-Kabandha (Ketu)

7. Dhumavati (Jupiter) - None

8. Bagalaamukhi (Saturn) - Mahaa Rudra (Mars)

9. Maatangi (Mercury) - Shiva Maatanga (Rahu)

10. Kamalatmika (Ketu) - Vishnurupi Sadaashiva (Mercury)

Short notes on the ones I did not cover before:

Bhairavi represents the path of Mars, i.e. viewing the duality as a

challenge that needs to be fought hard and fearlessly and not fear anything,

including death and pain. The ideal companion is aatmabala, represented by

Sun, just as a good king (Sun) is an ideal supplement for a good commander

(Mars).

Bagalaamukhi represents the path of Saturn, i.e. viewing the duality as that

which results from one's own weaknesses, sins and internal enemies and

seeing a conquest of internal enemies as the key to overcoming duality. The

fighting spirit represented by Mars is the ideal companion in the process of

overcoming enemies. Mahaa Rudra shown by Mars is hence the consort of

Bagalamukhi.

Maatangi represents the path of Mercury, i.e. viewing the duality as that

which needs to be learnt, understood, mastered and then overcome. Free

thinking without boundaries, represented by Rahu, is the ideal companion in

this path. Maatanga means free spirited one or free roamer and Shiva

Maatanga is such a form of Shiva. He is the consort of Maatangi.

* * *

Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a

different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture and

yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the

mails.

But please do bear in mind that there is a simple and uniform philosophy

behind the concept of Mahavidyas. Flowery expositions without a uniform

philosophy and even a basic uniform understanding of what Mahavidyas are for

are useless. If you are told logic like " Tripurasundari holds sugarcane.

Mercury shows sugar cane. So Tripurasundari is shown by Mercury " , reject

such superficial logic. If somebody tells you that a mahavidya is for

winning lawsuits or for getting power or getting wealth, reject such things.

Please remember that mahavidyas are forms of *supreme liberating knowledge*.

The path to liberation looks different from the point of view of different

planets.

Best regards,

Narasimha

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

Spirituality:

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

sohamsa , Visti Larsen <visti wrote:

>

> ??? ??? ?????

> Dear Narasimha, Namaskar.

> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so

> Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:

>

> 1. Dakshina/Kali - MahaKaal

> 2. Tara - Akshobya

> 3. Mahatripurisundari - Panchanan/Somanath

> 4. Bhuvaneswari - Tryambaka

> 5. Bhairavi - Dakshinamurti

> 6. Chinamaste - Shiva-Kabandha

> 7. Dhumavati -

> 8. Bagalamukhi - Maharudra

> 9. Matangi - Shiva Matanga

> 10. Kamalatmika - Sadashiva

>

> These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that

> Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha

> implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your

> list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and

> the list you have derived?

> Again I re-iterate that the logic you have used is not right as it

> cannot be replicated.

> Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen

> ----------

> Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)

> www: http://srigaruda.com

> @: visti

>

> Narasimha P.V.R. Rao skrev:

> >

> > Namaste friends,

> >

> > > Narasimha's list is his own invention...

> >

> > Parasara *equated* planets to dasavataras of Vishnu in Brihat

> > Paaraasara Horaa Saastram, an authoritative Jyotish treatise.

> >

> > As you can see in the verse quoted by Narayan below, dasavataras of

> > Vishnu are *equated* to dasa mahavidyas in Munda Maalaa Tantra, a

> > respected tantra treatise regarding mahavidyas. For example,

> > " kR^iShnastu kaalikaa saakShaat raamamUrtishca taariNI " literally

> > means " Krishna is literally Kaalika and Rama is Taarini " . In Hindi, it

> > can be translated as " Krishen ji to saakshaat Kaalika hain aur Raam ji

> > Taarini hain " .

> >

> > * * *

> >

> > If a and b are *equated* and also b and c are *equated*, it is logical

> > to infer that a and c can be equated.

> >

> > It is mischievous to label this logical inference as my " own

> > invention " . The philosophical justification of the mapping is mine,

> > but the list is NOT my invention.

> >

> > Those who want to accept the list given by author Bhattacharya, who,

> > according to Sarbani, does not quote a scriptural basis for his list,

> > are free to do so. But it is mischievous to call what I gave as my

> > " own invention " .

> >

> > Best regards,

> > Narasimha

> >

> > sohamsa <sohamsa >, Visti

> > Larsen <visti@> wrote:

> > >

> > > ??? ??? ?????

> > > Dear Sarbani and Swee, Namaskar.

> > > The verse that Narayan Iyer has given mentions nothing about the Graha

> > > corresponding to the Mahavidya. The verse is otherwise mentioned in

> > MANY

> > > tantras and is a well known one which shows which Mahavidya

corresponds

> > > to which Vishnu Avatara.

> > > Narasimha has merely inferred the Graha linkages and therefore the

list

> > > is his own research and is NOT supported by any treatise at all.

> > > In fact everyone SHOULD be encouraged to follow the list given by Sri

> > > Jyotirbhushan Bhattacharya, as he HAS given a direct list of Graha and

> > > corresponding Mahavidya. Narasimha's list is his own invention... the

> > > sloka mentions nothing about the graha linkages.

> > >

> > > Just because Parasara equates Sun to Rama we should think Sun should

> > > also be Tarini as per the Mahavidya-Vishnu avatara link? This is not a

> > > proper logic, in fact when we were taught the Agni Purana on the

second

> > > year of Jaimini Sutras, and the names of Vishnu therein, we saw a

> > > completely different concept of mapping of the grahas to the name of

> > the

> > > avataras.

> > > This mapping that Narasimha has suggested is simply not acceptable

> > as it

> > > is too simple an explanation, and doesn't bring out the real

importance

> > > as to how the Mahavidya and Vishnu Avatara are connected. I.e. how the

> > > left foot corresponds to Tara and the right hand corresponds to Rama,

> > > whilst the right foot is Kali and the left hand is Krishna and how the

> > > hands and feet walk together in sync showing the Gati (feet) and karma

> > > (hands) that are connected. This itself was taught to us on the

> > first year.

> > > Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen

> > > ----------

> > > Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)

> > > www: http://srigaruda.com <http://srigaruda.com>

> > > @: visti@

Original mail:

> Dear Narayan,

>

> Thanks for the verse from Munda Maalaa Tantra. Out of all planet-mahavidya

> mappings I have seen, this is the most philosophically sound mapping.

>

> Sun - Taaraa - Raama

> Moon - Kaali - Krishna

> Mars - Bhairavi - Nrisimha

> Mercury - Maatangi - Buddha

> Jupiter - Dhumaavati - Vaamana

> Venus - Chhinnamastaa - Bhaargava Rama

> Saturn - Bagalamukhi - Koorma

> Rahu - Bhuvaneswari - Varaaha

> Ketu - Kamala - Matsya

>

> * * *

>

> Vidya is knowledge. Mahavidya is supreme knowledge. Dasa mahavidyas are

the

> ten highest forms of knowledge that take us to moksha or liberation,

> approaching from different angles. Other kinds of knowledge (e.g.

> mathematics, physics, astronomy, astrology, grammar etc) do not liberate

us.

> But these ten kinds of knowledge liberate us. The deities (names and forms

> described in books for ten mahavidyas) are personifications of those ten

> types of supreme knowledge that liberate us.

>

> * * *

>

> Please note one thing here. Moksha means overcoming the maayaa of the

> duality around us. Seeing some things as desirable, some as undesirable,

> some as pleasurable, some as painful, some as beautiful, some as ugly etc

is

> what binds us. Overcoming the duality and seeing all as Brahman is

> liberation or moksha.

>

> Different planets represent different aspects of our selves. The duality

> around us and the way to overcome it seem different from different angles.

> From the point of view of individual soul (Sun), this maayaa is something

> that needs to be overcome by crossing and reaching the other end (supreme

> cosmic soul). From the point of view of mind (Moon), this duality is

> something that clouds the vision and needs to be destroyed so that it

cannot

> tempt again. From the point of view of the intellect/discrimination/dhee

> (Jupiter), it issomething that is non-existent anyway ( " so what was the

> problem in the first place? " ), like shapes made of smoke. From the point

of

> view of initiative and energy within us (Mars), it is something that needs

> to be fought hard and fearlessly. From the point of view of the learning

> ability within us (Mercury), it is something that needs to be learnt and

> understood fully so that we can overcome it. From the point of view of

> enjoyment and happiness (Venus), it is something that needs to be accepted

> and enjoyed and not something to fear or avoid ( " after all, all is

Brahman.

> Then why stay away from enjoyments? " ). And so on.

>

> But remember one important thing. Whichever approach is taken to

overcoming

> duality, the end result is the same. One first masters the approach. It

> becomes part of one's common sense and thinking. One eventually overcomes

> duality. One becomes self-realized and becomes liberated. That end result

is

> the same irrespective of the approach chosen.

>

> * * *

>

> Sun is the soul within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from

delving

> deep into this aspect is what makes one wade (tar=swim/wade/cross) the

ocean

> of delusion and get to the source. If you master the knowledge that helps

> one view the world as an ocean that needs to be crossed to reach the

> supreme, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation.

Taaraa

> personifies this knowledge.

>

> Moon is the mind within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from

> delving deep into this aspect is an understanding of attachments and

> desires, their impermanence and how to kill them. If you master the

> knowledge that kills all attachments and desires and gives perfect control

> on the mind, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation.

> Kaali personifies this knowledge.

>

> Mars is the energy and initiative within us. The highest form of knowledge

> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one fearlessness

of

> anything in the universe. If you master the knowledge that makes you

utterly

> fearless and you do not fear anything (including death or pain!) other

> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bhairavi personifies

> this knowledge.

>

> Mercury is knowledge and learning ability within us. The highest form of

> knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one

> learning of various topics. If you master the knowledge that give you

> mastery of all kinds of learning through logical and rational thinking,

> other things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Maatangi

> personifies this knowledge. In fact, some people associate Maatangi with

> Saraswati. Saraswati is also known as " Maatanga Kanya " .

>

> Jupiter is the intellect, wisdom and discrimination (dhee shakti) within

us.

> The highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is

> that all is delusion. The individual soul and individual mind and

everything

> they perceive is just an illusion. All that is there is Brahman. Any other

> perceptions, of various good or bad things, are just a delusion, like

> figures made of smoke. If you master the knowledge that makes your

intellect

> shine, you will realize that the entire world is a delusion and not

deluded

> by anything anymore. Then other things will follow and you eventually get

> liberation. Dhumaavati personifies this knowledge.

>

> Venus is the spirit of enjoyment and bliss. The highest form of knowledge

> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what makes one egoless and

> blissful. If you master the knowledge that makes you utterly fearless and

> you do not fear anything, including death or pain, other things will

follow

> and you eventually get liberation. Chhinnamasta personifies this

knowledge.

> She is depicted as a deity holding her own severed head, standing near a

> naked couple in copulation and surrounded by associates who are drinking

> wine. One mastering this knowledge need not stay away from any pleasures,

> but one learns to see god even those pleasures. However, pleasure obtained

> with an ego ( " *I* am enjoying this act or object " ) binds. The headless

state

> symbolizes egolessness. If one has overcome I-ness, pleasures are not

> binding. One not thinking in terms of " *I* am enjoying " but having no

sense

> of " I " can live life without running away from any pleasures or

undertaking

> any austerities and yet become liberated.

>

> Saturn is the spirit of hard work within us. He also represents our

> weaknesses and sins. The highest form of knowledge coming from delving

deep

> into this aspect is what makes us realize our internal enemies and destroy

> them. If you master the knowledge that makes you overcome weaknesses such

as

> laziness and internal enemies such as lust, anger, greed, jealosy etc,

other

> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bagalamukhi

> personifies this knowledge. Most of her mantras ask to destroy enemies and

> so people foolishly think that she is the one who gives success in

> litigation and worship her for court cases. This is like going to a king

to

> ask for two spoons of sugar for your milk. You go to the king for bigger

> things and a neighbor is enough for giving you two spoons of sugar. The

> enemies destroyed by Bagalamukhi are internal enemies and your own

laziness.

> Remember, she is a mahavidya, i.e. a type of supreme knowledge that

> liberates you!

>

> Rahu is the spirit of material well-being within us. Rahu is the one who

> binds us to rebirth (this is why Saturn showing sins and Rahu showing

> rebirth are important in the death chart). The highest form of knowledge

> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives us worldly success

> in a dhaarmik way. If you master the knowledge that makes you materially

> successful in a dharmik way, you become successful and fulfil all your

> duties and debts in the world and eventually get liberation. Bhuvaneswari

> personifies this knowledge.

>

> Ketu is the spirit of of detachment and Vedic knowledge within us. The

> highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is the

> essense of Veda. If you master the knowledge that enables you to be in

> oneness with the supreme cosmic being, you eventually get liberation.

Kamala

> (Mahaalakshmi) personifies this knowledge. According to saptashati rahasya

> also, Mahaalakshmi is the Aadyaa (the first One). She is the energy of

> supreme cosmic being. She divides Herself into 3 parts - Mahaakaali,

> Mahaalakshmi and MahaaSaraswati and they create Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and

> their consorts. Kamala represents the knowledge of the supreme cosmic

energy

> of the supreme cosmic being.

>

> * * *

>

> One of the above is not superior to the other. Depending on your vasanas

> (mental conditioning), attitudes, likes and dislikes, depending on which

> aspect of your personality dominates over other aspects (the sinfulness

and

> weaknesses? or the interest in learning things? or the spirit of fighting?

> or the sense of enjoyment? etc), one Mahavidya may be more suitable than

> others, as that knowledge uses your strong aspect and moulds that aspect

to

> take you towards liberation. Do not compare them. Take the one that is

most

> suitable, but do master that aspect.

>

> * * *

>

> There are some who do Dasa Mahavidya sadhana by doing one Mahavidya's

mantra

> for one month, then switch to another and so on. They think that by doing

> each mahavidya mantra for a certain count, they " finish " the mahavidya

> sadhana. This is wrong and serves no useful purpose. Instead, one should

> pick any ONE mahavidya and succeed in that sadhana. The definition of

> success is that the knowledge represented by that deity becomes part of

your

> common sense - you understand that knowledge and ooze that knowledge in

your

> thoughts and actions. Whether you experience the deity as an external

> human-like form (who may impart some knowledge to you) or as an internal

> human-like form or as light or as sound is secondary, but the end result

> should be that the knowledge represented by Her should become common sense

> and second nature to you. One claiming visions or siddhi of a mahavidya

but

> not showing the corresponding knowledge is bluffing.

>

> There are many people who do mahavidya sadhana and yet many others who

claim

> to have siddhi in one or more mahavidyas, but very few who actually

possess

> any of the ten mahavidyas. The area of mahavidya sadhana is one of the

most

> ill-understood in today's age of ignorance and half-baked knowledge. It is

> easier to possess lower vidyas or lower shaktis, but mahavidyas are beyond

> the capability of understanding for most people.

>

> Best regards,

> Narasimha

June 9, 2009

Namaste,

> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so > Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

I never talked of superficial things such as "complexion". Moreover, you are replacing Kaalika with crows in your sircasm and making fun really of Tantra and Parasara.

* * *

> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:> > <see below for list>

> > These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that > Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha > implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your > list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and > the list you have derived?

Instead of getting caught in superficial and extraneous factors, let us go to the crux.

Mahavidyas and their consorts are not showing the same thing, but two different things that have a synergy. The list of planets mapping to mahavidyas and those mapping to mahavidya consorts will accordingly have to be different. I will elaborate with examples.

Each mahavidya represents one form of liberating supreme knowledge that helps one overcome duality and become liberated, starting from different vantage points within duality and approaching liberation from them. Consorts are the factors that aid in that approach.

* * *

For example, Kaali is equated to Krishna by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Krishna is equated to Moon by Parasara. So Kaali is shown by Moon. From the perspective of Moon (mind), this duality is a very troublesome temptation and the way to overcome it is to realize its impermanence and destroy the duality so that it cannot tempt again.

During this process, the ideal companion of Moon is Saturn (vairagya and discipline). So the consort of Kaali shown by Moon is Mahakala shown by Saturn.

Take Taaraa. She is equated to Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Raama is equated to Sun by Parasara. So Taaraa is shown by Sun. From the perspective of Sun (soul), this duality is an ocean of delusion that needs to be waded across to reach the supreme cosmic soul.

During this process, the ideal companion of Sun is Jupiter (intelligence and discrimination). Just as rajaguru (Jupiter) guides king (Sun), the intellect and discrimination will aid soul in the process of wading the ocean of duality and reaching the supreme. So the consort of Taaraa shown by Sun is Akshobhya shown by Jupiter.

Take Chhinnamasta. She is equated to Bhaargava Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Bhaargava Raama is equated to Venus by Parasara. So Chhinnamasta is shown by Venus. From the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality needs to be enjoyed and not run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta depicted accompanied by a naked couple in copulation and associates drinking wine is that nothing is impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus (enjoyment).

During this process, the ideal companion of Venus (enjoyment) is Ketu (detachment and egolessness). Only when the enjoyment is gone through without ego and identification can it be conducive to liberation. So the consort of Chhinnamasta shown by Venus is Shiva-Kabandha shown by Ketu. Kabandha means the headless one.

As Dhumaavati is shown by Jupiter (dhee, i.e. intellect and discrimination), there is no need for a companion. If the force of dhee is there, one realizes that all is god and does not distinguish between good and bad, happy and sad etc and becomes liberated easily. One with a strong aatmabala or manobala can waver and may need supplementing influences, but one with a strong dheeshakti is fine. There is no supplementing influence.

* * *

Now let us take your example. Mahatripuarasundari is equated to Kalki by Munda Mala Tantra and Kalki is equated to lagna by Maharshi Parasara. So Tripura is lagna.

While Sun and Moon show the soul and mind, lagna shows the individualized consciousness through which we operate in the world. It includes body and more. It is lagna through which we act in the world. From the point of view of lagna, duality is to be overcome by doing what is expected from us by Nature and engaging in actions. Tripura personifies the supreme liberating knowledge of using the individualized consciousness to engage in perfect actions in the world to liberate oneself.

Now, the most useful companion of lagna in this process is Moon (mind). The actor within you (lagna) needs mind as mind tells the actor what to do. Thus, the ideal companion of lagna is Moon. Accordingly, the consort of Mahatripurasundari shown by lagna is Somanatha shown by Moon.

* * *

You can find similar logic for all of them. Here is the full list:

1. Kaali (Moon) - Mahaa Kaala (Saturn)2. Taaraa (Sun) - Akshobhya (Jupiter)3. Mahatripurisundari (Lagna) - Somanaatha (Moon)4. Bhuvaneswari (Rahu) - Tryambaka (Venus)5. Bhairavi (Mars) - Dakshinaamurti (Sun)6. Chhinamastaa (Venus) - Shiva-Kabandha (Ketu)7. Dhumavati (Jupiter) - None8. Bagalaamukhi (Saturn) - Mahaa Rudra (Mars)9. Maatangi (Mercury) - Shiva Maatanga (Rahu)10. Kamalatmika (Ketu) - Vishnurupi Sadaashiva (Mercury)

Short notes on the ones I did not cover before:

Bhairavi represents the path of Mars, i.e. viewing the duality as a challenge that needs to be fought hard and fearlessly and not fear anything, including death and pain. The ideal companion is aatmabala, represented by Sun, just as a good king (Sun) is an ideal supplement for a good commander (Mars).

Bagalaamukhi represents the path of Saturn, i.e. viewing the duality as that which results from one's own weaknesses, sins and internal enemies and seeing a conquest of internal enemies as the key to overcoming duality. The fighting spirit represented by Mars is the ideal companion in the process of overcoming enemies. Mahaa Rudra shown by Mars is hence the consort of Bagalamukhi.

Maatangi represents the path of Mercury, i.e. viewing the duality as that which needs to be learnt, understood, mastered and then overcome. Free thinking without boundaries, represented by Rahu, is the ideal companion in this path. Maatanga means free spirited one or free roamer and Shiva Maatanga is such a form of Shiva. He is the consort of Maatangi.

* * *

Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture and yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the mails.

But please do bear in mind that there is a simple and uniform philosophy behind the concept of Mahavidyas. Flowery expositions without a uniform philosophy and even a basic uniform understanding of what Mahavidyas are for are useless. If you are told logic like "Tripurasundari holds sugarcane. Mercury shows sugar cane. So Tripurasundari is shown by Mercury", reject such superficial logic. If somebody tells you that a mahavidya is for winning lawsuits or for getting power or getting wealth, reject such things.

Please remember that mahavidyas are forms of *supreme liberating knowledge*. The path to liberation looks different from the point of view of different planets.

Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

sohamsa , Visti Larsen <visti wrote:>> ??? ??? ?????> Dear Narasimha, Namaskar.> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so > Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:> > 1. Dakshina/Kali - MahaKaal> 2. Tara - Akshobya> 3. Mahatripurisundari - Panchanan/Somanath> 4. Bhuvaneswari - Tryambaka> 5. Bhairavi - Dakshinamurti> 6. Chinamaste - Shiva-Kabandha> 7. Dhumavati -> 8. Bagalamukhi - Maharudra> 9. Matangi - Shiva Matanga> 10. Kamalatmika - Sadashiva> > These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that > Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha > implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your > list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and > the list you have derived?> Again I re-iterate that the logic you have used is not right as it > cannot be replicated.> Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen> ----------> Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)> www: http://srigaruda.com> @: visti > Narasimha P.V.R. Rao skrev:> >> >> > Namaste friends,> > > > > Narasimha's list is his own invention...> > > > Parasara *equated* planets to dasavataras of Vishnu in Brihat > > Paaraasara Horaa Saastram, an authoritative Jyotish treatise.> > > > As you can see in the verse quoted by Narayan below, dasavataras of > > Vishnu are *equated* to dasa mahavidyas in Munda Maalaa Tantra, a > > respected tantra treatise regarding mahavidyas. For example, > > "kR^iShnastu kaalikaa saakShaat raamamUrtishca taariNI" literally > > means "Krishna is literally Kaalika and Rama is Taarini". In Hindi, it > > can be translated as "Krishen ji to saakshaat Kaalika hain aur Raam ji > > Taarini hain".> > > > * * *> > > > If a and b are *equated* and also b and c are *equated*, it is logical > > to infer that a and c can be equated.> > > > It is mischievous to label this logical inference as my "own > > invention". The philosophical justification of the mapping is mine, > > but the list is NOT my invention.> > > > Those who want to accept the list given by author Bhattacharya, who, > > according to Sarbani, does not quote a scriptural basis for his list, > > are free to do so. But it is mischievous to call what I gave as my > > "own invention".> > > > Best regards,> > Narasimha> > > > sohamsa <sohamsa >, Visti > > Larsen <visti@> wrote:> > >> > > ??? ??? ?????> > > Dear Sarbani and Swee, Namaskar.> > > The verse that Narayan Iyer has given mentions nothing about the Graha> > > corresponding to the Mahavidya. The verse is otherwise mentioned in > > MANY> > > tantras and is a well known one which shows which Mahavidya corresponds> > > to which Vishnu Avatara.> > > Narasimha has merely inferred the Graha linkages and therefore the list> > > is his own research and is NOT supported by any treatise at all.> > > In fact everyone SHOULD be encouraged to follow the list given by Sri> > > Jyotirbhushan Bhattacharya, as he HAS given a direct list of Graha and> > > corresponding Mahavidya. Narasimha's list is his own invention... the> > > sloka mentions nothing about the graha linkages.> > >> > > Just because Parasara equates Sun to Rama we should think Sun should> > > also be Tarini as per the Mahavidya-Vishnu avatara link? This is not a> > > proper logic, in fact when we were taught the Agni Purana on the second> > > year of Jaimini Sutras, and the names of Vishnu therein, we saw a> > > completely different concept of mapping of the grahas to the name of > > the> > > avataras.> > > This mapping that Narasimha has suggested is simply not acceptable > > as it> > > is too simple an explanation, and doesn't bring out the real importance> > > as to how the Mahavidya and Vishnu Avatara are connected. I.e. how the> > > left foot corresponds to Tara and the right hand corresponds to Rama,> > > whilst the right foot is Kali and the left hand is Krishna and how the> > > hands and feet walk together in sync showing the Gati (feet) and karma> > > (hands) that are connected. This itself was taught to us on the > > first year.> > > Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen> > > ----------> > > Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)> > > www: http://srigaruda.com <http://srigaruda.com>> > > @: visti@

Original mail:

> Dear Narayan,> > Thanks for the verse from Munda Maalaa Tantra. Out of all planet-mahavidya> mappings I have seen, this is the most philosophically sound mapping.> > Sun - Taaraa - Raama> Moon - Kaali - Krishna> Mars - Bhairavi - Nrisimha> Mercury - Maatangi - Buddha> Jupiter - Dhumaavati - Vaamana> Venus - Chhinnamastaa - Bhaargava Rama> Saturn - Bagalamukhi - Koorma> Rahu - Bhuvaneswari - Varaaha> Ketu - Kamala - Matsya> > * * *> > Vidya is knowledge. Mahavidya is supreme knowledge. Dasa mahavidyas are the> ten highest forms of knowledge that take us to moksha or liberation,> approaching from different angles. Other kinds of knowledge (e.g.> mathematics, physics, astronomy, astrology, grammar etc) do not liberate us.> But these ten kinds of knowledge liberate us. The deities (names and forms> described in books for ten mahavidyas) are personifications of those ten> types of supreme knowledge that liberate us.> > * * *> > Please note one thing here. Moksha means overcoming the maayaa of the> duality around us. Seeing some things as desirable, some as undesirable,> some as pleasurable, some as painful, some as beautiful, some as ugly etc is> what binds us. Overcoming the duality and seeing all as Brahman is> liberation or moksha.> > Different planets represent different aspects of our selves. The duality> around us and the way to overcome it seem different from different angles.> From the point of view of individual soul (Sun), this maayaa is something> that needs to be overcome by crossing and reaching the other end (supreme> cosmic soul). From the point of view of mind (Moon), this duality is> something that clouds the vision and needs to be destroyed so that it cannot> tempt again. From the point of view of the intellect/discrimination/dhee> (Jupiter), it issomething that is non-existent anyway ("so what was the> problem in the first place?"), like shapes made of smoke. From the point of> view of initiative and energy within us (Mars), it is something that needs> to be fought hard and fearlessly. From the point of view of the learning> ability within us (Mercury), it is something that needs to be learnt and> understood fully so that we can overcome it. From the point of view of> enjoyment and happiness (Venus), it is something that needs to be accepted> and enjoyed and not something to fear or avoid ("after all, all is Brahman.> Then why stay away from enjoyments?"). And so on.> > But remember one important thing. Whichever approach is taken to overcoming> duality, the end result is the same. One first masters the approach. It> becomes part of one's common sense and thinking. One eventually overcomes> duality. One becomes self-realized and becomes liberated. That end result is> the same irrespective of the approach chosen.> > * * *> > Sun is the soul within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from delving> deep into this aspect is what makes one wade (tar=swim/wade/cross) the ocean> of delusion and get to the source. If you master the knowledge that helps> one view the world as an ocean that needs to be crossed to reach the> supreme, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Taaraa> personifies this knowledge.> > Moon is the mind within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from> delving deep into this aspect is an understanding of attachments and> desires, their impermanence and how to kill them. If you master the> knowledge that kills all attachments and desires and gives perfect control> on the mind, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation.> Kaali personifies this knowledge.> > Mars is the energy and initiative within us. The highest form of knowledge> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one fearlessness of> anything in the universe. If you master the knowledge that makes you utterly> fearless and you do not fear anything (including death or pain!) other> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bhairavi personifies> this knowledge.> > Mercury is knowledge and learning ability within us. The highest form of> knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one> learning of various topics. If you master the knowledge that give you> mastery of all kinds of learning through logical and rational thinking,> other things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Maatangi> personifies this knowledge. In fact, some people associate Maatangi with> Saraswati. Saraswati is also known as "Maatanga Kanya".> > Jupiter is the intellect, wisdom and discrimination (dhee shakti) within us.> The highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is> that all is delusion. The individual soul and individual mind and everything> they perceive is just an illusion. All that is there is Brahman. Any other> perceptions, of various good or bad things, are just a delusion, like> figures made of smoke. If you master the knowledge that makes your intellect> shine, you will realize that the entire world is a delusion and not deluded> by anything anymore. Then other things will follow and you eventually get> liberation. Dhumaavati personifies this knowledge.> > Venus is the spirit of enjoyment and bliss. The highest form of knowledge> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what makes one egoless and> blissful. If you master the knowledge that makes you utterly fearless and> you do not fear anything, including death or pain, other things will follow> and you eventually get liberation. Chhinnamasta personifies this knowledge.> She is depicted as a deity holding her own severed head, standing near a> naked couple in copulation and surrounded by associates who are drinking> wine. One mastering this knowledge need not stay away from any pleasures,> but one learns to see god even those pleasures. However, pleasure obtained> with an ego ("*I* am enjoying this act or object") binds. The headless state> symbolizes egolessness. If one has overcome I-ness, pleasures are not> binding. One not thinking in terms of "*I* am enjoying" but having no sense> of "I" can live life without running away from any pleasures or undertaking> any austerities and yet become liberated.> > Saturn is the spirit of hard work within us. He also represents our> weaknesses and sins. The highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep> into this aspect is what makes us realize our internal enemies and destroy> them. If you master the knowledge that makes you overcome weaknesses such as> laziness and internal enemies such as lust, anger, greed, jealosy etc, other> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bagalamukhi> personifies this knowledge. Most of her mantras ask to destroy enemies and> so people foolishly think that she is the one who gives success in> litigation and worship her for court cases. This is like going to a king to> ask for two spoons of sugar for your milk. You go to the king for bigger> things and a neighbor is enough for giving you two spoons of sugar. The> enemies destroyed by Bagalamukhi are internal enemies and your own laziness.> Remember, she is a mahavidya, i.e. a type of supreme knowledge that> liberates you!> > Rahu is the spirit of material well-being within us. Rahu is the one who> binds us to rebirth (this is why Saturn showing sins and Rahu showing> rebirth are important in the death chart). The highest form of knowledge> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives us worldly success> in a dhaarmik way. If you master the knowledge that makes you materially> successful in a dharmik way, you become successful and fulfil all your> duties and debts in the world and eventually get liberation. Bhuvaneswari> personifies this knowledge.> > Ketu is the spirit of of detachment and Vedic knowledge within us. The> highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is the> essense of Veda. If you master the knowledge that enables you to be in> oneness with the supreme cosmic being, you eventually get liberation. Kamala> (Mahaalakshmi) personifies this knowledge. According to saptashati rahasya> also, Mahaalakshmi is the Aadyaa (the first One). She is the energy of> supreme cosmic being. She divides Herself into 3 parts - Mahaakaali,> Mahaalakshmi and MahaaSaraswati and they create Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and> their consorts. Kamala represents the knowledge of the supreme cosmic energy> of the supreme cosmic being.> > * * *> > One of the above is not superior to the other. Depending on your vasanas> (mental conditioning), attitudes, likes and dislikes, depending on which> aspect of your personality dominates over other aspects (the sinfulness and> weaknesses? or the interest in learning things? or the spirit of fighting?> or the sense of enjoyment? etc), one Mahavidya may be more suitable than> others, as that knowledge uses your strong aspect and moulds that aspect to> take you towards liberation. Do not compare them. Take the one that is most> suitable, but do master that aspect.> > * * *> > There are some who do Dasa Mahavidya sadhana by doing one Mahavidya's mantra> for one month, then switch to another and so on. They think that by doing> each mahavidya mantra for a certain count, they "finish" the mahavidya> sadhana. This is wrong and serves no useful purpose. Instead, one should> pick any ONE mahavidya and succeed in that sadhana. The definition of> success is that the knowledge represented by that deity becomes part of your> common sense - you understand that knowledge and ooze that knowledge in your> thoughts and actions. Whether you experience the deity as an external> human-like form (who may impart some knowledge to you) or as an internal> human-like form or as light or as sound is secondary, but the end result> should be that the knowledge represented by Her should become common sense> and second nature to you. One claiming visions or siddhi of a mahavidya but> not showing the corresponding knowledge is bluffing.> > There are many people who do mahavidya sadhana and yet many others who claim> to have siddhi in one or more mahavidyas, but very few who actually possess> any of the ten mahavidyas. The area of mahavidya sadhana is one of the most> ill-understood in today's age of ignorance and half-baked knowledge. It is> easier to possess lower vidyas or lower shaktis, but mahavidyas are beyond> the capability of understanding for most people.> > Best regards,> Narasimha

June 9, 2009

Hare Rama Krsna ||Dear Narasimha,Here is the essential:For example, Kaali is equated to Krishna by Munda Maalaa Tantra

yes, by the tantra

and Krishna is equated to Moon by Parasara

yes, by Parasara

.. So Kaali is shown by Moon by NarasimhaSimple equations like a= c, and your philosphical speculations are not enough to convince.As Dhumaavati is shown by Jupiter (dhee, i.e. intellect and discrimination) , there is no need for a companion. If the force of dhee is there, one realizes that all is god and does not distinguish between good and bad, happy and sad etc and becomes liberated easily. One with a strong aatmabala or manobala can waver and may need supplementing influences, but one with a strong dheeshakti is fine. There is no supplementing influence.

Dhumavati is the widow, this is why she has no companion. The

spiritual aspirant realises that they are ultimately alone, coming into

and out of this world alone. This is Ketu, the renunciate. Jupiter is

the significator for 2nd house - family, 5th house - children, the

akash tattva that brings people together. Venus, the significator for

relationships is exalted in a sign of Jupiter. Companionship is very

important for people influenced by Jupiter whereas those influenced by

Ketu are much more alone. Your explanation is totally off track. Your description of discrimination is particularly bad. I suggest you consult a dictionary.Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture and yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the mails.Why do you appeal to others for support? Let people make their own assessments of the arguments without trying to win the crowd by addressing them as 'friends'. This is a forum for Jyotish, not a campaign trail. If you are not aware of this let me introduce you to Mark Anthony - "Friends, Romans, Countrymen lend me your ears" of Shakespeare fame. It is a well known rhetorical trick.Like many things Narasimha, it is not what you write, but how you go about it. You are coming to your own conclusions and broadcasting it as if it is the gospal truth. Regards,Michal

Namaste,

> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so > Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

I never talked of superficial things such as "complexion" . Moreover, you are replacing Kaalika with crows in your sircasm and making fun really of Tantra and Parasara.

* * *

> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:> > <see below for list>

> > These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that > Mahatripurasundari' s spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha > implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your > list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and > the list you have derived?

Instead of getting caught in superficial and extraneous factors, let us go to the crux.

[m] Yes, Crux of Vedic Astrology by Sanjay Rath

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June 9, 2009

Hare Rama Krishna

Namastestu Mahamaye...

Dear

Narsimha,

(Narasimha)

Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a

different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture

and yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the

mails.

An

outcry??? Regarding what?? No, no you have got the wrong end of the stick here.

The planet-mahavidya mapping is used by many priests and pundits who are in no

way associated with SJC. They even have them up in their websites. So please do

not start an agenda of saying this is “SJC”’s version/unsanctioned

etc. Let us instead have an intellectual theological debate, which is far more

interesting. YOU can say that though in practice most priests and books follow

a certain norm of planet-mahavidya co-relation, but on reflection a different

order appeals to you and you are sharing that with us.

Mundamala

Tantra is just one of the tantras, and not the top of the rung. It would be

interesting to see what the Mahanirvan, the Gyanarnava, the Pranatoshini, the

Mahanil, the Kularnava tantras and specially the Yamala texts have to say on

this. I am delighted that you have at last succumbed to Devi worship. I

remember 2-3 years back in Boston you rejected all kinds of Devi worship

including the Sri Sri Chandi.

Mahavidya

is THE supreme knowledge. When you write:

(Narasimha) From

the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality needs to be enjoyed and not

run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta depicted accompanied by a

naked couple in copulation and associates drinking wine is that nothing is

impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus (enjoyment).

Correctly

you have pointed out that we should not be superficial. To say that the

symbolism behind the copulating couple in Chhinnamasta’s iconography is

about enjoyment is highly superficial. You have missed the boat here. Chhinnamasta

is all about suppressing that. There have been many works by renowned scholars

in both east and the west on this. There is surely nothing wrong with Venus. The

problem occurs when Rahu is associated Venus. That’s when we talk of

re-directing that undesirable carnal energy. Chhinnamasta represents that

unleashed carnality of Rahu. Venus on the other hand is the purest of them all.

After all he gets exalted in the sign of maharishis. Venus has the capacity to

bloom like the lotus from the cesspool like mud of life. At a deeper level,

this blooming of the lotus is really the blooming of our soul, the awakening. That

is why the Sharadatilaka tantra advises us to worship Kamalatmika in water as

the sun rises. In her mantra she is addressed as Jagatprasutyai ...the one who

gives birth h to this world. I think you need to work a little more on

this, and I am sure Mother will show the way. There are fantastic works done on

the mahavidyas by many exponents from the different gurukuls of India, though

of course no one writes the really deeper level experiences which can only stem

from sadhana.

Incidentally,

there are many quiet members in these lists who are extremely spiritual and any

of whom have years of experience in devi worship. I appeal to them to share

their experiences with us.

Best

Regards,

Sarbani

Rath

Homepage:

http://sarbani.com

Sagittarius

Publications: http://sagittariuspublications.com

Sohamsa:

http://sohamsa.com

Sri

Jagannath Centre: http://.org

sohamsa

[sohamsa ] On Behalf Of Narasimha P.V.R. Rao

09 June 2009 09:48

sohamsa ; ;

vedic astrology ;

Consorts of Dasa Mahavidyas Given in Todala Tantra

Namaste,

>

Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so

> Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

I

never talked of superficial things such as " complexion " . Moreover,

you are replacing Kaalika with crows in your sircasm and making fun really of

Tantra and Parasara.

*

* *

>

Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:

>

> <see below for list>

>

> These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that

> Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha

> implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your

> list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and

> the list you have derived?

Instead

of getting caught in superficial and extraneous factors, let us go to the crux.

Mahavidyas

and their consorts are not showing the same thing, but two different things

that have a synergy. The list of planets mapping to mahavidyas and those

mapping to mahavidya consorts will accordingly have to be different. I will

elaborate with examples.

Each

mahavidya represents one form of liberating supreme knowledge that helps one

overcome duality and become liberated, starting from different vantage points

within duality and approaching liberation from them. Consorts are the factors

that aid in that approach.

*

* *

For

example, Kaali is equated to Krishna by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Krishna is

equated to Moon by Parasara. So Kaali is shown by Moon. From the perspective of

Moon (mind), this duality is a very troublesome temptation and the way to

overcome it is to realize its impermanence and destroy the duality so that

it cannot tempt again.

During

this process, the ideal companion of Moon is Saturn (vairagya and discipline).

So the consort of Kaali shown by Moon is Mahakala shown by Saturn.

Take

Taaraa. She is equated to Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Raama is equated to

Sun by Parasara. So Taaraa is shown by Sun. From the perspective of Sun (soul),

this duality is an ocean of delusion that needs to be waded across to reach the

supreme cosmic soul.

During

this process, the ideal companion of Sun is Jupiter (intelligence and

discrimination). Just as rajaguru (Jupiter) guides king (Sun), the intellect

and discrimination will aid soul in the process of wading the ocean of duality

and reaching the supreme. So the consort of Taaraa shown by Sun is Akshobhya

shown by Jupiter.

Take

Chhinnamasta. She is equated to Bhaargava Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and

Bhaargava Raama is equated to Venus by Parasara. So Chhinnamasta is shown by

Venus. From the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality needs to be

enjoyed and not run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta depicted

accompanied by a naked couple in copulation and associates drinking wine is

that nothing is impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus

(enjoyment).

During

this process, the ideal companion of Venus (enjoyment) is Ketu (detachment and

egolessness). Only when the enjoyment is gone through without ego and

identification can it be conducive to liberation. So the consort of

Chhinnamasta shown by Venus is Shiva-Kabandha shown by Ketu. Kabandha means the

headless one.

As

Dhumaavati is shown by Jupiter (dhee, i.e. intellect and discrimination), there

is no need for a companion. If the force of dhee is there, one realizes that

all is god and does not distinguish between good and bad, happy and sad etc and

becomes liberated easily. One with a strong aatmabala or manobala can

waver and may need supplementing influences, but one with a strong dheeshakti

is fine. There is no supplementing influence.

*

* *

Now

let us take your example. Mahatripuarasundari is equated to Kalki by Munda Mala

Tantra and Kalki is equated to lagna by Maharshi Parasara. So Tripura is lagna.

While

Sun and Moon show the soul and mind, lagna shows the individualized

consciousness through which we operate in the world. It includes body and more.

It is lagna through which we act in the world. From the point of view of lagna,

duality is to be overcome by doing what is expected from us by Nature and

engaging in actions. Tripura personifies the supreme liberating knowledge of

using the individualized consciousness to engage in perfect actions in the

world to liberate oneself.

Now,

the most useful companion of lagna in this process is Moon (mind). The actor

within you (lagna) needs mind as mind tells the actor what to do. Thus, the

ideal companion of lagna is Moon. Accordingly, the consort of

Mahatripurasundari shown by lagna is Somanatha shown by Moon.

*

* *

You

can find similar logic for all of them. Here is the full list:

1.

Kaali (Moon) - Mahaa Kaala (Saturn)

2. Taaraa (Sun) - Akshobhya (Jupiter)

3. Mahatripurisundari (Lagna) - Somanaatha (Moon)

4. Bhuvaneswari (Rahu) - Tryambaka (Venus)

5. Bhairavi (Mars) - Dakshinaamurti (Sun)

6. Chhinamastaa (Venus) - Shiva-Kabandha (Ketu)

7. Dhumavati (Jupiter) - None

8. Bagalaamukhi (Saturn) - Mahaa Rudra (Mars)

9. Maatangi (Mercury) - Shiva Maatanga (Rahu)

10. Kamalatmika (Ketu) - Vishnurupi Sadaashiva (Mercury)

Short

notes on the ones I did not cover before:

Bhairavi

represents the path of Mars, i.e. viewing the duality as a challenge that needs

to be fought hard and fearlessly and not fear anything, including death and

pain. The ideal companion is aatmabala, represented by Sun, just as a good king

(Sun) is an ideal supplement for a good commander (Mars).

Bagalaamukhi

represents the path of Saturn, i.e. viewing the duality as that which results

from one's own weaknesses, sins and internal enemies and seeing a conquest

of internal enemies as the key to overcoming duality. The fighting spirit

represented by Mars is the ideal companion in the process of overcoming

enemies. Mahaa Rudra shown by Mars is hence the consort of Bagalamukhi.

Maatangi

represents the path of Mercury, i.e. viewing the duality as that which needs to

be learnt, understood, mastered and then overcome. Free thinking without

boundaries, represented by Rahu, is the ideal companion in this path. Maatanga

means free spirited one or free roamer and Shiva Maatanga is such a form of

Shiva. He is the consort of Maatangi.

*

* *

Friends,

there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a different

planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture and yet

popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the mails.

But

please do bear in mind that there is a simple and uniform philosophy behind the

concept of Mahavidyas. Flowery expositions without a uniform philosophy and

even a basic uniform understanding of what Mahavidyas are for are useless. If

you are told logic like " Tripurasundari holds sugarcane. Mercury shows

sugar cane. So Tripurasundari is shown by Mercury " , reject such

superficial logic. If somebody tells you that a mahavidya is for winning

lawsuits or for getting power or getting wealth, reject such things.

Please

remember that mahavidyas are forms of *supreme liberating knowledge*. The path

to liberation looks different from the point of view of different planets.

Best

regards,

Narasimha

Do a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homam

Do Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpana

Spirituality:

Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.net

Free Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.org

Sri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

---

In sohamsa , Visti

Larsen <visti wrote:

>

> ??? ??? ?????

> Dear Narasimha, Namaskar.

> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so

> Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:

>

> 1. Dakshina/Kali - MahaKaal

> 2. Tara - Akshobya

> 3. Mahatripurisundari - Panchanan/Somanath

> 4. Bhuvaneswari - Tryambaka

> 5. Bhairavi - Dakshinamurti

> 6. Chinamaste - Shiva-Kabandha

> 7. Dhumavati -

> 8. Bagalamukhi - Maharudra

> 9. Matangi - Shiva Matanga

> 10. Kamalatmika - Sadashiva

>

> These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that

> Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha

> implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your

> list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and

> the list you have derived?

> Again I re-iterate that the logic you have used is not right as it

> cannot be replicated.

> Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen

> ----------

> Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)

> www: http://srigaruda.com

> @: visti

>

> Narasimha P.V.R. Rao skrev:

> >

> > Namaste friends,

> >

> > > Narasimha's list is his own invention...

> >

> > Parasara *equated* planets to dasavataras of Vishnu in Brihat

> > Paaraasara Horaa Saastram, an authoritative Jyotish treatise.

> >

> > As you can see in the verse quoted by Narayan below, dasavataras of

> > Vishnu are *equated* to dasa mahavidyas in Munda Maalaa Tantra, a

> > respected tantra treatise regarding mahavidyas. For example,

> > " kR^iShnastu kaalikaa saakShaat raamamUrtishca taariNI "

literally

> > means " Krishna is literally Kaalika and Rama is Taarini " .

In Hindi, it

> > can be translated as " Krishen ji to saakshaat Kaalika hain aur

Raam ji

> > Taarini hain " .

> >

> > *

* *

> >

> > If a and b are *equated* and also b and c are *equated*, it is

logical

> > to infer that a and c can be equated.

> >

> > It is mischievous

to label this logical inference as my " own

> > invention " . The philosophical justification of the mapping is

mine,

> > but the list is NOT my invention.

> >

> > Those who want to accept the list given by author Bhattacharya, who,

> > according to Sarbani, does not quote a scriptural basis for his list,

> > are free to do so. But it is mischievous to call what I gave as my

> > " own invention " .

> >

> > Best regards,

> > Narasimha

> >

> > sohamsa

<sohamsa >,

Visti

> > Larsen <visti@> wrote:

> > >

> > > ??? ??? ?????

> > > Dear Sarbani and Swee, Namaskar.

> > > The verse that Narayan Iyer has given mentions nothing about the

Graha

> > > corresponding to the Mahavidya. The verse is otherwise mentioned

in

> > MANY

> > > tantras and is a well known one which shows which Mahavidya

corresponds

> > > to which Vishnu Avatara.

> > > Narasimha has merely inferred the Graha linkages and therefore

the list

> > > is his own research and is NOT supported by any treatise at all.

> > > In fact everyone SHOULD be encouraged to follow the list given

by Sri

> > > Jyotirbhushan Bhattacharya, as he HAS given a direct list of

Graha and

> > > corresponding Mahavidya. Narasimha's list is his own

invention... the

> > > sloka mentions nothing about the graha linkages.

> > >

> > > Just because Parasara equates Sun to Rama we should think Sun

should

> > > also be Tarini as per the Mahavidya-Vishnu avatara link? This is

not a

> > > proper logic, in fact when we were taught the Agni Purana on the

second

> > > year of Jaimini Sutras, and the names of Vishnu therein, we saw

a

> > > completely different concept of mapping of the grahas to the

name of

> > the

> > > avataras.

> > > This mapping that Narasimha has suggested is simply not

acceptable

> > as it

> > > is too simple an explanation, and doesn't bring out the real

importance

> > > as to how the Mahavidya and Vishnu Avatara are connected. I.e.

how the

> > > left foot corresponds to Tara and the right hand corresponds to

Rama,

> > > whilst the right foot is Kali and the left hand is Krishna and

how the

> > > hands and feet walk together in sync showing the Gati (feet) and

karma

> > > (hands) that are connected. This itself was taught to us on the

> > first year.

> > > Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen

> > > ----------

> > > Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)

> > > www: http://srigaruda.com

<http://srigaruda.com>

> > > @: visti@

Original

mail:

>

Dear Narayan,

>

> Thanks for the verse from Munda Maalaa Tantra. Out of all planet-mahavidya

> mappings I have seen, this is the most philosophically sound mapping.

>

> Sun - Taaraa - Raama

> Moon - Kaali - Krishna

> Mars - Bhairavi - Nrisimha

> Mercury - Maatangi - Buddha

> Jupiter - Dhumaavati - Vaamana

> Venus - Chhinnamastaa - Bhaargava Rama

> Saturn - Bagalamukhi - Koorma

> Rahu - Bhuvaneswari - Varaaha

> Ketu - Kamala - Matsya

>

> *

* *

>

> Vidya is knowledge. Mahavidya is supreme knowledge. Dasa mahavidyas are

the

> ten highest forms of knowledge that take us to moksha or liberation,

> approaching from different angles. Other kinds of knowledge (e.g.

> mathematics, physics, astronomy, astrology, grammar etc) do not liberate

us.

> But these ten kinds of knowledge liberate us. The deities (names and forms

> described in books for ten mahavidyas) are personifications of those ten

> types of supreme knowledge that liberate us.

>

> *

* *

>

> Please note one thing here. Moksha means overcoming the maayaa of the

> duality around us. Seeing some things as desirable, some as undesirable,

> some as pleasurable, some as painful, some as beautiful, some as ugly etc

is

> what binds us. Overcoming the duality and seeing all as Brahman is

> liberation or moksha.

>

> Different planets represent different aspects of our selves. The duality

> around us and the way to overcome it seem different from different angles.

> From the point of view of individual soul (Sun), this maayaa is something

> that needs to be overcome by crossing and reaching the other end (supreme

> cosmic soul). From the point of view of mind (Moon), this duality is

> something that clouds the vision and needs to be destroyed so that it

cannot

> tempt again. From the point of view of the intellect/discrimination/dhee

> (Jupiter), it issomething that is non-existent anyway ( " so what was

the

> problem in the first place? " ), like shapes made of smoke. From the

point of

> view of initiative and energy within us (Mars), it is something that needs

> to be fought hard and fearlessly. From the point of view of the learning

> ability within us (Mercury), it is something that needs to be learnt and

> understood fully so that we can overcome it. From the point of view of

> enjoyment and happiness (Venus), it is something that needs to be accepted

> and enjoyed and not something to fear or avoid ( " after all, all is

Brahman.

> Then why stay away from enjoyments? " ). And so on.

>

> But remember one important thing. Whichever approach is taken to

overcoming

> duality, the end result is the same. One first masters the approach. It

> becomes part of one's common sense and thinking. One eventually overcomes

> duality. One becomes self-realized and becomes liberated. That end result

is

> the same irrespective of the approach chosen.

>

> *

* *

>

> Sun is the soul within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from

delving

> deep into this aspect is what makes one wade (tar=swim/wade/cross) the

ocean

> of delusion and get to the source. If you master the knowledge that helps

> one view the world as an ocean that needs to be crossed to reach the

> supreme, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation.

Taaraa

> personifies this knowledge.

>

> Moon is the mind within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from

> delving deep into this aspect is an understanding of attachments and

> desires, their impermanence and how to kill them. If you master the

> knowledge that kills all attachments and desires and gives perfect control

> on the mind, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation.

> Kaali personifies this knowledge.

>

> Mars is the energy and initiative within us. The highest form of knowledge

> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one fearlessness

of

> anything in the universe. If you master the knowledge that makes you

utterly

> fearless and you do not fear anything (including death or pain!) other

> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bhairavi personifies

> this knowledge.

>

> Mercury is knowledge and learning ability within us. The highest form of

> knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one

> learning of various topics. If you master the knowledge that give you

> mastery of all kinds of learning through logical and rational thinking,

> other things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Maatangi

> personifies this knowledge. In fact, some people associate Maatangi with

> Saraswati. Saraswati is also known as " Maatanga Kanya " .

>

> Jupiter is the intellect, wisdom and discrimination (dhee shakti) within

us.

> The highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is

> that all is delusion. The individual soul and individual mind and

everything

> they perceive is just an illusion. All that is there is Brahman. Any other

> perceptions, of various good or bad things, are just a delusion, like

> figures made of smoke. If you master the knowledge that makes your

intellect

> shine, you will realize that the entire world is a delusion and not

deluded

> by anything anymore. Then other things will follow and you eventually get

> liberation. Dhumaavati personifies this knowledge.

>

> Venus is the spirit of enjoyment and bliss. The highest form of knowledge

> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what makes one egoless and

> blissful. If you master the knowledge that makes you utterly fearless and

> you do not fear anything, including death or pain, other things will

follow

> and you eventually get liberation. Chhinnamasta personifies this

knowledge.

> She is depicted as a deity holding her own severed head, standing near a

> naked couple in copulation and surrounded by associates who are drinking

> wine. One mastering this knowledge need not stay away from any pleasures,

> but one learns to see god even those pleasures. However, pleasure obtained

> with an ego ( " *I* am enjoying this act or object " ) binds. The

headless state

> symbolizes egolessness. If one has overcome I-ness, pleasures are not

> binding. One not thinking in terms of " *I* am enjoying " but having

no sense

> of " I " can live life without running away from any pleasures or

undertaking

> any austerities and yet become liberated.

>

> Saturn is the spirit of hard work within us. He also represents our

> weaknesses and sins. The highest form of knowledge coming from delving

deep

> into this aspect is what makes us realize our internal enemies and destroy

> them. If you master the knowledge that makes you overcome weaknesses such

as

> laziness and internal enemies such as lust, anger, greed, jealosy etc,

other

> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bagalamukhi

> personifies this knowledge. Most of her mantras ask to destroy enemies and

> so people foolishly think that she is the one who gives success in

> litigation and worship her for court cases. This is like going to a king

to

> ask for two spoons of sugar for your milk. You go to the king for bigger

> things and a neighbor is enough for giving you two spoons of sugar. The

> enemies destroyed by Bagalamukhi are internal enemies and your own

laziness.

> Remember, she is a mahavidya, i.e. a type of supreme knowledge that

> liberates you!

>

> Rahu is the spirit of material well-being within us. Rahu is the one who

> binds us to rebirth (this is why Saturn showing sins and Rahu showing

> rebirth are important in the death chart). The highest form of knowledge

> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives us worldly success

> in a dhaarmik way. If you master the knowledge that makes you materially

> successful in a dharmik way, you become successful and fulfil all your

> duties and debts in the world and eventually get liberation. Bhuvaneswari

> personifies this knowledge.

>

> Ketu is the spirit of of detachment and Vedic knowledge within us. The

> highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is the

> essense of Veda. If you master the knowledge that enables you to be in

> oneness with the supreme cosmic being, you eventually get liberation.

Kamala

> (Mahaalakshmi) personifies this knowledge. According to saptashati rahasya

> also, Mahaalakshmi is the Aadyaa (the first One). She is the energy of

> supreme cosmic being. She divides Herself into 3 parts - Mahaakaali,

> Mahaalakshmi and MahaaSaraswati and they create Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and

> their consorts. Kamala represents the knowledge of the supreme cosmic

energy

> of the supreme cosmic being.

>

> *

* *

>

> One of the above is not superior to the other. Depending on your vasanas

> (mental conditioning), attitudes, likes and dislikes, depending on which

> aspect of your personality dominates over other aspects (the sinfulness

and

> weaknesses? or the interest in learning things? or the spirit of fighting?

> or the sense of enjoyment? etc), one Mahavidya may be more suitable than

> others, as that knowledge uses your strong aspect and moulds that aspect

to

> take you towards liberation. Do not compare them. Take the one that is

most

> suitable, but do master that aspect.

>

> *

* *

>

> There are some who do Dasa Mahavidya sadhana by doing one Mahavidya's

mantra

> for one month, then switch to another and so on. They think that by doing

> each mahavidya mantra for a certain count, they " finish " the

mahavidya

> sadhana. This is wrong and serves no useful purpose. Instead, one should

> pick any ONE mahavidya and succeed in that sadhana. The definition of

> success is that the knowledge represented by that deity becomes part of

your

> common sense - you understand that knowledge and ooze that knowledge in

your

> thoughts and actions. Whether you experience the deity as an external

> human-like form (who may impart some knowledge to you) or as an internal

> human-like form or as light or as sound is secondary, but the end result

> should be that the knowledge represented by Her should become common sense

> and second nature to you. One claiming visions or siddhi of a mahavidya

but

> not showing the corresponding knowledge is bluffing.

>

> There are many people who do mahavidya sadhana and yet many others who

claim

> to have siddhi in one or more mahavidyas, but very few who actually

possess

> any of the ten mahavidyas. The area of mahavidya sadhana is one of the

most

> ill-understood in today's age of ignorance and half-baked knowledge. It is

> easier to possess lower vidyas or lower shaktis, but mahavidyas are beyond

> the capability of understanding for most people.

>

> Best regards,

> Narasimha

June 9, 2009

Dear Sarbani,

Good insight about Venus. I want to share here something about Nitya Devis, I got from web. 15 vowels are corelated with 15 Nityas as follows,

Kameshvari Nitya The first Nitya in the cycle is Kameshvari, a name which means Lady of Desire.

Bhagamalini Nitya whose name refers to the flowering yoni, is the second of the cycle of the waxing Moon.

Nityaklinna Nitya Her name means Wet Nitya, or Always Wet.

Bherunda the fourth Nitya, has three eyes and eight arms, with her body the colour of molten gold, wearing beautiful ornaments on her hands, feet, arms and around her waist. She smiles sweetly with her hands holding noose, goad, shield, sword, mace, thunderbolt (vajra), bow and arrow.

Vahnivasini Nitya is the sixth Nitya (Eternity) in the cycle, her name meaning the dweller in fire who devours the universe. She is the dweller in fire

Mahavajreshvari Nitya

Duti Nitya is an expansion of the Kalpasutras She is called Shivaduti because she makes Shiva her messenger (Duti).

Tvarita Nitya is the ninth Nitya (Eternity) in the cycle. She is called Tvarita ("Swift") as She grants fruit to the sadhaka quickly. She is of auspicious form, in the first flush of youth, and dark in colour. She has 3 eyes and 4 hands and Her beautiful lotus- like face smiles gently.

Kulasundari Nitya comprise the Tripura bulb which is the united state of knower, knowledge and object of knowledge; the three humours of Vata, Kapha and Sleshma; and Fire, Sun and the Moon. Kulasundari is identical with Bala and placed in the Eastern lion-seat

Nitya Nitya Like the dawn sun, ruling the Shaktis of the bodily dhatus (Dakini, Shakini, Rakini & c),

Nilapataka Nitya means Sapphire Banner She is nila (sapphire) in hue with five faces and ten arms, wearing red clothes and beautiful gems. Her left hands show noose, banner, shield, horn bow, and the mudra granting gifts. Her right hands show goad, dart, sword, arrows and the mudra banishing fear

Vijaya Nitya She brings victory in battle and success in buying and selling, hence her name, Victorious.

Sarvamangala Nitya means "all auspicious" She has two arms and one head, sits on her lotus yantra and has eyes which represent the sun and the moon, while she smiles sweetly.

Jvalamalini Nitya means "garlanded with flames"

Chitra Nitya The last Nitya in the cycle is Chitra. Her name means variegated and she wears a silk garment of different colours, has four arms, one head and holds noose, goad, and shows the gestures granting boons and dispelling fears.

This is very new to me. Any comment on this?

Regards

Jk

sohamsa [sohamsa ]On Behalf Of Sarbani Rath09 June 2009 13:05sohamsa ; Cc: vedic astrology ; Subject: RE: Consorts of Dasa Mahavidyas Given in Todala Tantra

Hare Rama Krishna

Namastestu Mahamaye...

Dear Narsimha,

(Narasimha) Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture and yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the mails.

An outcry??? Regarding what?? No, no you have got the wrong end of the stick here. The planet-mahavidya mapping is used by many priests and pundits who are in no way associated with SJC. They even have them up in their websites. So please do not start an agenda of saying this is “SJC”’s version/unsanctioned etc. Let us instead have an intellectual theological debate, which is far more interesting. YOU can say that though in practice most priests and books follow a certain norm of planet-mahavidya co-relation, but on reflection a different order appeals to you and you are sharing that with us.

Mundamala Tantra is just one of the tantras, and not the top of the rung. It would be interesting to see what the Mahanirvan, the Gyanarnava, the Pranatoshini, the Mahanil, the Kularnava tantras and specially the Yamala texts have to say on this. I am delighted that you have at last succumbed to Devi worship. I remember 2-3 years back in Boston you rejected all kinds of Devi worship including the Sri Sri Chandi.

Mahavidya is THE supreme knowledge. When you write:

(Narasimha) From the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality needs to be enjoyed and not run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta depicted accompanied by a naked couple in copulation and associates drinking wine is that nothing is impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus (enjoyment).

Correctly you have pointed out that we should not be superficial. To say that the symbolism behind the copulating couple in Chhinnamasta’s iconography is about enjoyment is highly superficial. You have missed the boat here. Chhinnamasta is all about suppressing that. There have been many works by renowned scholars in both east and the west on this. There is surely nothing wrong with Venus. The problem occurs when Rahu is associated Venus. That’s when we talk of re-directing that undesirable carnal energy. Chhinnamasta represents that unleashed carnality of Rahu. Venus on the other hand is the purest of them all. After all he gets exalted in the sign of maharishis. Venus has the capacity to bloom like the lotus from the cesspool like mud of life. At a deeper level, this blooming of the lotus is really the blooming of our soul, the awakening. That is why the Sharadatilaka tantra advises us to worship Kamalatmika in water as the sun rises. In her mantra she is addressed as Jagatprasutyai ...the one who gives birth h to this world. I think you need to work a little more on this, and I am sure Mother will show the way. There are fantastic works done on the mahavidyas by many exponents from the different gurukuls of India, though of course no one writes the really deeper level experiences which can only stem from sadhana.

Incidentally, there are many quiet members in these lists who are extremely spiritual and any of whom have years of experience in devi worship. I appeal to them to share their experiences with us.

Best Regards,

Sarbani Rath

Homepage: http://sarbani.com

Sagittarius Publications: http://sagittariuspublications.com

Sohamsa: http://sohamsa.com

Sri Jagannath Centre: http://.org

sohamsa [sohamsa ] On Behalf Of Narasimha P.V.R. Rao09 June 2009 09:48sohamsa ; ; vedic astrology ; Subject: Consorts of Dasa Mahavidyas Given in Todala Tantra

Namaste,

> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so > Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.

I never talked of superficial things such as "complexion". Moreover, you are replacing Kaalika with crows in your sircasm and making fun really of Tantra and Parasara.

* * *

> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:> > <see below for list>

> > These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that > Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha > implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your > list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and > the list you have derived?

Instead of getting caught in superficial and extraneous factors, let us go to the crux.

Mahavidyas and their consorts are not showing the same thing, but two different things that have a synergy. The list of planets mapping to mahavidyas and those mapping to mahavidya consorts will accordingly have to be different. I will elaborate with examples.

Each mahavidya represents one form of liberating supreme knowledge that helps one overcome duality and become liberated, starting from different vantage points within duality and approaching liberation from them. Consorts are the factors that aid in that approach.

* * *

For example, Kaali is equated to Krishna by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Krishna is equated to Moon by Parasara. So Kaali is shown by Moon. From the perspective of Moon (mind), this duality is a very troublesome temptation and the way to overcome it is to realize its impermanence and destroy the duality so that it cannot tempt again.

During this process, the ideal companion of Moon is Saturn (vairagya and discipline). So the consort of Kaali shown by Moon is Mahakala shown by Saturn.

Take Taaraa. She is equated to Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Raama is equated to Sun by Parasara. So Taaraa is shown by Sun. From the perspective of Sun (soul), this duality is an ocean of delusion that needs to be waded across to reach the supreme cosmic soul.

During this process, the ideal companion of Sun is Jupiter (intelligence and discrimination). Just as rajaguru (Jupiter) guides king (Sun), the intellect and discrimination will aid soul in the process of wading the ocean of duality and reaching the supreme. So the consort of Taaraa shown by Sun is Akshobhya shown by Jupiter.

Take Chhinnamasta. She is equated to Bhaargava Raama by Munda Maalaa Tantra and Bhaargava Raama is equated to Venus by Parasara. So Chhinnamasta is shown by Venus. From the perspective of Venus (enjoyment), this duality needs to be enjoyed and not run away from. The symbolism behind Chhinnamasta depicted accompanied by a naked couple in copulation and associates drinking wine is that nothing is impure and all is Brahman. That is the take of Venus (enjoyment).

During this process, the ideal companion of Venus (enjoyment) is Ketu (detachment and egolessness). Only when the enjoyment is gone through without ego and identification can it be conducive to liberation. So the consort of Chhinnamasta shown by Venus is Shiva-Kabandha shown by Ketu. Kabandha means the headless one.

As Dhumaavati is shown by Jupiter (dhee, i.e. intellect and discrimination), there is no need for a companion. If the force of dhee is there, one realizes that all is god and does not distinguish between good and bad, happy and sad etc and becomes liberated easily. One with a strong aatmabala or manobala can waver and may need supplementing influences, but one with a strong dheeshakti is fine. There is no supplementing influence.

* * *

Now let us take your example. Mahatripuarasundari is equated to Kalki by Munda Mala Tantra and Kalki is equated to lagna by Maharshi Parasara. So Tripura is lagna.

While Sun and Moon show the soul and mind, lagna shows the individualized consciousness through which we operate in the world. It includes body and more. It is lagna through which we act in the world. From the point of view of lagna, duality is to be overcome by doing what is expected from us by Nature and engaging in actions. Tripura personifies the supreme liberating knowledge of using the individualized consciousness to engage in perfect actions in the world to liberate oneself.

Now, the most useful companion of lagna in this process is Moon (mind). The actor within you (lagna) needs mind as mind tells the actor what to do. Thus, the ideal companion of lagna is Moon. Accordingly, the consort of Mahatripurasundari shown by lagna is Somanatha shown by Moon.

* * *

You can find similar logic for all of them. Here is the full list:

1. Kaali (Moon) - Mahaa Kaala (Saturn)2. Taaraa (Sun) - Akshobhya (Jupiter)3. Mahatripurisundari (Lagna) - Somanaatha (Moon)4. Bhuvaneswari (Rahu) - Tryambaka (Venus)5. Bhairavi (Mars) - Dakshinaamurti (Sun)6. Chhinamastaa (Venus) - Shiva-Kabandha (Ketu)7. Dhumavati (Jupiter) - None8. Bagalaamukhi (Saturn) - Mahaa Rudra (Mars)9. Maatangi (Mercury) - Shiva Maatanga (Rahu)10. Kamalatmika (Ketu) - Vishnurupi Sadaashiva (Mercury)

Short notes on the ones I did not cover before:

Bhairavi represents the path of Mars, i.e. viewing the duality as a challenge that needs to be fought hard and fearlessly and not fear anything, including death and pain. The ideal companion is aatmabala, represented by Sun, just as a good king (Sun) is an ideal supplement for a good commander (Mars).

Bagalaamukhi represents the path of Saturn, i.e. viewing the duality as that which results from one's own weaknesses, sins and internal enemies and seeing a conquest of internal enemies as the key to overcoming duality. The fighting spirit represented by Mars is the ideal companion in the process of overcoming enemies. Mahaa Rudra shown by Mars is hence the consort of Bagalamukhi.

Maatangi represents the path of Mercury, i.e. viewing the duality as that which needs to be learnt, understood, mastered and then overcome. Free thinking without boundaries, represented by Rahu, is the ideal companion in this path. Maatanga means free spirited one or free roamer and Shiva Maatanga is such a form of Shiva. He is the consort of Maatangi.

* * *

Friends, there may be an outcry to my writings from astrologers used to a different planet-mahavidya map (which is NOT sanctioned by any scripture and yet popular today in some circles). I may not be able to respond to all the mails.

But please do bear in mind that there is a simple and uniform philosophy behind the concept of Mahavidyas. Flowery expositions without a uniform philosophy and even a basic uniform understanding of what Mahavidyas are for are useless. If you are told logic like "Tripurasundari holds sugarcane. Mercury shows sugar cane. So Tripurasundari is shown by Mercury", reject such superficial logic. If somebody tells you that a mahavidya is for winning lawsuits or for getting power or getting wealth, reject such things.

Please remember that mahavidyas are forms of *supreme liberating knowledge*. The path to liberation looks different from the point of view of different planets.

Best regards,NarasimhaDo a Short Homam Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/homamDo Pitri Tarpanas Yourself: http://www.VedicAstrologer.org/tarpanaSpirituality: Free Jyotish lessons (MP3): http://vedicastro.home.comcast.netFree Jyotish software (Windows): http://www.VedicAstrologer.orgSri Jagannath Centre (SJC) website: http://www.SriJagannath.org

sohamsa , Visti Larsen <visti wrote:>> ??? ??? ?????> Dear Narasimha, Namaskar.> Great... so because crows are black, as is Krishna's complexion, so > Crows and Krishna are both Moon. People here know better than that.> Here's another list for you from Todala Tantra:> > 1. Dakshina/Kali - MahaKaal> 2. Tara - Akshobya> 3. Mahatripurisundari - Panchanan/Somanath> 4. Bhuvaneswari - Tryambaka> 5. Bhairavi - Dakshinamurti> 6. Chinamaste - Shiva-Kabandha> 7. Dhumavati -> 8. Bagalamukhi - Maharudra> 9. Matangi - Shiva Matanga> 10. Kamalatmika - Sadashiva> > These are the Mahavidya (left) and their spouses (right side). See that > Mahatripurasundari's spouse is Somanatha, and surely the name Soma-Natha > implies that he is the Jyotirlinga associated with the Moon. But in your > list Moon is Kali, so where are we at now with the logic you used and > the list you have derived?> Again I re-iterate that the logic you have used is not right as it > cannot be replicated.> Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen> ----------> Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)> www: http://srigaruda.com> @: visti > Narasimha P.V.R. Rao skrev:> >> >> > Namaste friends,> > > > > Narasimha's list is his own invention...> > > > Parasara *equated* planets to dasavataras of Vishnu in Brihat > > Paaraasara Horaa Saastram, an authoritative Jyotish treatise.> > > > As you can see in the verse quoted by Narayan below, dasavataras of > > Vishnu are *equated* to dasa mahavidyas in Munda Maalaa Tantra, a > > respected tantra treatise regarding mahavidyas. For example, > > "kR^iShnastu kaalikaa saakShaat raamamUrtishca taariNI" literally > > means "Krishna is literally Kaalika and Rama is Taarini". In Hindi, it > > can be translated as "Krishen ji to saakshaat Kaalika hain aur Raam ji > > Taarini hain".> > > > * * *> > > > If a and b are *equated* and also b and c are *equated*, it is logical > > to infer that a and c can be equated.> > > > It is mischievous to label this logical inference as my "own > > invention". The philosophical justification of the mapping is mine, > > but the list is NOT my invention.> > > > Those who want to accept the list given by author Bhattacharya, who, > > according to Sarbani, does not quote a scriptural basis for his list, > > are free to do so. But it is mischievous to call what I gave as my > > "own invention".> > > > Best regards,> > Narasimha> > > > sohamsa <sohamsa >, Visti > > Larsen <visti@> wrote:> > >> > > ??? ??? ?????> > > Dear Sarbani and Swee, Namaskar.> > > The verse that Narayan Iyer has given mentions nothing about the Graha> > > corresponding to the Mahavidya. The verse is otherwise mentioned in > > MANY> > > tantras and is a well known one which shows which Mahavidya corresponds> > > to which Vishnu Avatara.> > > Narasimha has merely inferred the Graha linkages and therefore the list> > > is his own research and is NOT supported by any treatise at all.> > > In fact everyone SHOULD be encouraged to follow the list given by Sri> > > Jyotirbhushan Bhattacharya, as he HAS given a direct list of Graha and> > > corresponding Mahavidya. Narasimha's list is his own invention... the> > > sloka mentions nothing about the graha linkages.> > >> > > Just because Parasara equates Sun to Rama we should think Sun should> > > also be Tarini as per the Mahavidya-Vishnu avatara link? This is not a> > > proper logic, in fact when we were taught the Agni Purana on the second> > > year of Jaimini Sutras, and the names of Vishnu therein, we saw a> > > completely different concept of mapping of the grahas to the name of > > the> > > avataras.> > > This mapping that Narasimha has suggested is simply not acceptable > > as it> > > is too simple an explanation, and doesn't bring out the real importance> > > as to how the Mahavidya and Vishnu Avatara are connected. I.e. how the> > > left foot corresponds to Tara and the right hand corresponds to Rama,> > > whilst the right foot is Kali and the left hand is Krishna and how the> > > hands and feet walk together in sync showing the Gati (feet) and karma> > > (hands) that are connected. This itself was taught to us on the > > first year.> > > Yours sincerely, Visti Larsen> > > ----------> > > Jyotish Guru (Vedic Astrologer)> > > www: http://srigaruda.com <http://srigaruda.com>> > > @: visti@

Original mail:

> Dear Narayan,> > Thanks for the verse from Munda Maalaa Tantra. Out of all planet-mahavidya> mappings I have seen, this is the most philosophically sound mapping.> > Sun - Taaraa - Raama> Moon - Kaali - Krishna> Mars - Bhairavi - Nrisimha> Mercury - Maatangi - Buddha> Jupiter - Dhumaavati - Vaamana> Venus - Chhinnamastaa - Bhaargava Rama> Saturn - Bagalamukhi - Koorma> Rahu - Bhuvaneswari - Varaaha> Ketu - Kamala - Matsya> > * * *> > Vidya is knowledge. Mahavidya is supreme knowledge. Dasa mahavidyas are the> ten highest forms of knowledge that take us to moksha or liberation,> approaching from different angles. Other kinds of knowledge (e.g.> mathematics, physics, astronomy, astrology, grammar etc) do not liberate us.> But these ten kinds of knowledge liberate us. The deities (names and forms> described in books for ten mahavidyas) are personifications of those ten> types of supreme knowledge that liberate us.> > * * *> > Please note one thing here. Moksha means overcoming the maayaa of the> duality around us. Seeing some things as desirable, some as undesirable,> some as pleasurable, some as painful, some as beautiful, some as ugly etc is> what binds us. Overcoming the duality and seeing all as Brahman is> liberation or moksha.> > Different planets represent different aspects of our selves. The duality> around us and the way to overcome it seem different from different angles.> From the point of view of individual soul (Sun), this maayaa is something> that needs to be overcome by crossing and reaching the other end (supreme> cosmic soul). From the point of view of mind (Moon), this duality is> something that clouds the vision and needs to be destroyed so that it cannot> tempt again. From the point of view of the intellect/discrimination/dhee> (Jupiter), it issomething that is non-existent anyway ("so what was the> problem in the first place?"), like shapes made of smoke. From the point of> view of initiative and energy within us (Mars), it is something that needs> to be fought hard and fearlessly. From the point of view of the learning> ability within us (Mercury), it is something that needs to be learnt and> understood fully so that we can overcome it. From the point of view of> enjoyment and happiness (Venus), it is something that needs to be accepted> and enjoyed and not something to fear or avoid ("after all, all is Brahman.> Then why stay away from enjoyments?"). And so on.> > But remember one important thing. Whichever approach is taken to overcoming> duality, the end result is the same. One first masters the approach. It> becomes part of one's common sense and thinking. One eventually overcomes> duality. One becomes self-realized and becomes liberated. That end result is> the same irrespective of the approach chosen.> > * * *> > Sun is the soul within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from delving> deep into this aspect is what makes one wade (tar=swim/wade/cross) the ocean> of delusion and get to the source. If you master the knowledge that helps> one view the world as an ocean that needs to be crossed to reach the> supreme, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Taaraa> personifies this knowledge.> > Moon is the mind within us. The highest form of knowledge coming from> delving deep into this aspect is an understanding of attachments and> desires, their impermanence and how to kill them. If you master the> knowledge that kills all attachments and desires and gives perfect control> on the mind, other things will follow and you eventually get liberation.> Kaali personifies this knowledge.> > Mars is the energy and initiative within us. The highest form of knowledge> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one fearlessness of> anything in the universe. If you master the knowledge that makes you utterly> fearless and you do not fear anything (including death or pain!) other> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bhairavi personifies> this knowledge.> > Mercury is knowledge and learning ability within us. The highest form of> knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives one> learning of various topics. If you master the knowledge that give you> mastery of all kinds of learning through logical and rational thinking,> other things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Maatangi> personifies this knowledge. In fact, some people associate Maatangi with> Saraswati. Saraswati is also known as "Maatanga Kanya".> > Jupiter is the intellect, wisdom and discrimination (dhee shakti) within us.> The highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is> that all is delusion. The individual soul and individual mind and everything> they perceive is just an illusion. All that is there is Brahman. Any other> perceptions, of various good or bad things, are just a delusion, like> figures made of smoke. If you master the knowledge that makes your intellect> shine, you will realize that the entire world is a delusion and not deluded> by anything anymore. Then other things will follow and you eventually get> liberation. Dhumaavati personifies this knowledge.> > Venus is the spirit of enjoyment and bliss. The highest form of knowledge> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what makes one egoless and> blissful. If you master the knowledge that makes you utterly fearless and> you do not fear anything, including death or pain, other things will follow> and you eventually get liberation. Chhinnamasta personifies this knowledge.> She is depicted as a deity holding her own severed head, standing near a> naked couple in copulation and surrounded by associates who are drinking> wine. One mastering this knowledge need not stay away from any pleasures,> but one learns to see god even those pleasures. However, pleasure obtained> with an ego ("*I* am enjoying this act or object") binds. The headless state> symbolizes egolessness. If one has overcome I-ness, pleasures are not> binding. One not thinking in terms of "*I* am enjoying" but having no sense> of "I" can live life without running away from any pleasures or undertaking> any austerities and yet become liberated.> > Saturn is the spirit of hard work within us. He also represents our> weaknesses and sins. The highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep> into this aspect is what makes us realize our internal enemies and destroy> them. If you master the knowledge that makes you overcome weaknesses such as> laziness and internal enemies such as lust, anger, greed, jealosy etc, other> things will follow and you eventually get liberation. Bagalamukhi> personifies this knowledge. Most of her mantras ask to destroy enemies and> so people foolishly think that she is the one who gives success in> litigation and worship her for court cases. This is like going to a king to> ask for two spoons of sugar for your milk. You go to the king for bigger> things and a neighbor is enough for giving you two spoons of sugar. The> enemies destroyed by Bagalamukhi are internal enemies and your own laziness.> Remember, she is a mahavidya, i.e. a type of supreme knowledge that> liberates you!> > Rahu is the spirit of material well-being within us. Rahu is the one who> binds us to rebirth (this is why Saturn showing sins and Rahu showing> rebirth are important in the death chart). The highest form of knowledge> coming from delving deep into this aspect is what gives us worldly success> in a dhaarmik way. If you master the knowledge that makes you materially> successful in a dharmik way, you become successful and fulfil all your> duties and debts in the world and eventually get liberation. Bhuvaneswari> personifies this knowledge.> > Ketu is the spirit of of detachment and Vedic knowledge within us. The> highest form of knowledge coming from delving deep into this aspect is the> essense of Veda. If you master the knowledge that enables you to be in> oneness with the supreme cosmic being, you eventually get liberation. Kamala> (Mahaalakshmi) personifies this knowledge. According to saptashati rahasya> also, Mahaalakshmi is the Aadyaa (the first One). She is the energy of> supreme cosmic being. She divides Herself into 3 parts - Mahaakaali,> Mahaalakshmi and MahaaSaraswati and they create Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and> their consorts. Kamala represents the knowledge of the supreme cosmic energy> of the supreme cosmic being.> > * * *> > One of the above is not superior to the other. Depending on your vasanas> (mental conditioning), attitudes, likes and dislikes, depending on which> aspect of your personality dominates over other aspects (the sinfulness and> weaknesses? or the interest in learning things? or the spirit of fighting?> or the sense of enjoyment? etc), one Mahavidya may be more suitable than> others, as that knowledge uses your strong aspect and moulds that aspect to> take you towards liberation. Do not compare them. Take the one that is most> suitable, but do master that aspect.> > * * *> > There are some who do Dasa Mahavidya sadhana by doing one Mahavidya's mantra> for one month, then switch to another and so on. They think that by doing> each mahavidya mantra for a certain count, they "finish" the mahavidya> sadhana. This is wrong and serves no useful purpose. Instead, one should> pick any ONE mahavidya and succeed in that sadhana. The definition of> success is that the knowledge represented by that deity becomes part of your> common sense - you understand that knowledge and ooze that knowledge in your> thoughts and actions. Whether you experience the deity as an external> human-like form (who may impart some knowledge to you) or as an internal> human-like form or as light or as sound is secondary, but the end result> should be that the knowledge represented by Her should become common sense> and second nature to you. One claiming visions or siddhi of a mahavidya but> not showing the corresponding knowledge is bluffing.> > There are many people who do mahavidya sadhana and yet many others who claim> to have siddhi in one or more mahavidyas, but very few who actually possess> any of the ten mahavidyas. The area of mahavidya sadhana is one of the most> ill-understood in today's age of ignorance and half-baked knowledge. It is> easier to possess lower vidyas or lower shaktis, but mahavidyas are beyond> the capability of understanding for most people.> > Best regards,> Narasimha

June 9, 2009

Hare Rama Krishna,Dear Narasimha, Visti, Sarbani et al,Namaste,Could all of you please tone down the rhetoric so that we can discuss the issue at hand. I have a few basic questions and hope atleast one among you can answer it/them!

1) Can any of you provide a direct quote from any of the 64 authentic tantras that relates maha vidyas to planets? 2) Who do tantras stop after mapping/relating maha vidyas to dasa avataras?3) Why hasn't Parasara related grahas to maha vidyas, where as he found it so convenient to relate them to dasa avataras?

warm regards,VishnuOn Tue, Jun 9, 2009 at 2:34 AM, Sarbani Rath <sarbani wrote: