Consorts of Dasa Mahavidyas Given in Todala Tantra

[Guest guest]

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

 

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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