Shri Sapashati Hrdaya Rahasym
BOOKS & PUBLICATIONS
SHRI SAPASHATI HRDAYA RAHASYAM
Author: Pandit Rajanak Niranjan Nath Raina
Author: Pandit Rajanak Niranjan Nath Raina
Date: 2015
Pages: 36
Binding: Softcover
Price INR 50.00
Book Review by Sarla Ganju
The book Shakti Upasana Rahasyam written by Dr. Chaman Lal Raina could be termed as a mini Oxford Companion to numerous names of goddesses, their attributes and unique qualities pertaining to them. Kashmiri Pandits have a special affinity with these goddesses as each family has its own Ishta Devi; it can be Durga, Sharika, Raginya or Chakreshware. Therefore, the word "Shakti " is a generic name for all these goddesses who are worshipped and prayed in different forms which is a Upasana. Lastly the word Rahasyam is the secret.

The three main subtitles of the book are;
1. Indrakshi Stotram
2. Nava Durga Nirupanam
3. Chkreshwara Stotram

Besides these, there are twenty-seven chapters which include the introduction to the book . Chapte1 which basically focusses on Kashmiri Shaivism gives information about the concerned subject enlightening some of us who do not know much about the Kashmiri Shaivism. Chapter 27 is completely dedicated to Naivedya Mantra which used to be recited in almost every Kashmiri home regardless of their status whenever there was any offering of any sort to Devi. Again, the names of all the goddesses were recited . once the offering was sanctified, it could be eaten. This particular chapter serves as epilogue to the book.



The crux of the book lies in the chapters 2 26. It engrosses you completely as how to worship and meditate on the secret of Shakti, praising the epithets of Devi while glorifying her names whether it is Ashtottara Shahastranama or Sapta Shakti or Nava Durga Stotram.

Of course, Dr, Raina has not forgotten Lord Ganesha, son of Bhavani, who is merciful and forgiving and bestowing boons on Devatas who are constantly praising her. Four main chapters are dedicated to Ganesha. Then the chapters in between are dedicated to Shri Suriya Mandalkara, Shri Panchastavi, Sapta Shakti, and Nava Durga Dhynam.

Inrakshi Stotram caught my attention right away, obviously for the right reasons. Majority of Kashmiris while growing up are taught to recite and memorize the Indraksi Paath which is very powerful. Lord Indra has visualized the Indrakkshi Devi who is luminous, radiant, brilliant, and she is mother par excellence and is adored by devetas. She is merciful and forgiving just like your own mother overlooking your follies and mistakes. The text I was used to see appeared in a paragraph or two, but for the first time I saw it as a beautiful piece of poetry, divided evenly in nine verses, eight syllables of four lines, totaling thirty-two syllables in all. You are given the explanation and pronunciation of each word, phrase, thereby making it interesting and engrossing. Each word is defined and several meanings are supplied for each epithet which after a while becomes self-explanatory. Since it is packed in a book of twenty seven chapters, one could say it is "Gagar ma Sagar".

There is nothing better to meditate than on the radiant Bhavani and her luminous aura.

Rahasya in the Kashmir Shaivism and Shakti tradition means the secret /occult in nature.Hence the purity of body ,mind and soul are very much appreciated in the Puja/adoration to the Dvine Mother.

The Nyasa is initiated with the Gayatrui Mantra,as being the invocation of the specific Chakras in the body.This is verily,a Kashmir Shaktivad tradition.

The Bhadra Pathamam is Vedic, mostly of the Mantras of the Devi Atharva Veda Shirsham. It is concludd with Kumari Sangyan Dhyanam.
About the Author
Pandit Niranjan Nath Raina

Born in Srinagar Kashmir, in 1906, attained Nirvana on Shrawan Shukla Saptami at Ajmer Rajasthan, in 1999 A.D. Born to Pandit Amar Chand Raina of the Rajanak Swamin Gautama Gotra, of the Shaivi and Shakta Parampara.His ancestors hailed from the Inderkoot area of Sumbal, hence they had great affinity with the Nandakeshvara at Sumbal. He lost his father, when he was barely three year old. Being very sharp and vigilant,he was initiated into the Agamic Bija Mantras by Tapasvini Padman Ded, who happened to be his grand mother.She was a great devotee of the Bhuvaneshvari--Shri Raja Rajeshvari of the कादि -- Kadi system of invocation, who passed away in 1947 at the ripe age of 103 years.

Pandit N N Raina studied Sanskrit,under the guidance of Pandit Govind Bhat Shastri of Rainawari Srinagar,after his early education at the Mission School FatehKadal, Srinagar. He studied the Kadi Vidya system under Pandit Madhav Kak Yaksha, of Batayar Ali Kadal,Srinagar, Sanskrit teacher of the Mission School,in his teen age. His teacher in the Vyakrana was Pandit Govind Kak Shastri of Qarafali Mohalla Srinagar, Thus he became adept in the Agamic literature. and passed on this esoteric system to the aspirants.

This Matrika Viniyoga, was later transcribed from Sharada to the Devanagri, for making the aspirants know the Kadi sysyem of Puja Paddhati, in a very lucid way.The present book is the अनुष्ठान AnushThana text of the Shakti tradition of Kashmir for the devotees, interested in the Nava Durga Kanya Puja, a configuration of the Vedic and Agamic approach though the Yantrik system.

Dr .Abhinav kamal Raina, PG Deptt of Commerce
Govt Mahrana Pratap College Chittore,Rajasthan
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