Image credit: Mike Magee
-Kāmakalā Vilāsa
Tripurā Tallikā is delighted to present a reformatted version of “Kamakalā Vilasa,” originally published by Arthur Avalon in 1921.
Below is an excerpt from the introduction to this imporant text by A. Avalon:
The Kāmakalāvilāsa is an important work in Śrīvidyā by Puṇyānanda an adherent of the Hādimata, who is also the commentator on the Yoginīhṛdaya, a section called Uttaracatuḥśatī of the great Vāmakeśvara Tantra. The same Catuḥśatī as also the Pūrvacatuḥśatī have commentaries by Bhāskararāya. The Kāmakalāvilāsa which means the spreading or emanation or evolution of the Kāmakalā that is the Supreme Triangle formed of the Bindu and Visarga, of Prakāśa and Vimarśa, of Śiva and Śakti, of the ‘I’ (Aham) and ‘This’ (Idam) or Universe is, in the supreme sense, the Śiva-Svarūpa and Śakti-Svarūpa. To put it quite shortly Kāmakalāvilāsa is the evolution of the One in its twin aspect as changeless Consciousness (Cit or Saṁvit) and changing Power (Cit Śakti and Māyā Śakti) into the multiple universe…
The Kāmakalā is the first display of activity in the Brahman Substance after Pralaya when the Devī holds absorbed in Herself all the 36 Tattvas of which the Universe in all its variety is composed. She is then kavalīkṛta-nibśeṣa-tattva-grāma-svarūpiṇī. She remains for some time in this state holding within Herself all the Tattvas until rest is disturbed by the desire or will (Kāma) to create. The movement or stress of this Desire manifests as the Kāmakalā. Puṇyānanda has here described the unfolding of the Kāmakalā according to the Hādimata…
The Kāmakalāvilāsa is of great value in Śrīvidyā because of its clear and succinct account, from the Hādi standpoint, of the initial development of Śakti and of the great Śrīyantra, and is now translated for the first time.
Calcutta, Arthur Avalon
25th Nov. 1921
