The Tilaka of Sharada

Vindu is the nature of Shiva, Vija is the nature of Shakti, and Nada is the combination of the two; this is what the experts of all scriptures describe. (9)

From Vindu arose Raudri, from Nada arose Jyeshtha, and from Vija arose Vama. They originated from the union of Rudra and Brahma. (10)

They are the forms of knowledge, will, and action, and they are like fire, moon, and sun. From the splitting of the Supreme Vindu, the unmanifest form appeared. (11)

The experts of all scriptures call that Shabdabrahma the absolute reality as sound. Others say it is word-meaning, and others say it is just the word. (12)

Neither the word nor the meaning can accomplish anything on their own, as both are inert. It is my opinion that the consciousness of all beings is Shabdabrahma. (13)

Reaching the center of the body of living beings, it takes the form of Kundali the coiled energy and manifests in the form of letters, differentiated as prose and poetry. (14)

From that Shiva, who is in the form of Vindu, the binder of time, and the form of art, the all-pervading Sadashiva the eternal auspicious one, who is the witness of the world, was born. (15)

From Sadashiva, Isha appeared; from him, Rudra was born; from him, Vishnu; and from him, Brahma. They were born in that order. (16)

From that root cause, the unmanifest, the single supreme object, the Mahat-tattva the great principle of intellect arose, which is the internal instrument of the qualities. (17)

From that arose the Ahamkara ego, which is threefold due to the classification of creation. From the Vaikarika pure ego, the ten deities were born. (18)

These are the deities of the directions, wind, sun, Varuna, Ashvins, fire, Indra, Upendra, and Mitra. From the Taijasa fiery/active ego came the senses, in the order of the subtle elements. (19)

From the Bhutadi elemental ego, the five elements were born. From sound, the sky; from touch, the air; from form, the fire. (20)

From taste, water; and from smell, the earth. Their birth occurred in that order. The sky is transparent, air is black, fire is red, and water is clear. (21)