The Parashurama Kalpasutra () is a

Shakta Shaktism ( sa, शाक्त, , ) is one of several major Hindu denominations, wherein the metaphysical reality is considered metaphorically a woman and Shakti (Mahadevi) is regarded as the supreme godhead. It includes many goddesses, all ...

Agama, a

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism.Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

text on

Shri Vidya Shri Vidya (ISO: '; ; sometimes also spelled Sri Vidya or Shree Vidya) is a Hindu Tantric religious system devoted to the Goddess as Lalitā Tripurasundarī (''Beautiful Goddess of the Three worlds''), Bhuvaneshvari, Maha Lakshmi, etc. A thousan ...

practices ascribed to the

Kaula Kaula may refer to: People * Prithvi Nath Kaula (1924–2009), Indian librarian * William J. Kaula (1871–1953), American watercolor painter * William M. Kaula (1926–2000), Australian-born American geophysicist Other uses * USS ''Kaula'' (AG-3 ...

tradition. The authorship of the text is traditionally attributed to Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu and a disciple of

Dattatreya Dattatreya ( sa, दत्तात्रेय, ), Dattā or Dattaguru, is a paradigmatic Sannyasi (monk) and one of the lords of yoga, venerated as a Hindu god. In Maharashtra, Goa, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Gujarat, and Madhya ...

. It is a sacred text for the

worshippers of the goddess Lalita, who is considered to be a manifestation of the goddess Adi Parashakti. The text is also used in the worship of Ganesha,

Bala Tripurasundari Devi Bala Tripurasundari, also known as Bala-Ambika, is the younger aspect of the Hindu Goddess Tripura Sundari one of the ten forms of the Supreme Goddess Mahadevi. There are 64 forms of Devi Bala and her Bala Tripurasundari form is widely worshi ...

, Matangi, and

Varahi Varahi ( sa, वाराही, )) is also used as the name of the consort of Varaha, who is identified with Bhumi (the earth goddess). This consort is depicted in a human form., group=note is one of the Matrikas, a group of seven mother go ...

. This text has its origins in the Dattatreya Samhita and was compiled by Sumedha, a disciple of Parashurama.

Key concepts

Among the Agamas (manuals on rituals and practices), some are Tantras. Tantra is principally for 'upasana', inner discipline and are epitomes of knowledge. Tantras that are essentially esoteric deal with inner practices by adoration of the symbolic image, the yantra, and the mantra for awakening the Kundalini shakti. Parashurama composed the Kalpasutra, emphasizing the importance of ‘Urdhvamnaya’ (the tradition of the above) where he has shown the importance of the esoteric rituals through proper contraction of external rituals like japa, puja, mudras, pranayama, etc. and revealed the secrets of the symbols and the mantras for awakening the inner senses and Kundalini. A study of this Parashurama Kalpasutra also shows the scheme and essence of the Tantra. It dispels the misunderstanding regarding the Tantra practices.

Structure of the text

Parashurama Kalpasutra has its origins in the 'Dattatreya Samhita' which consisted of ten thousand suktas. On instructions from Dattatreya, Parashurama condensed the Samhita to six thousand suktas in fifty parts. The present compact work available to us is of just 84 sutras and is arranged in 10 parts. It was compiled by Sumedha, who was a disciple of Parashurama. The Kalpasutra consists of: * 1 Deeksha Vidhi * 2 Gana Nayaka Padhati * 3 Srikramam * 4 Lalita Kramam * 5 Navavarana Pooja * 6 Shyama Kramam * 7 Varahi Kramam * 8 Para Kramam * 9 Homa vidhana * 10 Sarva Sadharana Kramam

Sources

Key concepts and practices as described in Parashurama Kalpasutra are also written in "Nityotsava Nibandaha", a book compiled by Umānandanātha, a disciple of the famous Śrī Vidyā upasaka Bhāskararāya (Bhāsurānandanātha).

Schools

The principal practices of Sri Vidya Sadhana as laid down in the Parashurama Kalpasutra are brought into light by late Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati of

Devipuram Devipuram is a Hindu temple complex located near Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India. Belonging primarily to the Shakta school of Hinduism, it is dedicated to the goddess Sahasrakshi (lit., "she who has a infinite eyes", a form of Lalita Tri ...

an
Mahāvidya Sādhana Centre

References

External links