Home > Indian History > Indian Literature > Worship of the Supreme Prakriti
Worship of the Supreme Prakriti
Chapter 4 of the Mahanirvana Tantra begins with Parvathi asking Lord Shiva how the supreme Brahman may be worshipped by worshiping her, or Shakti.

Share this Article:

Chapter 4 begins with Parvathi`s request to clarify further Shiva`s assertion in chapter 3 that Brahman may be attained even by the worship of Parvathi, or Shakti. Shiva explains that she is the Para Prakriti (or supreme Nature) and from her has sprung all of existence, and she is its Mother. Shiva then insists that people of the Kali age can only attain Brahman by Kaulika worship, or that derived from knowledge of the Supreme Brahman.

Parvati asks lord Shiva to explain how worshiping her is tantamount to unity with the supreme Brahman, and the means and Mantras by which such worship may attain such fruit.

Shiva answers that he shall expound first on the reasons why she must be worshipped, and dwells on the Kaula doctrine, practices deriving from acknowledging Brahman as the supreme entity.

Nature of Prakriti
Shiva explains that Parvati is the supreme Prakriti, from whom has sprung the entire universe and she is therefore the Mother of all creation. Shiva then edifies his consort with an extended list of epithets:

`Thou art Kali, Tarini, Durga, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshvari, Dhumavati. Thou art Bagala, Bhairavi, and Chhinna-mastaka. Thou art Anna-purna, Vagdevi, Kama-lalaya. Thou art the Image or Embodiment of all the Shaktis and of all the Devas (13-14). Thou art both Subtle and Gross, Manifested and Veiled, Formless, yet with form. Who can understand Thee?`

Shiva hence gives voice to the manifold aspect of Shakti, the divine natural force that moves the universe, and elevates his consort to a level equal to Brahman, significantly, something that he does not do for himself.

Kaulika Worship
Shiva then proclaims the supremacy of Kaulika worship in the Kali age for attaining Brahmanhood. Although the chapter does not elaborate on the actual meaning of Kaulika Dharma, it nevertheless ascribes numerous superlative qualities to it.

Shiva proclaims that he knows no doctrine superior to that of the Kaula Dharma, and that by the worship of just one Kaulika, all of the gods are pleased. He observes that men are inclined to Kaulika worship by merit acquired in previous births, and only Kaula Dharma is both meritorious and enjoyable, or pleasurable, whereas Yoga is merely meritorious.

Shiva then provides several more signs by which the discerning may know that the Kali age is upon them. He assserts that those free of vice and firm in their adherence to the Kaulika Dharma will not be harmed by the deleterious effects of the Kali age. Shiva even asserts that despite its barbarous evils, the Kali age possesses the advantage of rendering great merit to a Kaulika who is merely firm in his intention, whereas past ages could render both merit and demerit.

Shiva then proceeds to further delineate man`s slow decay through the ages, and avers that the various protective rituals arising from Kaulika dharma will still protect the righteous from harm in the Kali yuga.

The fourth chapter is a preamble to a deeper discussion on Kaula. It serves to set the context for later chapters, wherein Parvati wishes to know more about the exact nature of Kaula dharma or Kula chara, and Shiva reveals several more esoteric rituals pertinent to it.


Share this Article:

Related Articles

More Articles in Indian Literature


Mythological Themes in Indian Literature
Mythological themes in Indian literature have been integral to every ancient and contemporary writer and their path to f
Literature under Delhi Sultanate
Literature during the period of Delhi Sultanate was produced not only in Persian and Sanskrit but also in other regional languages.
Epics in Tamil Literature
Epics in Tamil Literature refer to the Five Great Epics namely Cilappatikaram, Manimekalai, Valayapathi, Civaka Cintamani and Kundalakesi. There are also the Five Lesser Epics in Tamil Literature.
Literature During Gupta Age
It is during the Gupta Age literature in the form of poetry, epos and drama gained a colossal importance.
Post-Sangam Age in Tamil literature
Post-Sangam age in Tamil literature basically saw the tremendous rise of Hindu saintly literary treatises in two sects.
Epics in Sanskrit Literature
Epics in Sanskrit Literature are the store house of historical knowledge and the providers of knowledge about Indian philosophies and thought.
Literature of Aravidu Dynasty
Sanskrit and Telugu were the popular literary medium of communication during Aravidu dynasty.
Indian Literature in archaic Indian Language
Indian Literature, accredited as one of the antique literature of the world is the confluence of different beiefs .
Renaissance in Bengali Literature
Renaissance in Bengali literature was the first structured gestation of the modern trends in Bengali literature.
Renaissance in Indian Literature
Renaissance in Indian Literature has brought and culminated towards several significant changes in the overall writing styles and patterns. With the renaissance in Indian literature, readership has enlarged with a literary and education explosion.
Renaissance in Hindi Literature
The renaissance in Hindi literature crafted a whole fresh diction to the Hindi literary works with its poise and rhythm.
Indian Literature in Modern Age
Indian Literature in Modern Age is the literary insurgency that is marked by several idealistic revolutions and the effect of globalization, and socio-economic as well as cultural changes.
Playwrights in Tamil Literature
Playwrights in Tamil Literature such as Cankaratas Cuvamikal, Ilatcumana Pillai and Pammal Campanta Mudaliar have written several works for the development Tamil plays and drama.
Rabindranath Tagore
Rabindranath Tagore, a renowned poet, was honoured the Nobel Prize for Literature for the famous ‘Gitanjali’ and wrote the national anthem.