Sat-Cakra-Narupana
By Purnananda Swami

[Preliminary Verse:] Now I speak of the first sprouting shoot (of the Yoga plant) of complete realization of the Brahman, which is to be achieved, according to the Tantras, by means of the six Cakras and so forth in their proper order.

1. In the space outside the Meru, placed on the left and the right, are the two Siras, Sasi and Mihira. The Nadi Susumna, whose substance is the threefold Gunas, is in the middle. She is the form of Moon, Sun, and Fire; Her body, a string of blooming Dhatura flowers, extends from the middle of the Kanda to the Head, and the Vajra inside Her extends, shining, from the Medhra to the Head.

Meru = spinal column.

Siras = nadis, i.e., subtle channels for energy.

Kanda, lit. "bulb," located in the perineum.

Medhra = penis.

2. Inside her [Vajra] is Citrini, who is lustrous with the lustre of the Pranava and attainable in Yoga by Yogis. She (Citrini) is subtle as a spider's thread, and pierces all the Lotuses which are placed within the backbone, and is pure intelligence. She (Citrini) is beautiful by reason of these (lotuses) which are strung on her. Inside her (Citrini) is the Brahma-nadi, which extends from the orifice of the mouth of Hara to the place beyond, where Adi-deva is.

Pranava = the mantra Om.

The Brahama-nadi is the hollow space inside Citrini; they are not two separate nadis.

Orifice of the mouth of Hara = the opening at the top of the Svayambhu-Linga in the Muladhara.

Adi-deva = the supreme Bindhu in the pericarp of the thousand-petalled lotus.

3. She [Citrini] is beautiful like a chain of lightning and fine like a (lotus) fibre, and shines in the minds of the sages. She is extremely subtle; the awakener of pure knowledge; the embodiment of all Bliss, whose true nature is pure Consciousness. The Brahma-dvara shines in her mouth. This place in the entrance to the region sprinkled by ambrosia, and is called the Knot, as also the mouth of Susumna.

Bliss = sukha.

Consciousness = Suddha-bodha-svabhava.

Braham-dvaram = door of Brahaman, through which Kundalini passes.

Knot = Granthi-sthanam; the place where Susumna meets Kanda.

Ambrosia = Sudha; it flows from the union of Siva and Sakti.

The last sentence is reproduced accurately here from the printed original, despite its defective syntax.

4. Now we come to the Adhara Lotus. It is attached to the mouth of the Susumna, and is placed below the genitals and above the anus. It has four petals of crimson hue. Its head (mouth) hangs downwards. On its petals are the four letters from Va to Sa, of the shining colour of gold.

5. In this (Lotus) is the square region (Cakra) of Prthivi, surrounded by eight shining spears. It is of a shining yellow colour and beautiful like lightning, as is also the Bija of Dhara which is within.

Prthivi = earth element.

Yellow is the color of the earth element.

Bija of Dhara = Bija of Prthivi, the earth Tattva or "Lam."

6. Ornamented with four arms and mounted on the King of Elephants, He carries on His lap the child Creator, resplendent like the young Sun, who has four lustrous arms, and the wealth of whose lotus-face is fourfold.

7. Here dwells the Devi Dakini by name; her four arms shine with beauty, and her eyes are brilliant red. She is resplendent like the lustre of many Suns rising at one and the same time. She is the carrier of the revelation of the ever-pure Intelligence.

Ever-pure intelligence = sada suddha-buddeh; even people ignorant of Sanskrit can recognize the poetic quality of this phrase.

By meditating on Dakini-Sakti, the presiding divinity of this region, one acquires suddha-buddheh -- i.e., tattva-jnana or pure intelligence.

8. Near the mouth of the Nadi called Vajra, and in the pericarp (of the Adhara Lotus), there constantly shines the beautifully luminous and soft, lightning-like triangle which is Kamarupa, and known as Traipura. There is always and everywhere the Vayu called Kandarpa, who is of a deeper red than the Bandhujiva flower, and is the Lord of Beings and resplendent like ten million suns.

9. Inside it (the triangle) is Svayambhu in His Linga-form, beautiful like molten gold, with His Head downwards. He is revealed by Knowledge and Meditation, and is of the shape and colour of a new leaf. As the cool rays ot lightning and of the full moon charm, so does His beauty. The Deva who resides happily here as in Kasi is in forms like a whirlpool.

Svayambhu in His Linga-form = the self-originated in the form of a phallus.

Shape and color of a new leaf = like an unopened blue-green bud, according to commentators.

Knowledge = jnana

Meditation = dhyana

Kasi = Siva's favorite abode; the meaning is that the deva is as happy here as he is in Kasi.

"Whirlpool" refers to a depression on the top of the linga.

"World-bewilderer" because Kundalini is maya in this world.

Bandha = type of literary composition in which the verse is arranged in a diagram or picture.

Universe = brahmanda, i.e., egg of Brahma

Cauldon = kataha, that is, the lower half of the Brahmanada, and as such cauldron-shaped.

Foremost of the devas = Brahma, Visnu, Siva, etc.

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