8 Shaktis/Qualities when the ultimate state of ‘Shivatva’ is attained
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Having realized with all certitude that there is not even a single discipline here superior to this Samadhi Yogam, the non-dual experience and having arrested all of his mental modifications and fluctuations, he should practice this supreme science of yoga. Upon such practice, he reaches the bodiless state and gets established constantly in that state. He reaches all directions and places simultaneously by virtue of his bodiless and pervasive nature; he becomes the Liberated Self. He becomes the possessor of all exalted qualities of Lord Shiva who presents Himself simultaneously within and outside the universe.
He attains the ultimate state of SHIVATVA.
| Shakti | Description | Agama Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Sarvajñatā | Power of all-knowingness | Sarvajnanottara Agama, vr. 57, Ch 2, Shivānanyasā- sākshātkār patalah |
| Tripti | Eternal Contentment | Sarvajnanottara Agama, vr. 57, Ch 2, Shivānanyasā- sākshātkār patalah |
| Anādi Bodha | Eternally Infinite or limitless experience of awakening | Sarvajnanottara Agama, vr. 57, Ch 2, Shivānanyasā- sākshātkār patalah |
| Svatantrata | Absolute freedom | Sarvajnanottara Agama |
| Alupta Shakti | Unfailing, undiminishing power | Sarvajnanottara Agama |
| Ananta Shakti | Infinite power (to do or cause anything) | Sarvajnanottara Agama |
| Nirāmayātma | Undefiled by engaging in cosmic functions | Sarvajnanottara Agama |
| Vishuddha Deha | Eternally Pure Manifested Form | Sarvajnanottara Agama |
Panca Krityas, the 5 Cosmic Acts of the manifest-
unmanifest, sakala-nishkala Sadashiva (from His kriya-shakti)
In the Agamas, these 5 acts are termed as Shaktis of Shiva.
jagaj-janma-sthiti-dhvamsa tirobhāva vimuktayaḥ |
kṛtyam sakārakphalaṁ jñeyamasyaita deva hi ||
Manifestation or emergence, jagaj-janma [shristi]; sustenance or continued existence, sthiti; adsorption or disappearance, dhvamsa, concealing or covering the Existence (existential reality) by secretly making it invisible and uncognizable; tirobhāva; the bestowal of grace which results in the ultimate liberation, vimuktayaḥ – all these are the 5 actions, kṛtyam (of Sadashiva), who is associated with Shaktis which serve as His instruments and body and who is holding the fruits (in the form of enjoyment, bhogas and liberation, moksha). These 5 actions are certainly being performed only by Him.
~ Mrgendra Agama, vr. 3, ch 2, paramoksha nirāsha prakarnam
Pancha Kritya are the Shaktis of Shiva
tāsām māheśvarīśaktiḥ sarvānugrāhikā śivā |
dharmānuvartanādeva pāśa ityupacaryate ||
pariṇāmayatī tāśca rodhāntam kārkacitviṣā |
yadomīlanam ādhatte tadānugrāhitkocyate ||
There is one Māheshvarī-śakti (Shiva-Shakti) known as Tirodhāna Shakti (Rodhān) as being included in the series of bonds. In reality, this Shakti is of the nature of bestowing grace upon the souls, sarva- anugrāhika śiva, which is of the nature and essence of Śiva, the pure consciousness and auspiciousness. Since, its mode of action is to take control over the potencies of ānava mala and to act in conformity with them, It is called Pāśa.
As long as the concealing power exists, this Rodhāna (tirodhana) Shakti brings about the maturation to the potencies of mala gradually, by holding control over them. When the same Shakti brings about the unconcealment of Consciousness within the soul, which is in the form of causeless grace, this Shakti is known as Anugraha Shakti, the power that bestows the ultimate loving grace of liberation.
~ Mrgendra Agama, vr. 11-12, ch 7, pāśa lakshana prakarnam
Verses on Tirobhāva from Agama
durjñetvātpadārthanām tattvānām gahanasya ca l
sthityutpatti-vināshānām guhyād-guhyeti varṇitaḥ ll
guhyātiśaya yuktatvāt atiguhyo maheśvaraḥ l
The exact and essential nature of all the objects and all the tattvas which evolve from the space-like maya – the acts of manifestation or emission (utpatti), sustenance or continued existence (sthiti), dissolution or decay (vināshānām) – all these are impassable or impenetrable to be known or experienced. So, they are declared to be very secret among the secrets, atiguhya. Through His power of concealing the things (tirobhāva śakti), Maheshvara (Shiva) maintains this secrecy. Such power of Shiva is with highest perfection. Because of this pre-eminent power, He is called Guhyātiguhyaya.
~ Raurava Agama, ch 10, mantrārtha varṇanam
Tirobhāva or Tirodhāna (meaning)
Linga: pumlinga
Arthah: Meanings as per traditional Sanskrit lexicon (Vāscaspatyam) :
Tiras + bhū – bhāve ghanya |
The word ‘tiras’ has the negative meaning like - concealing or hiding, or absence of something, hide one’s self.
From ‘bhu’ dhātu comes – ‘bhāva’ means Existence; ‘abhāva’ means non-existence or negation, end of world.
Sanskrit Synonyms
- Guptabhāvam – secret existence, that (existence) which is secretly concealed
- Antardhānam – invisibility, disappearance or to disappear, hidden (from) within
Derived Meaning
Tirobhāva, Tirodhāna – That which (secretly) conceals and hides the Existence (bhu). From the context of Pancakritya, the cosmic act which conceals, covers or hides the Existence. Or the act of ‘secretly making invisible or hidden.’
Anugraha
Linga: pumlinga
Arthah: Meanings as per traditional Sanskrit lexicon (Vāscaspatyam) :
anu + graha
- abhīṣta-sampādan-icchārūpe prasāde – desire – bestowing, carrying out, accomplishing – in the form of wish fulfilling – prasāda
The act of bestowing and fulfilling the desire, in the form of wish fulfilling prasāda, the ultimate grace.
Qualifications to Manifest 8-fold Lordly Powers
– Aṣṭadhā Aishvarya (from buddhi-tattva)
Ishvara ucāva
athaiśvarya vibhedopi lakṣyate leśato'dhunā ॥
buddhyātmanor-vibhāgena sthitamaiśvaryam aṣṭadhā ।
dharmiṇo jñānaniṣṭhasya virāgecchaśca dhīmataḥ ॥
sattvamutpādayed-bauddhaṁ aṇoraiśvaryaṁ icchayā ।
~ Paushkara Agama, vidya pāda
Ishvara (Sadashiva) said:
Next, the various lordly powers, aiswaryas, are told briefly in accordance with their internal division. Some lordly powers are related to the body, mind (buddhi) and some others related to the inner self (ātma). Such lordly powers are eight fold.
- to enrich the person who lives and abides by dharma, the cosmic laws of life;
- who is firmly established with dedication for jñāna, sacred knowledge,
- who is beyond the worldy passions, virāga
- who is intelligent and wise with discriminative knowledge, dhīmataḥ,
the sattva-quality, the attribute of restful awareness of the buddhi-tattva generates the lordly powers as desired by him.
The 3 powers express through the body (deha). The 5 powers beginning with Prapti arise for the Yogis through the internal organs, inner space (antah karana) such as the mind and intellect.
| 8-fold Powers – Aishwaryas of Yogis | Definition by Ishvara (Sadashiva) | Quality | Power expressd through |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Anima aṇima paramāṇvāder-api-sukṣmatarā sthitiḥ | Power to exist and be established in a form which is subtler than the subtrate-atom (parama-aṇu) and such other minute objects. | Subtleness | Body (deha) |
| 2. Laghima laghimā śīghravegitvam paṁkāda-āvapyamajjanam | Power to move with exceeding swiftness, even through mire without sinking into it. | Swiftness (shigra gatim) | Body (deha) |
| 3. Mahima Mahimā vyāpyacasthānaṁ bṛhad-deha | Power to exist pervasively with the help of huge bodies, organs and such others. Becoming larger than the largest. | Pervasiness & huge forms | Body (brhad-deha) |
| 4. Prapti manasā-ābhīṣta saṁsiddhi prāptirnāma guṇālayaḥ | Power of completely attaining whatever is desired by the mind. It is declared as the ‘Abode of all Desired qualities (guṇālayaḥ) | Attaining anything desired by mind | Mind, inner space (antah karana, kāraṇa-ātmajāḥ) |
| 5. Prākāmya nirmāya strī sahasrāṇī krīḍā prākāmya āśu yā | Power to create willfully, quickly thousands of women (with mind alone) and to play with all of them simultaneously. | Willfulness | Mind, inner space (antah kāraṇa) |
| 6. Ishitva (Isita) ājñā vidhānam brahmādau tatpūja ce-iśitā matā | Power to issue order by will, AJNA to Brahma, and the attainment of such a state to be worshipped by them. | Cosmic Will (Ajna Vidhāna) | Mind, inner space (antah kāraṇa) |
| 7. Vashitva vaśikṛtir-vaśitvam syājjagan-nirmānam | Power to self-command, attract, sub-due the worlds and to create & control new worlds (for his own enjoyment or for enjoyment of others). | Create, self-command, attract | Mind, inner space (antah kārana) |
| 7. Garima bhuñjānasyāsya karmād-yairabādho eva ca | The power to break free, remain untouched by the effects of karmas undertaken, in respect to experiencing these enjoyments, is garima. | Beyond karma | Mind, inner space (antah kārana) |