Manifesting Shaktis

Lord Shiva illumines the Consciousness through SHAKTI of MANTRAS and DEEKSHAS

Sage Ruru reveals – At the very happening of the rising of Sun, the darkness is dispelled, completely and instantly. In the same way, upon the performance of relevant Deeksha, the limiting bondages of the Sādhaka, considered in terms of dharma and adharma, get totally removed.

Just as the Sun illuminates all these worlds through his radiant rays, even so Lord Shiva illumines the consciousness of the initiated souls through His host of SHAKTIS, functioning in the divine path of MANTRAS and DEEKSHAS. (vr. 3-4)

SHAKTI-SAMYOGA, Shiva's Oneness and Union with Shakti

These Shaktis exist pervading the body of the sādhakas, who have been blessed with Deeksha. Just as the Sun destroys through the rays, the impurities accumulated in the ground, so also, Lord Shiva destroys the seeds of karma and of other bondages of the Initiated (deekshita) through His perfect union with Shaktis, Shakti-Samyoga which are His own rays. (vr. 5,6)

यथा प्रदीप्ते ज्वलने तूलराईः समर्पितः ॥ ८ ॥ दग्धौ निर्याति सर्वत्र न भूयस्तूलतां व्रजेत् । एवं वै मन्डलं प्राप्य दीक्षामन्त्र समुद्भवः ॥ ९ न पुनर्जन्मतामं याति दीक्षितो मनुजोत्तमः । yathā pradīpte jvalane tūlarāīḥ samarpitaḥ || 8 || dagdhau niryāti sarvatra na bhūyastūlatām vrajet | evam vai manḍalaṁ prāpya dīkśā mantra samudbhavaḥ || 9 na punarjanmatām yāti dīkśito manujottamaḥ |

The heap of dry grass thrown into the blazing fire gets burnt completely and never again attains its original state of being a grass. In the same way, the Initiated (deekshita) supreme being among the human beings attains the space of SHIVA MANḌALAM effected through the happening of Deeksha and Mantra. Therefore, never does he get embodied again.

manḍalaṁ tatra suryasya tanmadhye soma manḍalam | soma manḍala madhye tu vimalam vahni manḍalam || 9 vahnimanḍala madhyastham śuddhasphatika sannibham || 10 ||

At the center of the heart-lotus, there is solar geometric representation, Surya Manḍala, and at the center of the Surya Manḍala, there exists lunar region, Soma Manḍala. At the center of the soma manḍala, there is a fiery region, Vahni Manḍala with its innate purity. At the center of the feiry manḍala, the great Lord, Ishvar is present. He presents Himself there existing like a pure crystal, Shuddha Sphṭika.

~ Raurava Āgama, Vidyā Pāda, Ātmasamkrantih, 9

In the beginning orb of fire, Agni manḍala is perceived followed by solar geometric cosmic orb, Sūrya maṇḍala at the center of which lunar orb, Chandra Manḍala of nectar is situated. Yet inside the Chandra manḍala, the manḍala of undivided radiance of Brahma, brahma-tejo-maṇdala is located which shines forth like a white streak of lightnings. This alone is to be recognized as Śāmbhavi (śambhavi lakṣhanam).

~ Manḍalabrāhmopanishad, (II.i.5. – śāṁbhavya tad-adhigamaḥ)

Through Mantras the Mandalas manifest as Vidyāmanḍala Rājās

teṣvijyo bhagavānebhir manḍalī satatam śivah | rṣidevāsuranarair vinirmokṣārtha kānkṣibhiḥ || 23 || vidyaāmanḍal rajānām manḍālamśa vibhūtayah | na sakyāḥ parisamkhyātuṁ mantrānāṁ ca tadātmanām || 24 ||

"In the rituals performed with manḍalas, Bhagavān Shiva becomes known as MANḌALI as He occupies these Manḍalas and presents Himself there eternally. These manḍalas of such greatness are worshipped by the enlightened sages, celestial beings, demoniac beings, human beings and by all those who are seeking to attain the ultimate liberation.

The Vidyāmanḍala Rājās, king of Vidyeshwara and Mandaleshas and those who have manifested with elegance and greatness as the unfailing associates of Mantreshvaras (lord of Mantras) and Mandaleshas (lord of Mandalas), present themselves in these Manḍalas through the appropriate mantras. Verily, they are of the nature of these mantras. They are the souls of these mantras. Even for the enlightened sages, it is not possible to give the exact number of such mantras."

~ Raurava Agama, tantrāvatār patalaḥ, vr. 23-24, ch 3

MANḌALA VIDHĀNA, the Ordainment of Manḍala Sciences by Bhagavān Shiva (8 Main Mandalas)

tā janmamṛtyukahcitām pitāmahakṛtām imām | sṛsṭīm dṛṣtvaisvarīm mūrtim praviṣṭāḥ punareva hi || 19 || antarhitāmstān anaghān mantrarājeśvaraḥ prabhuḥ | dadhāra bhagavānīśo lokānāṁ hitakāmyayā || 20 |\ teṣāmakalpayad devo mantrādhvara vibhūtayaḥ | manḍalejyā vidhānena mantra sadbhāva sttamaḥ || 21 || guhyāni manḍalānyaṣṭau navanaābhādi samjñayā | anantavijayādīśam śatamanyat prakīrtitaṁ || 22 ||

After observing the creation done by Pitāmah (Brahma), these mantras, emanating from the mouth of Shiva, assumed the distinct forms energized by the rays of ISHVARI (Shakti). With these forms assumed by them, the MANTRAS are guiding and guarding the seekers.

In these Mantras, the supreme Lord, Prabhu called MANTRA RAJESHVARA who is eternally free from all limiting bondages, manifests and expresses Himself beidg established from within (antar-nihit). With the will to enrich all the worlds, Bhagavan Shiva formulated these mantras and revealed them.

For the welfare of the worlds, the Supreme Lord brought into existence the eternal benefits to be accomplished through mantras and yajnas. For enriching the pure souls, who are intent on attaining total oneness with the mantras (mantra sadbhāva), the systematic process of mandala-worship, manḍalalejya vidhāna was formulated by Him.

These mandalas which belong to the system of the sacred secret science, are primarily eight in number [manḍala-ashtau]. They are Navanābha (mandala of nine navels), anantavijaya, Isha, and others. Apart from these, there are hundreds of manḍalas, the details of which have been set forth in the Agamas.

~ Raurava Agama, tantrāvatar paṭalaḥ (3), vr 21-24

note: Navanabha mandala is made with vyomavyāpin mantra. Mandala is nonagonal geometrical symmetry with 40 aksharas in each of the 9 sections and 8 arranged in central navel. Navanabha envisages Shiva as encompassing 'space' element.