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Hymn to Kali, by Arthur Avalon (Sir John George Woodroffe), [1922], at sacred-texts.com


p. 93

VERSE 21

O MOTHER, this Hymn of Thine is the source from whence originates Thy mantra1 It sings of Thy real self, and contains injunctions for the worship of Thy two lotus Feet. He who reads it at midnight or at time of worship 2 even his random talk 3 becomes the nectar juice of poesy.

COMMENTARY

'Thy real self' (Svarūpākhyaṁ)

Speaks of the Dhyāna of both Thy gross and subtle aspects.

'Reads' (Paṭati)

That is recites aloud. The Viśuddheśvara-Tantra says, 'Oh Devī, the reading of a Hymn (Stotra) mentally, or the recitation of a Mantra loudly is as ineffectual as water in a broken jar.'

'Nectar of Poesy' (Prasarati kavitvāmṛtarasah)

He becomes full of the sweetness of Poesy. The Kālīkulasarvasva says, All whose difficulties and dangers are destroyed by a single reading, as it were flies in a flame. His speech flows like the Ganges full of prose and poetry.'


Footnotes

93:1 Manusamuddharaṇajanuh—that is, cause of mantroddhāra: formation of Mantra of Devī. The mantra is made known, and then impressed with the life and consciousness (caitanya) of the sādhaka (mantra-caitanya).

93:2 Pūjā.

93:3 That is, even his meaningless delirious talk, as in fever or madness, etc. (K.13.).


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