Kalika Purana

The text of Kalika Puranas is devoted to mythology and rituals of worship of various manifestations of the highest female deity: Sati (chapters 8-16), Mahamaya (chapters 52-54, 56), Durga (chap. 60), Tripura (chap. 63), Kali (chapters 42- 48). Particular attention is paid to the precepts regarding the worship of Kamakhya - the erotic manifestation of the Goddess (chapters 57-58, 61-62). The myth of Mahish in Kalika Purana is developing in a peculiar way. In it, Mahisha becomes the embodiment of Shiva , and thus the Goddess kills her own spouse, about which, however, he asks her (chapter 60). The text is also interesting because it lists a large number of yoginis, many of which are not in similar lists in other texts (chapters 61.38-41 and 61.113-114).

In Kalika Purana, the Goddess enters as the material cause of the phenomenal world and the embodiment of all energy, consciousness and bliss. The world owes its appearance to her; she owes her birth to no one (chapter 5.14). Unlike the Devi Bhagavata Purana , which emphasizes the priority of the Vedas and the blessed forms of the deity, in Kalika Purana the influence of tantric ideas and practices is more noticeable. The text refers to the use of meat, drugs and sexual intercourse in the ritual. A special section - Mahamaya-kalpa - is devoted to the rules for making animal sacrifices (chapter 53). Even the sacrifice of people is allowed — it is said that human sacrifice is pleasing to the Goddess (chapter 71.73). The Purana contains two lists of pith - holy places of the Goddess. In one of them, 5 piths are mentioned (chap. 18.41-13), in the other - 7 (chapters 18.48-50). Even Kalika Purana gained her fame for the fact that in her text, in fact, the word “Hindu” first appears.

Kalika Purana can be divided into three large parts:

1. Chapters 1 through 51 are exclusively mythological narratives;
2. Chapters 52 to 75 are religious precepts and related myths;
3. Chapters 75 to 90 (98) - the prevalence of mythological narrative.

There are also chapters on the science of governance (chap. 84), good manners (chap. 85), and the rules for bathing (chap. 86).

The most important section in Kalika Purana is considered to be the section dedicated to the worship of the Goddess. Shiva himself acts as the narrator in it. He explains the confusing ceremonies, but not to his wife Parvati , as is usually the case in tantras, but to his sons Bringa and Mahakala, who were born on earth as human beings with the faces of the monkeys of Vetal and Bhairava - they reached this low state due to the curse and are now trying to return it again lost divinity. The only way to do this is by worshiping the Goddess, the wife of Shiva and their own mother. The ritual practice transmitted by him is intended to achieve the position of “ganapati” (leader of the Ghana), their initial state. This section deals with the cult of such manifestations of the Goddess as Mahamaya (chapters 52-54 and 56), Durga (chap. 60), Kali (chap. 61), Tripura (chapters 63, 64, 74, 75). The iconography, mantras , yantras and “retinue” of each manifestation are described in detail, including secondary deities: yoginis, shakti, “guardians of the gates” (dvarapala) and others. Particular attention is paid to Kamakhya, the mountainous Assamese goddess identified with the Highest Devi (chap. 58.52; 72).

Chapters 41 to 51 can be combined under the general title “The Legend of Shiva and Parvati ”. This fragment contains the myths of the Shaivite cycle:

• about the love of Shiva and Parvati ;
• about the birth of Scanda ;
• about the descent of Shiva and Parvati to the earth in the image of the royal couple Chandrashekhara and Taravati and
• about their sons: Vetale and Bhairava.

It is also told that Sati, after his death, some time later reincarnates in the image of Parvati , the daughter of the king of the mountains of Himawat (Himalayas) and the Apsara of Mena .

The statement of the myth of love between Shiva and Parvati in Kalika Purana almost completely coincides with the versions presented in other Puranas and Kumarasambhava , but then in chapter 46 an original and interesting story is found, which is found only in Kalika Purna.

To conceive a son, Shiva and Parvati indulge in love and their “great intercourse” is worried about the whole world and the gods, led by Brahma, go to Shiva and ask him to stop intercourse (chap. 46.29-51; 45-47). Shiva replies to this that due to the termination of intercourse, Parvati will become childless (chapter 46.53), but at the same time he yields to the request of the gods and pours his seed into the fire (chapter 46.61). The fire does not carry the seed into the womb of the Ganges (chapter 46.82) and the Ganges gives birth to two twins - Skanda and Visakhu (chapter 46.83-84), who become one. The Ganges leaves the newborn in the midst of reed thickets (chapter 46.86), from where Bakula [one of Krittik , personifications of the constellations of the Pleiades ] takes him from (chapter 46.88). Skanda grows and, having become the leader of the host of the gods, kills asura Taraku (chap. 46.90-91). All this in general coincides with what is said in the Puranas and Itihasas , except that in other versions of Skanda six Krittiks are brought up ( Mahabharata , IX, 43-46; Ramayana , I, 36-37; Matsya Purana , 146 , 158; Shiva-Purana , II, 4.1-2), while in Kalika Purana this role is performed only by Bahula. But at the same time, one very important and original moment appears here: Shiva is not only the father of Skanda , but also two creatures of divine nature.

Translation into Russian was done from the original publication: The Kalikapurana . Text, introduction and translation in English by Prof. BN Shastri. - Delhi-7: Nag Publishers, 1991.

Translation into Russian is designed for a trained reader who is well acquainted with the philosophy and mythology of Hinduism in general and Shaivism and Shaktism in particular.

• The text of Kalika Purana on the website of the translator A. Ignatiev