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Devi Rahasya Tantra

There are many compilations or tantrik digests, discussing a variety of topics a sadhaka or sadhvini
needs to know. Below is a summary of the contents of the Devi Rahasya, which will give an idea of the
scope of this type of work. There is little philosophy here; practically the entire contents of the work
deals with mantra, yantra, puja and sadhana of the different gods and goddesses discussed. I have
translated some of these chapters as part of The Magic of Kali. Rahasya means secret and the work
does cover most of the topics a practitioner would need to know. These include purascarana, which is
the preparatory work before puja proper can start. This is very arduous, involving the recitation of
mantra and a ritual which spans many hours. The Devi Rahasya, however, introduces some short-cuts
for the Kaula initiate.
The panchangas (five-limbs) in Devi Rahasya give the essential information for a sadhaka or sadhvini
and give intriguing insights into various aspects of devata worshipped by the Hindu tantrikas. .
Chapter 1

This deals with the characteristics of Guru and pupil, with the planetary positions and times of
initiation, with the attendant disqualifications on both pupils and gurus. It also deals with the sequence
of initiation, the purification of the disciple, and the initiation of Shaktis.
Chapter 2

The different mantras of the Devis are given. The Devis mentioned are Bala (an aspect of
Tripurasundari as a young girl), Panchadashi and Sodasi (Tripurasundari), Tripura, Vidyarajni (Queen
of Vidya), Bhadrakali, Matangi, Bhuvaneshvari, Ugratara, Chinnamasta, Sumukhi (Pretty Face),
Sarasvati, Annapurna (Full of Food), Mahalaksmi, Sarika(Small Bodied), Sarada(Autumnal),
Indraksi(Indra's eyes), Bagalamukhi, Mahaturi(The Transcendent Fourth), Maharajni(Great Queen),
Jvalamukhi(Fire-Faced -- Devi as a volcanic mountain), Bhida, Kalaratri (Night of Time), Bhavani,
Vajrayogini, Dhumravarahi(Smoky Varahi Devi), Siddhalakshmi, Kulavagisvari, Padmavati, Kubjika
(Crooked One), Gauri (Fair One), Khecari, Nilasarasvati, Parasakti.

Chapter 3
Gives the different Saiva mantras such as: Mrtyunjaya(Siva as Conqueror of Death), Amrtesvara,
Vatukabhairava (Siva in His aspect as a terrifying boy), Mahesvara, Siva, Sadasiva, Rudra, Mahadeva,
Karala(Formidable One), Vikarala, Nilakantha, Sarva, Pasupati (Lord of Beasts), Mrda, Pinaki, Girisa,
Bhima, Mahaganapati, Kumara, Krodhanesa, Isa, Kapalisa, Krurabhairava (Cruel Bhairava),
Samharabhairava (Dissolution Bhairava), Isvara, Bharga, Rurubhairava, Kalagnibhairava, Sadyojata
(instantly arising -- a name of Siva as penis), Aghora, Mahakala and Kamesvara.
Chapter 4

The different mantras of Visnu are here given. These are the Laksmi-Narayana mantra, and the
mantras of Radhakrsna, Visnu, Laksmi-Nrsimha, Laksmi-Varaha, Bhargava, Sita-Rama, Janardana,
Visvaksena and Laksmi-Vasudeva;
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Chapter 5

The different Utkelana (laying open) of the mantras given above are given. These are mantras which
themselves open the mantras up to use.

Chapter 6
Gives the vitalising mantras of the Devatas described in chapters 2,3 and 4.

Chapter 7
In this chapter the mantras used for reminding any curses that may have become attached to the
mantras in chapters 2, 3 and 4 are given.
Chapter 8

The method of reciting mantras is here described. The Guru-puja mantra is given.
Chapter 9

Deals with the method of putting together the mantras already described in chapters 2,3 and 4.
Chapter 10

Purascarana, or the performance of acts by which a given mantra may be made efficacious, is
described in this chapter. This is performed by reciting it 400,000, 200,000 or 100,000 times. It should
be performed under a fig tree, in the wilderness, in the cremation ground, in a desert, at crossroads, and
should be started at midnight or midday. Purascarana should be done under auspicious astrological
configurations after having worshipped one' s own guru. A yantra is described which should be used in
its application. The sadhaka has to fill four pots at the cardinal points. At the end of the chapter
alternative methods of doing this necessary act are described. These are through sexual intercourse
with an initiated sakti, by reciting the mantra during the birth of a child of the in-group, on a dead body
in a cremation ground, during the time the Sun takes to rise and set, in a solar or in a lunar eclipse.
Chapter 11

Continues the topic of the previous chapter, and describes the Homa which should be done.
Chapter 12

Describes in code form the unfolding of the different yantras of the Devatas described in chapters 2,3
and 4.

Chapter 13
This chapter describes how an amulet may be made of the yantra of one' s own Istadevata, bound into a
ball, and carried upon the person. This amulet is said to give miraculous results. The yantra should be
drawn upon birch-bark using 8 different kinds of scent. These are described as Svayambhu,
Kundagola, Rocana, Aguru, camphor, musk, honey, and that arising from Malaya (i.e. sandal). The
first two are well-known in the tantras as arising from various Kula women at the menstruation time.
The others have similar significance in the left handed and Kaula tantras. Various methods of
purification are given in the text, and it is declared that the 1,000 names of the particular Devata should
be written around the yantra.
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Chapter 14

Gives details of the Rsis or Seers of the various mantras.

Chapter 15

The sadhana of the cremation ground. begins to be described. This chapter contains only 13 verses but
there is an extensive commentary provided.

Chapter 16
Continues the topic. The different Bhairavas of the elements have to be worshipped. Mahakala-
bhairava is the Seer of the mantra, Ushnik is the metre, Sri Smasana is the Devata, Hrim is the bija,
Hum is the sakti and Krim is the kilaka. The application of the mantra is in the attainment of the four
aims of mankind.
Chapter 17

Purification of the rosary formed from human skulls is discussed here.

Chapter 18

In this chapter rosary and yantra purification is dealt with. The nature of the five products of the cow
and the Yantresvari mantra are also discussed.

Chapter 19
The origin of wine is the subject of this chapter. Nine vessels which form the receptacles in which wine
is kept are discussed. The presiding Devatas of these are Sadasiva, Isvara, Rudra, Visnu, Paramesti,
Indra, Guru,(Jupiter), Sukra (Venus) and the Sun and the Moon taken together.

Chapter 20
Gives further details concerning wine.

Chapter 21
The Santi Stotra commences this brief chapter. This hymn removes the curse attached to wine.

Chapter 22
This continues the topic of wine, and discusses how the same may be purified. It gives details
concerning Anandabhairava and his Sakti Suradevi. The gayatri of the former is given as:
Anandesvaraya vidmahe Sri Suradevyai Dhimahi tanna Ardhanarisvara pracodayat. (Let us think of the
Lord of Bliss, let us contemplate the Auspicious Suradevi. May that half-Siva and half-Sakti form
direct us. ) The dhyana of Tiraskarani Devi is given towards the end of the chapter together with Her
prayogas (rituals) etc. She confers invisibility on a sadhaka.
Chapter 23

This chapter deals with the purification of nine Saktis, who are Nati (actress), Kapaliki(bearing skulls),
Vesya (whore), Rajaki (washer-woman), Napitangana (barber' s wife), Brahmini, Sudrakanya (Sudra's
daughter), Gopalakanyaka (Cowherd' s daughter) and Malakarakanya (Daughter of a Garland-Maker).
The Devata of this rite to follow is called Parambika-. The best time for the rite is at midnight. The
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puja sequence is given, and it is stated that the girl should be placed on the left of the sadhaka in a Sri
Cakra. She has to have dishevelled hair, be free from shame, and adorned with jewels. The various
mantras of each of these nine Kumaris are given. Details are given of the left handed cakra of eight or
eleven couples and the mantras to be used.
Chapter 24

This gives various materials of which a rosary may be made, as also the way knots and so on are to be
tied. The rosary made of human skulls is described, as well as rosaries made from various trees, tulasi
rosaries, crystal, rudraksa, jewels, gold, and rosaries made from lotus seeds and human teeth. The last,
and the first, are to receive specific kinds of purification.

Chapter 25
The purification of yantras and the various materials from which they are made are discussed in detail.
Yantras are spoken of as eightfold as being made from gold, silver, copper, crystal, birch, bone, hide
and Visnu-stone. The mantras for purifying these eight materials are given, and rites performed at
night are discussed at the end of the chapter.
Chapters 26-30

These chapters comprise the Ganapati Pancangam (5 limbs). These limbs are (i) Mantra, Yantra,
Dhyana and the six karmas or magical acts (ii) The worship of Mahaganapati (iii) The Kavaca or
Armour of Mahaganapati (iv) The 1000 Names of Mahaganapati and (v) the Mahaganapati Stotra or
Hymn.

Chapters 31-35
The Surya Pancangam or the Five Limbs of the Sun.

Chapters 36-40
The 5 limbs of Laksmi-Narayana.

Chapters 41-45
The 5 limbs of Mrtyunjaya.

Chapters 46-50
The 5 limbs of Durga Devi

Chapter 51
Deals with the rahasya or secret of Durga Devi.

Chapter 52
This brief chapter describes the mantra sadhana of the Durgarahasya, deals with enlivening of the
mantra, and with its putting together.
Chapter 53

Discusses Nilakantha, or the blue-throated manifestation of Siva, when he drunk the poison produced
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by the churning of the Milk Ocean. It gives His mantra, dhyana, and the seer.

Chapter 54
Discusses initiation, and its time, and deals with Guru initiation..

Chapter 55
This chapter discusses Purascarana and deals with the same done for the disciple by the Guru. It
describes, in addition, the best places for doing the same.
Chapter 56

Pancaratnesvari, or the Devi of the five jewels, together with the mantra unfolding of Durga, Sarada,
Sarika, Sumukhi and Bagala are dealt with here.

Chapter 57
Homa done at night in the cremation ground forms the substance of this section.

Chapter 58
Deals with the characteristics of cakra worship, the nature of those sadhakas entitled to it, the placing
of the pot (kumbha) and the giving of bali or animal sacrifice. At the end Kanyapuja, or worship of
virgins, is described.

Chapter 59
This chapter discusses the different paths, such as Daksinacara, Vamacara, and Kulacara.

Chapter 60
Deals with the guru.

Thus ends the Devirahasya proper

Appendices

(i) The 5 Limbs of Jvalamukhi-Devi (ii) The 5 Limbs of Sarika-Devi (iii) The 5 Limbs of Maharajni-
Devi (iv) The 5 Limbs of Bala-Tripurasundari (v) Uddharakosa, a compilation which deals with the
mantras and dhyanas of a host of Tantrik deities, and also contains a compendium of the letters of the
Sanskrit alphabet and their tantrika meaning.

There are 48 tantras mentioned in the text. They are Agamalaharitantra, Agamasiromani,
Agamasindhu, Agamamrtatantra, Agamamrtmanjari, Agamarnavapiyusatantra, Agamalankaratantra,
Agamadotatantra, Uddamaratantra, Kaminikalpa, Kamesvaratantra, Kalaratrikalpatantra,
Kalikasarvasvatantra, Kalipatalatantra, Kalirahasyatantra, Kalisarvasvatantra, Kubjikasiromani,
Kulacudamani, Kulasiddhasantana, Kulikarnava, Chinnarahasya, Chinnasiromani, Jvalasiromani,
Tantramuktavali, Tripurasundarisarvasvam, Tripuratika, Tripuratilakatantra, Tripurasiromani,
Tripurarasasarasarvasvam, Bhairavatantra, Bhairavasarvasvam, Mantrasagara, Mundamalatantra,
Rudrayamala, Vamakesvaratantra, Visvanathasaroddhara, Visvayamala, Saradatilaka, Saradapatala,
Saradatika, Syamatantra, Syamarahasya, Siddhasarasvatatantra, Sundarisiromani, Sundarisarvasvam,
Svatantratantra.
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