COMMENTS


Chakravarti
April 01, 2026 09:04 AM

Thanks for sharing. This too is news to me, something of the "we know we didn't know of" class. But then, this implies there's so much more that we don't know we didn't know! I recently came across some information about how, during the food production crisis in India some decades ago, the central govt gave away several rare manuscripts and scriptures to American Universities as payment in kind for food and grain (which turned out, some aver, to be unfit for human consumption - but that's another story). We don't know how much we had, we don't know how much we have, and we don't know how much we have lost.

Chakravarti
April 01, 2026 09:04 AM

Dear Raman, many thanks for sharing this encouraging insight from tradition. This fact is not generally known, and I certainly I did not know of this. I had earlier considered the Sri Vidyarnava Tantra only as a tantra nibandha/compendium of the Prapanchasara, Sarada Tilaka etc variety. That this text carries the compassionate blessings of the Devi herself is astounding. Kindly do tell us more about how it came to be so, if there's more to be known. Thanks again.

Bam
April 01, 2026 08:04 AM

Thank you very very much for answering the question!

Krishna
April 01, 2026 08:04 AM

One of the largest compendiums of tantra - Siṁha siddhānta sindhu lies in the Rajasthan Oriental Library partially translated and awaiting scholars to decode the rest. There are many secret sādhanas encoded in this śāstra and hopefully it may become available for all interested sādhakas someday. The last updates were back in the 70s or maybe 80s. There is only one copy of this treatise available and the author took great pains back in the medieval times to preserve the tantras for the future generations. Hopefully his dream comes true someday.

Krishna
April 01, 2026 04:04 AM

Devī Rahasyam is considered to be part of the most sacred Rudrayāmala tantram, the tantra of tantras. In my opinion, this is enough. But to answer your question directly, out of the less than 5% tantras that are currently translated and publicly available, there is no other reference other than Devī Rahasyam, which also states the importance of seeking a living guru who fits all the qualities and the necessity of seeking one.

Raman
April 01, 2026 04:04 AM

If I may share, tradition suggests that one can also begin sādhana by treating the Śrī Vidyārṇava Tantram as the Guru. The story goes that the Devī herself appeared to the author, Vidyāraṇya Yati, and was so moved by his compassion for future seekers that she gave the text a unique blessing. Recognizing how hard it would be to find a true guru-paramparā in the Kali Yuga, she ordained that this śāstra would carry the living authority of a teacher. By infusing it with her presence as vāk-śakti, she ensured that any sincere seeker would be protected, making the Śrī Vidyārṇava a true siddha-grantha that bridges the gap when a physical master isn't available.

Chakravarti
April 01, 2026 04:04 AM

Yes, there is no real distinction between guru and guru vani, like the non difference between saktiman and sakti. Krishna too has now responded on the point of scriptural references other than the Devi Rahasyam, so now there's full clarity on this matter for all seekers. As an aside, I found your mention of the 22 syllabled Kali mantra as being free of diksha nteresting. I believe you were referring to the Brihad Nila Tantra. I haven't gone through that text in full detail, I remember reading it years ago. I believe that there's an implicit kaula or vama achara pre-requirement for this mantra. That is, one has to accept and adhere to the specific achara before one approaches Kali with this mantra. So, this is a different case, in my view. Let me know if your understanding is different. Now, you mention you are on the Kashmir Saivism path, and situate yourself in the Swami Lakshman joo lineage. Kindly tell us more, at your convenience, about how the Swami Lakshman joo line deals with the issue of guru and guru diksha, in the light of Swami Lakshman joo's directive that there's to be no successors to him, and that Siva's grace, being omnipresent and ever active, shall be the preferred way of initiation for all seekers in the future. Are there any actual live gurusnow in your lineage? Who provides the formal initiation for mantras, if any? How are sadhakas supposed or required to do mantra sadhana? Are there any sadhakas who do mantra purascharana in your line? How do they go about it, in the light of Swami Lakshman joo's directives? Kindly do explain, at your convenience pls. I believe such comparing of notes is most beneficial to all sadhakas. Thanks.

Chakravarti
April 01, 2026 02:04 AM

Agree with your thoughts here, Krishna. More power to you as you continue to guide seekers here along with your team members. I wish to bring this discussion phase to an end by asking you specifically for references/names of scriptures other than Devi Rahasyam that provide for taking scripture itself as Guru (in the absence of a proper live guru) as you mentioned in your original comment. Or is it your position that only one text, Devi Rahasyam, provides for this option? Kindly do clarify for the benefit of the sadhana community here and for the benefit of future seekers. Thanks.

Krishna
April 01, 2026 01:04 AM

Śrī Ānandānandanātha (Shri Ravi ji) gave me Pūrṇā dīkṣa as well as Sarvamantrādhikāra dīkṣa and also guru dīkṣa to initiate sādhakas. The same was also given to Shri Jayanth, Sriram, Arun, Santosh, Dan and a few others. Sitting in his presence would give anyone a glimpse of the Śiva tattva. I simply have no words to describe who he was. I learnt about the Aṅga devatas, Śrī Cakra Pūja, mudrās as well as various Āvaraṇa pūjas from Shri Krishna ji who also gave me the Pūrṇa dīkṣa. I also interact with him quite regularly and he is a Jñāna sāgarā and a tantra sāmrāṭ. I also interact with Shri Ramesh ji quite regularly who is a jñāna Sarasvatī and the Divine Mother Kāmākṣī Herself. His mere presence and words stir up my cakras and stimulate ānanda within. I have further enhanced my knowledge of tantra with close interactions with him and from reading his numerous publications. It is a great blessing to be in the presence of these great gurus and savor the knowledge and wisdom that they have absorbed in decades of dedicated sādhana. May these great gurus live long and shower their grace upon everyone for a long time to come!

Kashik
April 01, 2026 12:04 AM

Namste krishna ji is this mantra same as given by tripurghana.