1 The Fifteen Nityas "Thechakraof thelettersof thealphabetisbasedupontimeandsoisidenticalwith the sidereal zodiac." - Tantraraja Tantra TheNityasorEternitiesofLalitarepresentthefifteenlunardaysortithisofthe waxingMoon.Eachhasherownyantra,mantra,tantraandprayogasorritual applications.ThefullcircleoftheNityasalsorepresentsthe21,600breathsahuman being takesin afull day andnight. As such, the Nityas are theKalachakra, or Wheel of Time.Theinformationinthissectionisdrawnfromanumberoftantrasincludingthe Tantraraja,theDakshinamurtiSamhitaandtheJnanarnavaTantra,aswellasthe Kalpasutra, which seemsto be theprimary source. Readers will alsofind ituseful to refer to Sir John Woodroffe's digest of the Tantraraja (Ganesh & Co, 1971), although herehefailstogivesufficientideaofthenumberofprayogas(magicalrites) associatedwiththeNityas.Yantrasandmantras,wheregiven,aredrawnfrom Tantraraja, although it is necessary to point out that the Dakshinamurti Samhita gives somewhat different versions. Youcanfindlargerversionsoftheyantrasaccording totheTantrarajatantraonthis page. The 15 Nityas are modifications of Lalita as red goddess with her three gunas and her fiveelementsofaether,air,fire,waterandearth.Asthemoonremainsitself,though appearingdifferentlyaccordingto phase,sotoo doesLalita.EachNityahasherown vidya(thatismantra),yantraandgroupofenergies(Shaktis).Theirnamesappearin thefirstchapterofVamakeshvaraTantra.GopinathKaviraj,arenownedscholarof tantrainthefirsthalfofthiscentury,describestheKalachakraandtheNityas succinctlyintheintroductiontotheSanskriteditionofYoginiHridaya.(Sarasvati Bhavana Granthamala, 1963): "What theBhavanopanishadsaysimpliesthat theHumanBodyisto beconceivedas the Sri Cakra, being the expression of one's own self. (Svatma). This means that while ontheonehandtheBodyisto beregardedasnon-differentfrom theatma,theentirecosmicsystemassociatedwiththebody shouldalsobeviewedinthesamelight.Thisoutersysteminits manifestationrestsonTime(kala),Space(deha)anda combination of the two. The exponents of the School hold that the wellknownfifteenKalasoftheMoon,representingthe15lunar tithis,aretoberegardedasidenticalwiththefifteenNityas (Kameshvari to Citra). The sixteenth Kala called Sadakhya should be viewed as one with Lalita or the Supreme Deity Herself. In other words, one has to 2 feelthatwhatappearsinKalacakraisnothingbutanexpressionofwhatexists eternally as Nityas in the supreme Sri Cakra itself. The tithicakra or the wheel of time is constantly revolving and the Sri Cakra is within it and not without. It should also be rememberedthatfromthestandpointofanesotericyoginthetithisareinthelast analysis to be identified with the 21600 shvasas supposed to be the average number of breaths per day of a normal human being." HenceLalitaorTripurasundariisthe16thdayorfullmoon,withher15digits.Each of theNityashas a certainnumber of arms, thetotality of arms (=rays) ofthe whole circle being 108.Because anyunit of time istaken as amicrocosmor parallelof any othervalidunit,eachofthefifteenNityasthushas1,440breaths(see Bhavanopanishad).Thisidentitybetweenspace,time,Tripurasundariandthe individualiselaboratedatgreatlengthandwithconsiderablesophisticationbythe author of the Tantraraja. Accordingtothattext,theNityasarethevowelsoftheSanskritalphabetandare identicalwithbothtimeandspace.Forexample,ifthenumberoftattvasor consonants(36)aremultipliedbythe16Nityasthenumberoflettersis576.The multiplesofthisnumberprovidethenumberofyearsinthedifferentYugas.Sothe circleofthematrikasandtheNityasisidenticalwiththesiderealzodiacaswellas mantra. Thisthemeisfurtherelaboratedinthe28thchapterofthesametantra,whereShiva says that in the centre of the world is the Meru, outside of this being the seven oceans and beyond this the Kalachakra or wheel of time which moves in a clockwise direction by the power of Iccha (Will) Shakti. The circle is divided by 12 spokes and the planets orgrahas arewithin this.Lalita, says thetantra,isin the Meru, while 14 Nityasfrom Kameshvari to Jvalamalini reside in the seven islands and seven oceans. Chitra, who is the 16th Nitya, occupies supreme Space or Paramavyoma. IntheDakshinamurtiSamhita,theNityasareidentifiedwithkalasorpartsofthe differentstagesofdeepsleep,dreaming,waking,andfullconsciousnessorTuriya. HereitissaidthattheNityas,includingLalita,arethe16partsofthecontinuumof consciousness,whilethe17thKalaisbeyondallofthis.EachoftheNityashasthe respective vowel letter associated with her mantra vidya. VowelsMoonDeep Sleep14 spokesPrameya ConsonantsSunWakingTwo 10sPramana Ya etc.FireDreamEight spokesPramata Sha etcFireFourthFour lines 16 PetalsFireWaking Pramata Eight petalsFireDream Pramana 3 Three linesFireDeep Sleep Prameya VisargaTrikonaBlossoming universal place, Kriya BinduBinduNon blossoming place, Jnana VisargabinduMahabinduPlace of Samarasa SimilarideasarefoundintheMatrikachakraViveka,asinthetableabove,drawn fromtheSanskritintroductiontothe1934GovernmentSanskritCollegeofBenares edition, which classifies the ninemandalasof theShri Yantra according to Pramana- means of knowledge, Pramata - the subject, and Prameya-theobjectandrelatesthedifferent statesofconsciousnesstotheyantra.See Tattvas on this site.AccordingtotheTantraraja,the15Nityasare limbsorraysofLalita,whoisherselfpureconsciousnesswithoutadditions.Varahi andKurukullabeartherelationshipoffatherandmotherrespectively.TheNityas themselvescanbemeditateduponandworshippedindifferentformsandcoloursfor theattainmentofdifferentends.Indailyworship(puja)oftheNityas,eachhasher ownnyasaandritualsequenceandtheyaretoreceivepujaonthelunardays associated with them. The vidya mantras of the different Nityas below are prefaced by AimHrimShrimbijamantrasandsuffixedwithShriPadukamPujayamiTarpayami Namah,thatisHail.Iworshipandlibatetheauspiciouslotusfeet [oftheappropriate Nitya].TheyantrasusedbelowarethosefromtheTantrarajawhiletheSanskrit syllables are the vowel letters associated with each Nitya and day of the Moon. Theimages embeddedin the text above are takenfrom a sadhaka'smanuscript ofthe 1,000 names of Lalita.Kameshvari Nitya ThefirstNityainthecycleisKameshvari,anamewhich meansLadyofDesire.Hervidya(mantra)accordingtothe Tantrarajatantra,isAimHrimShrimAmAimSaKaLaHrim NityaklinneMadadraveSauhAmKameshvariNityaShriPadukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. Thesametantragivesherdhyanaormeditationimageasredlike10milliondawn suns, having a diadem of rubies, wearing throat ornaments, necklaces, waistchains and rings.Sheisred,hassixarmsandthreeeyes,andbearsacrescentMoon,smiling softly.Sheholdsabowofsugarcane,floweringarrows,noose,goad,andanectar-filledbegemmedcup,showingthemudraofbestowingboons.Thefivearrowsof desire(Kama)inthefivepetalsareLonging,Maddening,Kindling,Enchantingand Wasting.ThesefiveKamasarefiveformsofKamadeva,LalitaasKrishna,whoare 4 Kamaraja(Hrim),Manmatha(Klim),Kandarpa(Aim),Makara(Blum)and Manobhava(Strim)withthecoloursyellow,white,red,purpleandblue.Eachofthe Kamadevashastwoeyesandtwoarms,thehandsholdingsugarcanebowand flowering arrows, the very form of the five elements. Bhagamalini Nitya Nitya Bhagamalini, whose name refers to the flowering yoni, isthesecondofthecycleofthewaxingMoonandhasa remarkableandverylongvidya(mantra)whichruns:AimHrim ShrimAmAimBhagabugeBhaginiBhagodariBhagamale BhagavaheBhagaguhyeBhagayoniBhaganipatini SarvabhagavashankariBhagarupeNityaklinneBhagasvarupeSarvaniBhaganiMe HyanayaVaradeReteSureteBhagaklinneKlinnadraveKledayaDravayaAmoghe BhagavicceKshubhaKshobhayaSarvasatvanBhagodariAimBlumJemBlumBhem BlumMomBlumHemBlumHemKlinneSarvaniBhaganiMeVashamanayaStrim Hara Blem Hrim Am Bhagamalini Nitya Shri Padukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. Shehassixarms,threeeyes,sitsonalotusandholdsinherlefthandsanight water lily,anooseandasugarcanebowandinherrightalotus,agoadandflowering arrows.AroundherisahostofShaktisallofwhomlooklikeher,accordingtothe Tantrarajatantra. The Dakshinamurti Samhitahas a different image (dhyana).Here (chapter 41), sheis describedasdwellinginthemiddleofafloweryforest,adornedwithvariousgems, holding noose, goad, book, scales, nail (?) and writing implement, showing the mudras orhandgesturesofallayingfearsandbestowingboons.Heryantraisdescribed differently, too, as triangle, hexagon, 16 petals, eight petals, then the bhupura or fence. Nityaklinna Nitya HernamemeansWetNitya,orAlwaysWet.ThethirdNitya's mantraisAimHrimShrimNityaklinneMadadraveSvahaim Nityaklinna Nitya Shri Padukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. Sheissurroundedby19Shaktis,accordingtotheTantraraja,who areKshobhini,Mohini,Lila,Nitya,Niranjana,Klinna,Kledini,Madanatura, Madadrava, Dravini,Vidhana, Madavila,Mangala, Manmatharta, Manashvini, Moha, Amoda,Manomayi,Maya,MandaandManovati.TheNityaklinnaherself,thesame tantrasays,isrestlesswithdesire,smearedwithredsandalpaste,wearsredclothes, smiles, has a half moon on her head, and holds noose, goad, cup and makes the mudra dispelling fear. TheDakshinamurtiSamhita(chapter42)givesherrootmantraasbeingof11 syllables,HrimNityaklinnaMadadraveSvaha.Theimageissimilarexceptthatshe 5 holdsanoose,agoad,askullanddispelsfears.Herfaceisbathedinsweatandher eyesmove with desire. Here theyantraisdescribed as trikona, eight petals, and earth square (bhupura). She bestows enjoyment and liberation and subdues the three worlds for one siddha (successful) in her vidya (mantra). Bherunda Nitya Bherunda, the fourth Nitya, has three eyes and eight arms, with herbodythecolourofmoltengold,wearingbeautiful ornaments on her hands, feet, arms and around her waist. She smiles sweetlywithherhandsholdingnoose,goad,shield,sword,mace, thunderbolt (vajra), bow and arrow. Thevidyamantrais:AimHrimShrimImOmKromBhromKraumJhmraum CchraumJraumSvahaImBherundaNityaShriPadukamPujayamiTarpayami Namah, says Tantraraja. Using her mantra destroys poison. The DS describes her yantra as being triangle, eight petals and bhupura. In the triangle areShikhini,NilakanthiandRaudri.Bherunda,accordingtothissource,rulesthe Vetalas. The vidya mantra also differs. Vahnivasini Nitya Vahnivasiniis the sixth Nitya (Eternity)in the cycle, hername meaningthedwellerinfire.HermantraisOmHrim Vahnivasiniyai Namah. The Shaktis in the eight trikonas are Jvalini, Visphulingini,Mangala,Sumanohara,Kanaka,Ankita,Vishvaand Vividha.Inthe12petalsarethe12signsoftheHindu (sidereal)zodiac.HerdescriptionintheTantrarajaTantraisasabeautifulyoung woman, the colour ofgold, with eight arms, dressed inyellow silkgarments, adorned with rubies. She holds a red lotus, a conch, a bow of red sugarcane and the fullmoon inherlefthands;inherrightawhitewaterlily,goldenhorn,floweryarrowsanda citron. Around her are numberless Shaktis who look like her. She is the dweller in fire who devours the universe.Mahavajreshvari Nitya Hervidya-mantraisUmHrimKlinneAimKrom NityamadadraveHrimUmMahavajreshvariNityaShri Padukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. SheisdescribedintheTantrarajaashavingfourarms,threeeyes, garmentedinred,redincolour,wearingredjewelsandstrewnwithredflowers, wearingacrownofrubies.Shesitsonathroneonagoldenboatwhichfloatsonan oceanofblood,andholdsnoose,goad,sugarcanebowandfloweringarrows.Sheis surrounded by a host of Shaktis similar to her and sways while she smiles mercifully. 6 The description in the DS differs. Here, she is described as resembling the china rose, wearing red clothes, and holding noose, goad, skull and dispelling fear. She is swaying fromhavingdrunkpurewine.Theyantrahereisdescribedashaving atriangle,four petals, eight petals and a bhupura. Duti Nitya According to Nityotsava, an expansion of theKalpasutras, the vidya-mantraofShivadutiNityaisAimHrimShrim ShivadutyaiNamahShivadutinityaShriPadukamPujayami Tarpayami Namah. She is called Shivaduti because she makes Shiva her messenger (Duti). TheTantrarajadescribesherasbeing dressedin red,withninejewelsinhercrown, surroundedbyRishissingingherpraisesandhavingeightarmsandthreeeyes.She looks as bright as the summer sun at midday and smiles sweetly. Her hands hold horn, shield, mace, cup, goad, cleaver, axe and lotus.Tvarita Nitya TvaritaistheninthNitya(Eternity)inthecycle.Alsocalled Totala Devi. She is called Tvarita ("Swift") as She grants fruit tothesadhakaquickly.Sheisofauspiciousform,inthefirstflush ofyouth,anddarkincolour.Shehas3eyesand4handsandHer beautifullotus-likefacesmilesgently.Sheiscladinnewleaves. Sheis adorned with 8fierce andgreat serpents of 4 kinds, and with waist chains and anklets. On Her head is a crystal crown with a crest of peacock feathers. Her arms are adornedwithbanglesmadeofbeautifulpeacockfeathers.Shehasanumbrellaanda bannermade of peacock feathers. She wears strings of (red)gunja berries aroundHer throat,andHerbreastsaresmearedwithredsandalandkumkum.Sheholdsnoose, goad, dispels fear, and grants boons. In front of this Goddess is a black servant carrying a mace, who is worshipped for the attainmentofthedesiredfruit.OneithersideofHerareHertwoShaktisJaya (conquering) and Vijaya (Victorious) who are like Her and who carry and swing gold canes. The 8 Serpents are: Ananta & Kulika,fieryin colour, each with 1000hoods,Her ear ornaments. Vasuki & Shankhapala, yellow in colour, each with 700 hoods, Her upper armbangles.Takshaka&Mahapadma,blueincolour,eachwith500hoods,Her girdle.Padma&Kartataka,white,eachwith300hoods,Hertoeornaments.Her ShaktisareHumkari,Khechari,Chandi,Chedini,Kahepani,Strikari,Dumkari, Kahemakari -- these are similar to the Lokapalas, and the Shaktis in the 8 petals of the yantra. Her mantra is Om Hrim Hum Khe Ca Che Ksah Strim Hum Kse Hrim Phat. 7 Tvarita Puja TakingupapositionfacingEast,andhavingdonethreepranayamas,oneshoulddo thefollowingNyasa:HailtotheRishiSauraonthehead:Hailto theMetreVirat on themouth:HailtotheDeviTvaritaNityaintheheart:HailtotheBijaOminthe genitals:HailtotheShaktiHumonthefeet:HailtotheLinchpinKseonthenavel. Then making the anjali gesture near the heart one should dothe following Nyasa: Cm Khe Ca to the heart Namah: Ca Cche to the head Svaha: Cche Ksah to the peak Vasat: KsahStritothearmourHum:StriHumtothe3eyesVaushad:HumKsetothe Missile Phat. ThenoneshoulddotheTvaritaNyasa:(Head)HrimOmHrimNamah:(Forehead) HrumHumHrimNamah:(Throat)HrimKheHrimNamah:(Heart)HrimCaHrim Namah:(Navel)HrimCcheHrimNamah:(Muladhara)HrimKsahHrimNamah: (Thighs)Hrim StriHrim Namah: (Knees)HrimHumHrim Namah:(Legs)HrimKse Hrim Namah: (Feet) Hrim Phat Hrim Namah: End with a diffusion. After placing theyantrain front ofyou,visualise DeviTvaritain theheart. TakeHer to the head, resolve to do Her puja, place the flower on the yantra centre. Worship the tripleGurulinefirst,asbeinginthethreecircles,thenDevi'sservitorwhoisinthe westoftheYantra.WorshipJayaandVijayaonbothsidesofthedoor.Worship Humkari,Khecari,Canda,Cchedini,Ksepini,Strikari,Dumkari,Ksemakariinthe eight petals. Tvarita Devi in the centre. Kulasundari Nitya Hervidya-mantraisgivenasAimHrimShrimAimKlim SauhKulasundariNityaShriPadukamPujayamiTarpayami Namah. She has twelve arms and six faces, says theTantraraja. In her right hands she holds coral mala (rosary), lotus, a gem-studded pitcher, drinking cip, lemon anddisplaystheexpositionmudra.Herlefthandsholdbook,redlotus,goldenpen, garlandofgems,conchshellwiththelastshowing theboonmudra,according to the same tantra. Around her are hostes of Kinnaras, Yakshas, Devas and Gandharvas. The letters of the vidya Aim Klim Sauh comprise the Tripura bulb which is the united stateofknower,knowledgeandobjectofknowledge;thethreehumoursofVata, KaphaandSleshma; andFire,SunandtheMoon.AccordingtotheDS(chapter48), KulasundariisidenticalwithBalaandplacedintheEasternlion-seat. Nitya Nitya TheKalpasutra'sversionofNityaNitya'smantrarunsHaSa KaLa Ra DaimHa SaKaLa Ra DimHaSa KaLa Ra Dauh 8 Nitya Nitya Shri Padukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. TheTantrarajadescribesheraslikethedawnsun,rulingtheShaktisofthebodily dhatus(Dakini,Shakini,Rakini&c),dressedinredclothesandwearingrubies.She has three eyes and 12 arms and holds in her hands noose, white lotus, sugar cane bow, shield,trident,andfavourmudra,goad,book,floweringarrows,sword,skull,mudra dispelling fear. Nilapataka Nitya Her namemeans Sapphire Banner and her mantra is Aim Hrim ShrimPhremStrumKromAmKlimAimBlum NityamadadraveHumPhremHrimEmNilapatakaNityaShri Padukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. The Tantraraja says that she is nila (sapphire) in hue with five faces andtenarms,wearingredclothesandbeautifulgems.Herlefthandsshownoose, banner,shield,hornbow,andthemudragrantinggifts.Herrighthandsshowgoad, dart,sword,arrowsandthemudrabanishingfear.Shesitsonalotussurroundedby hordesofShaktislikeher.SherulestheYakshinisandthe64Chetakasandhasan uncannycollectionofsiddhisormagicalpowerstogranttohersadhakaorsadhika includingaswordunbeatableinbattle(Khadgasiddhi),Treasure,thepowertosee throughwalls(Anjana),theabilitytotravelmilesinaninstant(PadukaSiddhi)and lots, lots more. Vijaya Nitya Shebringsvictoryinbattleandsuccessinbuyingandselling, hence her name, Victorious. Accordingto Nityotsava,hervidyamantra isAimHrimShrimBha MaRaYaAumAimVijayaNityaShriPadukamPujayami TarpayamiNamah.AccordingtotheDSshehasoneheadand10armsandwearsa garland ofhuman skulls but the dhyana ormeditationimagein theTantraraja differs from this. There she has five heads and 10 arms which hold conch, noose, shield, bow, white lily, discus, goad, arrows and lemon. Sarvamangala Nitya Hernamemeans"allauspicious"andhervidyamantrais AimHrimShrimSvaumOmSarvamangalaNityaShri PadukamPujayamiTarpayamiNamah.Shehastwoarmsandone head,sitsonherlotusyantraandhaseyeswhichrepresentthesun and themoon, while she smiles sweetly. In her right hand she holds a citron and with the left shows the boon-giving mudra. All her 76 attendants surround her, they are solar, lunar and fiery. 9 She rules over thekalas (parts or digits)of the sun (12), themoon (16) andfire(10). Thisnumbers38andherattendantsaredoubledbecauseeachis with her consort. Jvalamalini Nitya Hernamemeans"garlandedwithflames"andhermantra, accordingtoTantrarajatantra,isOmnamobhagavati Jvalamalinidevadevisarvabhutasamharakarikejatavedasijvalanti jvalajvalaprajvalaprajvalaHrimHrimHumRamRamRamRam Ram Ram Ram Jvalamalini Hum Phat Svaha. As the Nitya of flame, she is surrounded by Shaktis, each of whom resembles her and sheherselfhas abodyofflamingfire, with six faces and 12 arms. Eachofherfaces, each with three eyes, smile sweetly. Her 12 hands hold noose, goad, arrow, mace, tortoise, spear, flame and she shows two mudras - granting boons and dispelling fear. TheDSgivesadifferentyantratotheTantraraja,withoneofthemandalashaving forty rather than 32 petals. TheShaktisandherdescriptionalsoshowvariants.Sheisdescribedassittingona lion-seat,andholdsdifferentweaponswhichincludethedamarudrumandajarof wine. Chitra Nitya ThelastNityainthecycleisChitra,whosemantraisAim Hrim Shrim Ckaum Am Chitra Nitya Shri Padukam Pujayami Tarpayami Namah. Her name means variegated and she wears a silk garmentofdifferentcolours,hasfourarms,oneheadandholds noose, goad, and shows the gestures granting boons and dispelling fears. 10 Fifteen Nitya Yantras of Mahatripurasundari Kameshvari Bhagamalini Nitaklinna Bherunda 11 Vahnivasini Vajreshvari Shivaduti Tvarita 12 Kulasundari Nitya Nilapataka Vijaya 13 Sarvamangala Jvalamalini Chitra Nitya