Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori

YOGA 135
in six measures (mātrā). Before kumbhaka he does the
uḍ ḍ iyānabhandha mudrā. Meditating on Hari (Viṣṇ u)
as sattvamaya and the black bija ukāra, he does kumbhaka
with 64 japa of the bīja; then, meditating on Śiva
as tamomaya and his white bīja makāra, he exhales
through Piṇgalā with 32 japa of the bīja; then, inhaling
by Piṇgalā, he does kumbhaka, and exhales by Iḍ a with
the same bīja. The process is repeated in the normal
and reversed order.
PRATYAKṢ A: DHYĀNA
Through dhyāna is gained the third quality of realization
or pratyakṣa. Dhyāna, or meditation, is of three
kinds: (1) sthūla, or gross; (2) jyotih; (3) sūkṣma, or
subtle. 1 In the first the form of the Devatā is brought
before the mind. One form of dhyāna for this purpose is
as follows: Let the sādhaka think of the great ocean of
nectar in his heart. In the middle of that ocean is the
island of gems, the shores of which are made of
powdered gems. The island is clothed with a kadamba
forest in yellow blossom. This forest is surrounded by
Mālati, Campaka, Pārijāta, and other fragrant trees. In
the midst of the Kadamba forest there rises the beautiful
Kalpa tree, laden with fresh blossom and fruit. Amidst
its leaves the black bees hum and the koel birds make
love. Its four branches are the four Vedas. Under the
tree there is a great maṇ ḍ apa of precious stones, and
1 Gheraṇḍa-Saṃ
hitā, Sixth Upadeśa. It, is said by Bhāskararāya, in the
Lalitā (verse 2), that there are three forms of the Devī which equally partake
of both the prakāśa and vimarśa aspects—viz., the physical (sthūla), the
subtle (sūkṣma) and the supreme (para). The physical form has hands, feet,
etc., the subtle consists of mantra, and the supreme is the vāsanā or, in the
technical sense of the Mantra śāstra, real or own.