See Also
Bala Sundari,
Bhavanopanisad,
Dakshinamurti Samhita,
Fifteen Nityas,
Gandharva Tantra,
Jnanarnava Tantra,
Lalita,
Meditation on Lalita,
Nityotsava,
Paradise,
Philosophy of Tripura Tantra,
Rajarajeshvari Kavacha,
Shodhanyasa,
Shrichakranyasa,
Shrinathanavaratnamalika,
Shri Vidya Ratna Sutras,
Shripuja,
Shoshika,
Subhagodaya,
Tripura,
Varahi,
Yakshinis,
Yogini Hridaya
Shri Kurukulla Devi
Thou art the Adya Parama Shakti. Thou art all power. It is by thy power that we, the trinity, are powerful in the acts of creation, preservation and destruction. Endless and of varied colour and form are thy appearances, and various are the strenuous efforts whereby the worshippers may realise them - Mahanirvanatantra V, 2 (Woodroffe edition)Devi Kurukulla is, like Varahi, a balidevata, that is a receiver of offerings. She is one with Lalita and is identified, at least in the Tantrarajatantra, with Tara. She is one with the 15 Nitya devis of the waxing moon.
She has three mantras, one of seven syllables, one of 13 and one of 25 syllables but in her daily puja the mantra of Tara is employed (Om tare tuttare ture svaha).
According to the vast mediaeval tantrik digest Shrividyarnava, these mantras are Om kurukulle svaha (7), kurukullayah om kurukulle hrih svaha (13); kurukullayah om kurukullehrih: mama sarvjanam vashamanaya hrim svaha. Because she has three mantras she is called Trikhanda (three sections).
Her meditation image is as a naked woman, with dishevelled hair, red and full of bliss. Her four hands bear arrow, bow, noose and quiver. Around her is a multitude of Shaktis who look just like her and all have taken their first bath after menstruation, have flowering yonis and eyes intoxicated with desire.
The preparatory act (purashcharana) for worshipping Kurukulla is to recite her vidya-mantra 100,000 times, using red flowers.
Her yantra (top left) is inscribed with the 25 syllable mantra-vidya for success.
According to the tradition, yantras which do not have bija mantras inscribed on them, are powerless.
Artwork is © Jan Bailey, 1996-2006. Translations are © Mike Magee 1996-2006. Questions or comments to mike.magee@btinternet.com
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