The Svacchanda Tantra

The activities of ignorant beings should be directed in the lap of the Matrika divine Mother, the source of letters power, which is the mother of all mantras, tantras, and yantras, and is resplendent in the 50 letters ranging from 'A' to 'Ksha'. The essence of the entire microcosm-macrocosm and science is completely contained within the Matrika element. In these fifty letters of the Matrika power, 50 Rudra powers, 50 points (bindu), and 50 of their glories (bharga) are pervasive. This is the root knowledge of Bharatavarsha (India), and it is fully mentioned in the Bhargashikha Crest of Glory scripture.

The fifty letters of the Matrika consist of 16 vowels and 34 consonants. The vowel-seeds are the form of Bhairava, and the consonants are the form of the womb (yoni). All scriptures are merely the union of the seed (virya) and the womb (yoni). Sacrifices, rites, and tantra-mantras are also based on these. Therefore, by using this arrangement according to the rules at the beginning of a sacrifice, a novel Bhairavan state is brought into existence.

In the sacrifice, the worship of the deities and female powers of these letters within the vowel arrangement and consonant arrangement of these letters has been accepted as a primary duty.

This method of worship is similar to the practice of all the energy centers (chakra) located in the body. Acharya Kshemaraja has clarified this completely in his commentary. I, too, have shed full light on this in the context of my daily practice method.

After this, the context for the practice of the Aghora mantra, which involves the instruction for the worship of the Bhairava state and the Bhairavi who dwells in the embrace of Bhairava, is explained like a scientific process entirely dependent on the science of letters. In this context, there is a detailed discussion of the five Bhairava faces—Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Aghora, Tatpurusha, and Ishana—their powers, and their application in placement rituals (nyasa). The importance of the limbs of knowledge (vidyanga) is also highlighted.

Following this, there is a detailed explanation of the Bhairavaraja, Aghoreshvari, Kapalesha, Shikhivahana, Vikarala, Manmatha, Meghanadeshvara, and Vidyaraja mantras. Their application and results are also discussed in the same context. Among the Bhairavashtaka eight-fold state of Bhairava mantras, the Bhairava Vidyaraja mantra is the most important. Along with this, the Lokapalashtaka eight-fold guardian of the directions mantras are also set forth.

From the aforementioned viewpoints, the term "Mantra Extraction" for this chapter is fully justified. These kings of mantras have the greatest importance in the life of a practitioner. In the landscape of a life that is a sacrifice, their organization is completely meaningful and necessary.