panjarA query

January 16, 2009

Srividya-Tantra , "J.B.S.L. Narasimha Rao" <narsimha6 wrote:>> Namaskarams...> Can anyone please tell me the Significance of Panjaram in Upsana in terms of atma vidya?> > Thanks in advance> > Narasimha

Dear Member,

'panjarA' literally means 'cage' in sanskrit.

In the context of srIvidyA upAsanA, it refers to an anga-vidyA of the mUla-mantra.The other anga-vidyAs are kavacA(armour), hrdayA(heart),ashtotharA(108 numbered litany),rakshA(Protection)sahasranAmA(1008 and odd numbered litany) and in some vidyAs trisatIs(300 numbered litany).

To do a 'panjarA' one must be initiated into mulA mantra and permission has to be sought from one's preceptor for the efficient chanting of the panjarA.

There is also 'panjarA nyAsa' which again requires a mandatory initiation by a srividyA adept.This nyAsA,as explained by my preceptor's beneficial graces,involves a protection grid around the person doing the sAdhanA.There are a number of such nyAsAs like vibhUti panjarA('Cage of prosperity') which require a certain number of repetitions and concentrating the mantraical energies onto the sacral part of the body or swAdhistAna.dakshinAchAris of the samayA kind refrain from mUlAdhArA panjara-nyAsAs.

'panjarA' is also to be interpreted as a 'basket-litany'.AdisankarA in his discourse to mukulesvarA explains the significance of this interpretation(vyAkarana sphutam).Example in this connection: sAvitrI panjarA.

These hymns/anga vidyAs help reinforce the power of sAdhanA practices and panjarA provides a sort of spiritual protection for the sAdhakA.

Protection are of three kinds:

1. AdhyAtmikA: Spiritual protection--Provided by panjarA2. AdibhoutikA: Body protection--Provided by kavachA3. AdhideivEkA: Spirit/vital protection--Provided by rakshA

In each of these hymns the deity is asked to protect each part of the practioner's body.Oft-times each part of the practioner's body is systematically enumerated.For each part of the body, the practioner addresses the deity using a different discriptive epithet, which is often connected to the respective body part.The deity's names are assigned to and 'deposited' on the body part of the practitioner and are believed to protect him/her like a divine armour(Example: dattAtreyA vajra kavacham)

There is an interplay of bEjAs(vEjAs) or seed syllables in the kavachA,panjarA,etc.

A panjarA can also be inscribed onto a yantrA/mandalA for greater puissance.It is to be thought of as a set of contemplative meditations on the form and substance of the deity and aids thus in the meditation and spiritual progress of the sAdhakA.

Spiritual protection is required because of inenemical forces which try to suck the unaware sAdhakA into lethargy,disbelief,etc--forces which act spiritually at a mental level which prevents him/her from proceeding in a shuddhA mArgA.

vaisnava panjarAs are more of praises to the Lord than any major bEjAkshara samputa, the only exception I have coem across is the ganDa-bhErundA narasimhA panjarA.(There are 12 initial manifestations and then 6 deeper manifestations which form part of the ganDa-bhErundA tantrA)

There are also vajrA-panjarA of the Bouddha-mathA(Buddhism) but the discussion here would be too much of a digression.

I have given below a srividyA-panjarA stuthI as a sample(liberally translated by Sriram Iyer)

SRI(GURU)PADUKA PANJARA STUTHI

This panjarA is to be recited upon the initiation of GurupAdukA mantra

brahmarandhrasarasIruhOdarE nityalagnamavadAtamadbhutamkundalIkanakakAndamanditam dvAdashAntasarasIruham bhaje 1

Beneath the Brahmarandhra, shines amazing sahasrara padma which is also called Akula Padma. In the middle of this Akula Padma, shines the Sushumna Nadi which is of the mixture of dazzling white and golden yellow. In this sushumna Nadi,amidst the Akula Padma, sports the Divine Couple Siva and Shakti in the form of HAMSA. I contemplate on such Dwadashanta Kamala (Akula Padma).

Note: This sloka describes the position of Gurupaduka which is beneath the Brahmarandhra amidst Sahasrara Kamala. Akula Padma at Sahasrara is called Dwadashanta Padma because it is of 12th in number of count of chakras from Muladhara. The order is : Kula Padma with 1000 petals, Ashtadala Padma, Shadala Padma, Muladhara, Svadhishtana, Manipura, Anahata, Vishuddha, LambikAgra Ashtadala Padma, Ajna Chakra, Sukla Sahasrara Padma, Akula Padma (Bindu Sthana /Chandramandala).

Tasya kandaLitakarNikApuTE kliptavarNam a-k-thAdirEkhayAkONalakshita ha-La-ksha mandalam bhAvalakshya manalAlayam bhajE2

In the middle of Akula Padma, a YONI Chakra should be contemplated. This Yoni Chakra is of the form of Urdhwa Trikona (Upward Triangle). Along the 3 sides of the triangle a-varga, k-varga and tha-varga be placed. A-varga are the 16 vowels from a to ah; k-varga are the consonants k to ta; tha-varga are the consonants tha to sa. Along the 3 angles of the triangle, ha-la-ksha letters are placed. So, the entire vowels and consonants in the form of 50 Matrikas are placed along this Triangle. This ha is also represented with A; ksha with Ha and la with AHAM. This is also the AHAM Swarupa. Such a Triangle is called YONI CHAKRA. The Pair of Gurupadukas in the form of HAMSA are contemplated in the middle of this Yoni Chakra.

Such a Yoni Chakra I meditate

Note: When Gurupaduka Diksha is given, the Sishya experiences his gurunatha as the Adinatha rupa Hamsa at Akula Padma offering his helping hand to the Sishya in the Sudhasagara. Thus, the gurunatha makes the sishya cross the samsara sagara.

tatpuTE paTutaTitkaDAdimaspardhamAnaparipATalaprabhamchintayAmi hridi chinmayam sadA bindunAdamaNipIThamanDalam 3

In the YONI Chakra, shines the ManipITa Mandala. This Mandala sports with Bindu and Nada which is of the form of CHIT. This is of the colour of mixture of Golden Yellow and Lightening White.

Such Yoni Chakra alongwith Manipitha Mandala, I contemplate in my heart.

UrdhwamUlahutabhukchikhAruNam chidvilAsaparibr^mhaNAspadamvishwaghasmaramahacchaTakulam bhAvayAmi yugamAdihamsayOh 4

I contemplate the homogeneous union of Divine Couple Siva-Sakthi who are called Adi-Hamsa. This Hamsa is an aspect of Chitkala that shines as flames of fire without origin and end (infinite and omnipresent) and capable of dissolving the entire cosmos.

Note: This Adi-Hamsa is of the combination of Ha-kara, Bindu and Sa-kara. This is the Ajapa Mantra. Ha (Siva)+O (Bindu)+Sa (Sakti) = Ha-m-Sa > Hamsa

tatra nAthacharaNAravindayOssamvidAmritajhurImarandayOhdvandvamindumakarandashItalam mAnasam smaratu mangaLAspadam 5

I contemplate in my Mind such Divine Couple Siva-Sakti rupa Adi-Hamsa as the DIVINE PAIR OF FEET OF GURUNATHA amidst Sahasrara Kamala which is as nourishing,delightful, ecstatic and auspicious as the cool, nectar-like, delightful rays of the Moon and is the form of Knowledge Absolute.

pAdukApanjara stOtram panchavaktrA dvinirgatamshadAmnAyaphalam prOktam prapanchE chAtidurlabhamapramEyamahAvidyA shEkalAnchitamastakamraktAnchaturbhujAm vandE srIvidyAgurupAdukAm

<<<Thus ends the gurupaduka panjara stotram which is from Vamakeshwara Tantra>>>

Yours Yogically,

Shreeram Balijepalli

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