The Eight Limbs of Yoga (Ashtanga Yoga) in Kashmir Shaivism

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Introduction The Shaiva sastras that we read, these have been stated by Lord Shiva through his mouth. But he has not said like that, the way his form is there, not like that. He has assumed the form of Svacchandanatha and then narrated the Shaiva sastras. The form of Svacchandanatha has five faces, five mouths. Through the five mouths, he has stated the Shaiva sastras. Now I will tell you why he has five mouths, why not six, why not four?

He has five mouths because he has five supreme energies (Saktis): cit sakti, ananda sakti, icchä sakti, jñāna sakti, and kriya sakti. These five Saktis are indistinguishable from his nature. These five Saktis have taken their place in his five mouths. These five mouths are named Isana, Tatpurusa, Sadyojäta, Vamadeva, and Aghora.

Through these five mouths, he has stated these sastras. These tantra fästras he has stated through these five mouths. Tantra sastras are divided into three classes. There are three divisions of these tantra Sastras. One type of tantra is called abheda tantra (L.e.. advaita- monistic). Another tantra is called bhedabheda tantra. It consists of dvaita (dualistic) and advaita (monistic) also. Another tantra is which is called dvaita tantra (dualistic).

The abheda tantra should not be assumed that Shaivism represents only abheda tantra. No! Shaivism represents abheda tantra also, bhedabheda tantra also and bheda tantra also. Abheda (monistic) tantras are named Bhairava Sastras. These are Bhairava tantras. The bhedabheda (mono-cum-dualistic) tantras are called Rudra tantras. The bheda (dualistic) tantras are called Shiva tantras. Bhairava tantras have come out of these five mouths. These are sixty-four tantras. Rudra tantras are eighteen tantras. Shiva tantras or bheda tantras are ten in number. In all, these are ninety-two tantras.

He (Svacchandanatha) has relayed these Tantras through the five mouths: cit, ananda, iccha, jñana, and kriya. And at the same time, he has created his eighteen arms.

Svacchandanatha has manifested his eighteen arms. How has he created eighteen arms? What has he got? What property has he got?

Cit sakti, ananda fakti, icchä sakti, jñāna sakti and kriya fakti! Only these five faktis-that is his treasure. So through this five faktis, he has created his eighteen arms. From his cit sakti came out the mind. From ananda sakti came out buddhi and ahamkara. Now you will ask why the mind has come out of cit sakti. I shall tell you later why the mind has come out of cit fakti.

The gross form of cit sakti is mind. The gross form of ananda sakti is buddhi (intellect) and ahamkära (ego). The gross form of iccha sakti is five pränas.' The gross form of jñāna sakti is five jñänendriyas.' Kriya sakti's gross form is the five karmendriyas. The gross form of cit sakti, ananda sakti, iccha Sakti, jñāna sakti, and kriya sakti, by assuming the gross form of these, we can exist on this earth. Is it not?

We have five karmendriyas which have come out from kriya sakti, five jñanendriyas which have come from jñana sakti, five prānas (breaths) which have come from iccha sakti, then buddhi (intellect) and ahamkära (ego), which have come from ananda sakti, mind which has come from cit sakti. These are eighteen. So, these are within the eighteen arms. The eighteen arms correspond to these eighteen elements.

Why has he (Svacchandanatha) kept these eighteen arms?

To protect! To protect the eighteen elements of the individual. But he does not protect everyone just like that. He will do protection only if you move (live) according to sastras.

That is if you observe the five niyamas and the five yamas. If you observe these, he will take care of your indriyas (organs), otherwise not. This is a fact that I am telling you. This is not my imagination. This is the truth! So, you should follow the five niyams and the five yamas.

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