१०

The Venerable Tantrāloka original: 'Śrītantrāloka'

In this way, the author explains both realities referred to by the word "that": "The Mother and the Father" original: 'jananī janakaśca'. She is the "Mother" because she generates the universe. She is the Supreme Goddess of the Great Lord, the beginning of the wheel of creation and the other cycles. Note on line 3: Some manuscripts read "the wheel of creation of the Supreme Goddess." Because she is of the nature of pure consciousness alone, she is called "Pure" original: 'vimalā'. She is the primordial lunar "Digit" kalā|A 'digit' or 'phase' of the moon; in this context, it refers to the 16th or 17th lunar phase which represents the unchanging, nectar-filled essence of the Goddess who is the "Abode" original: 'āśrayaḥ'—meaning she is the support and the movement. The sense is that she consists of the supreme nectar that nourishes the entire world. As it has been said:

"Creation, which is the form of supreme bliss, sits above, raining down a shower of nectar; she is the supreme phase belonging to the Bindu bindu|The 'point' or 'seed' of condensed consciousness from which all manifestation radiates."

And likewise:

"The peaceful lunar digit stands above, the Goddess who consists of the essence of the bliss of full nectar."

Therefore, within the "Ever-new" original: 'abhinavāyām'—following the principle that she exists "forever for the sake of the play of creation"—she is that "Radiance" original: 'mahaḥ' whose defining characteristic is Absolute Freedom svātantrya|The sovereign power of Consciousness to manifest and perceive all things according to its own will, without external necessity. This radiance is always shining within the outward form of Creation original: 'sṛṣṭi'. Note on line 14: Various manuscripts read "always for the sake of illumination" or "eternal." Conversely, he who generates the dissolution of all existing things is the "Father" original: 'janakaḥ', the Beautiful One...