Śrī Kurukullā Devī

Thou art the Adya Parama Shakti. Thou art all power. It is by thy power that we, the trinity, are powerful in the acts of creation, preservation and destruction. Endless and of varied colour and form are thy appearances, and various are the strenuous efforts whereby the worshippers may realise them – Mahanirvanatantra V, 2 (Woodroffe edition)

Devi Kurukullā is, like Vārāhī, a balidevatā, that is a receiver of offerings. She is one with Lalitā and is identified, at least in the Tantrarājatantra, with Tārā. She is one with the 15 Nityā devīs of the waxing moon.

According to that tantra she has three mantras, one of seven syllables, one of 13 and one of 25 syllables but in her daily pūja the mantra of Tārā is employed (Oṃ tare tuttare ture svāhā).

The vast mediaeval tantrik digest Śrīvidyārṇava says these mantras are Oṃ kurukulle svāhā (7), kurukullayah oṃ kurukulle hrih svāhā (13); kurukullayah oṃ kurukullehrih: mama sarvjanam vashamanaya hrīṃ svāhā (25). Because she has three mantras she is called Trikhaṇḍā (three sections).

The Tantrarājatantra, in chapter 22, says her meditation image is as a naked woman, with dishevelled hair, red and full of bliss. Her four hands bear arrow, bow, noose and quiver. Around her is a multitude of Śaktis who look just like her and all have taken their first bath after menstruation, have flowering yonis and eyes intoxicated with desire.

The preparatory act (puraścaraṇa) for worshipping Kurukullā is to recite her vidyā-mantra 100,000 times, using red flowers.

Her yantra (top left) is inscribed with the 25 syllable mantra-vidyā for success.

According to the tradition, yantras which do not have bīja mantras inscribed on them, are powerless.

Artwork is © Jan Bailey, 1975-2022. Translations are © Mike Magee 1975-2022.Questions or comments to mike.magee@btinternet.com

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