Pañcadaśī Mantra

The Pañcadaśī is the fifteen-syllable (pañca-daśa, “five and ten”) mantra of Śrī Vidyā, the tradition of upāsanā (devoted practice) of the Devī as Lalitā Mahātripurasundarī. It is called the Mantrarāja, “the king of all mantras”, and it is the supreme mantra of Lalitā.

The Lalitopākhyāna, the story of Lalitā in the Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, places it at the very top of all mantras, from the Vedic mantras up to the Śyāmā mantras. In its Kādi form it has fifteen syllables arranged in three kūṭas (groups): ka-e-ī-la-hrīṃ (the Vāgbhava kūṭa), ha-sa-ka-ha-la-hrīṃ (the Kāmarāja kūṭa) and sa-ka-la-hrīṃ (the Śakti kūṭa). The Shoḍaśī mantra adds one more bīja (seed-syllable) to it, making sixteen syllables.

The Two Mantrarājas

The Lalitopākhyāna (Chapter 38) names two forms of the supreme mantra of Lalitā, each named after the one who received it:

  • The Lopāmudrā mantra (Hādi krama): it begins with the syllable ha, so it is called Hādi. This is the krama (method) of Lopāmudrā, the wife of Agastya Ṛshi.
  • The Kāmarāja mantra (Kādi krama): it begins with the syllable ka, so it is called Kādi. It is linked with Kāmarāja.

Both are Mantrarājas. The text notes that the two differ by exactly three syllables, the particular differences in certain kūṭas. Both are true paths of Śrī Vidyā upāsanā, honoured in different guru-paramparās (lines of teachers).

The Three Kūṭas of the Kādi Pañcadaśī

The Kādi Pañcadaśī is built in three kūṭas (sections). Each is named after the divine principle it carries.

1. The Vāgbhava Kūṭa (five syllables)

ka, e, ī, la, hrīṃ

The first kūṭa is linked with Vāgbhavā: the power of speech, the power of Sarasvatī, the source of the created world through the word. Each syllable is linked with a principle of the universe:

  • ka = the earth (kshiti)
  • e = the principle of śakti (divine power)
  • ī = kāma (desire, Manmatha)
  • la = māyā
  • hrīṃ = the Hṛllekhā bīja (the joined power of Hara, Ravi, Indra and Māyā)

2. The Kāmarāja Kūṭa (six syllables)

ha, sa, ka, ha, la, hrīṃ

The second kūṭa is the kūṭa of Kāmarāja. It is linked with the power that brings forth and protects life, the domain of Vishṇu. Its syllables are:

  • ha = Haṃsa, the principle of prāṇa (life-breath)
  • sa = Bhṛgu (the bīja of Śani, Saturn)
  • ka = Kāma
  • ha = Śaśimauli (Śiva, who wears the moon on his head)
  • la = Śukra (Venus)
  • hrīṃ = Bhuvaneśvara

3. The Śakti Kūṭa (four syllables)

sa, ka, la, hrīṃ

The third kūṭa is the pure Śakti kūṭa: the power of dissolution, the śakti of Rudra, the power that draws everything back to its source. Its four syllables are:

  • sa = Candra (the moon)
  • ka = Manobhava (the mind-born one, Kāmadeva)
  • la = kshiti (the earth)
  • hrīṃ = Hṛllekhā

Sādhana: Daily Practice and Its Fruits

Hayagrīva teaches this sādhana (spiritual practice) for the Pañcadaśī:

  • Laksha-japa, one hundred thousand repetitions, as the basic unit of practice
  • Daily dhyāna (meditation) on the form of Lalitā Devī as described in the Lalitāstava
  • Japa done with śuddhi (purity) and śraddhā (faith and devotion), in a clean and quiet place
  • The mantra is received only through dīkshā (initiation) from a qualified guru

The fruits of laksha-japa are: the direct anugraha (grace) of Lalitā Devī; the fulfilment of all worldly and spiritual wishes; freedom from the cycle of rebirth; and reaching Lalitā’s eternal home in Śrī Nagara.

Sources

  • Brahmāṇḍa Mahā Purāṇa, Lalitopākhyāna, Chapter 38