Amnaayas - A Study

Diffrent Amnayas


The Shloka 'Srinathadi Gurutrayam' invokes the Gurumandala that is most important in Srividya Krama. It deals with the Mantras of the Amnayas of Srividya. It is said that from the five faces of Sri Parameshwara (Tatpurushaadi), the five Amnayas with their various mantras originated.

The Sixth secret face of Parameshwara is what is termed 'Anuttara' and this is the seat of Parabrahma Shakti Mahatripurasundari. It is highly subtle and not revealed easily to a Sadhaka. The first four Amnayas (Purva, Dakshina, Pashchima and Uttara) are applicable to Panchadashi Upasakas. The eligibility for the higher two Amnayas i.e. Urdhwa and Anuttara is initiation into Shodashi and Purnabhisheka.

Srinathadi gurutrayam - This refers to one's own Guru (Srinatha), Parama Guru and Parameshthi Guru.
Ganapatim - The Mantra of Mahaganapati and whose Upasana is a must before even initiation into Panchadashi.
Piithatrayam - The mantras for Jalandhara and Purnagiri and Kamaroopa Pithas, which are the first three Shakti Pithas of Amba and representing the trinity and their Shaktis - Mahakameshwari and Mahavajreshwari and Mahabhagamalini.
The fourth Peetham, Mahodyana and the seat of Parabrahma Shakti Mahatripurasundari has to imagined in a state of transcendence over these three Peethas. Since the fourth represents the state of Turiya and it is imagined as existing in the state of absolute silence that exists between each of these Peethas and which are Actually states of Chitta.
Bhairavam - The mantras for eight Bhairavas starting with Mahamanthana Bhairava etc.
Siddhaugham - The mantras for nine Siddhas starting from Mahadurmanamba Siddha etc.
Vatukatrayam - The mantras for the three Vatukas (Brahmacharis or Bhairavas) - Skanda and Chitra and Virinchi Vatukas.
Padayugam - The mantras for Prakasha Charana and Vimarsha Charana of Sridevi.
Dutikramam - The nine (ten according to some tantras) Duti goddesses starting from Yonyamba and Yonisiddhanathamba etc.
Mandalam - The mantras for Agni and Surya and Chandra mandalas
Vira - The mantras for the ten Viras starting from Srishti bhairava etc.
Then come the mantras for the 64 Siddhas starting with Mangalanatha etc.
Navakam - The nine mudra mantras starting from Sarvasamkshobhini.
Viravali Panchakam - The mantras for Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Ishwara and Sadashiva Viravalis.
Malini - The Matrika Saraswati mantra.
Mantraraja - Mantraraja Nrisimha mantra according to our Sampradya. Others follow Devi Taraka in its place.

Gurumandalam: The Gurumandala proper includes mantras for Urdhwaugha, Parugha, Kamarajugha, Lopamudraugha and Paraaparugha, depending on one's Sampradaya. Each of these again has Divyaugha, Siddhaugha and Manavaugha Gurus in them.

Thus, this Shloka invokes all these deities who form the Amnaya Parivara and Gurumandala of Srividya Parabhattarika.

The shloka 'Purvam dakshiNa pashchimottaramayaM' speaks about the 27 Rahasyas or secrets. The above mantras along with a few other esoteric additions and the numerous mantras of the 6 Amnayas will constitute these 27 secrets of Srividya. Given below is a listing of the mantras in the various Amnayas.

Purvamnaya, the Eastern Quarter

Shuddha VidyA

Bala Tripurasundari (Adi Bala, Yoga Bala and Antya Bala)

Dwadashardha

Matangi (Rajashyamala, Shukashyamala, Sharikashyamala, Sangitashyamala, Venushyamala, Vinashyamala, Laghu Matangi, Hasanti Shyamala and Sumukhi)

Gayatri (Tripada and ChatuShpada)

Mahaganapati (Siddhi, Kshipraprasadana, Chintamani, Haridra, Lakshmi, Vakratunda, Viri, Kukshi, Trailokyamohana, Navanita, Arka, Kali, Heramba Vijaya, Shakti, Ugra and Mahocchishta Ganapati)

Subrahmanya (Skanda, Kumara, Guha, Subrahmanya and Brahmanya)

Mrityunjaya

Neelakantha
Tryambaka
Jaatavedagni

Pratyangira (Brahmi, Narayani, Raudri, Ugra Kritya and Atharvana Bhadrakali)

Dakshinamnaya, the Southern Quarter

Dakshinamnaya, the Southern Quarter

Saubhagya Vidya

Bagalaamukhi (Brahmastra Vidya) - Ranastambhini, Senastambhini, Devarshipitrstambhini, Trimurtistambhini, Trailokyastambhini, Brahmastra Upasamharika, Brhamastrastambhini Kali

Mahavarahi (Vashya Varahi, Astra Varahi, Brihadvarahi, Dhumravarahi, Kirata Varahi and Strustambhana Vartali)
Vatuka Bhairava
Tiraskarini
Mahamaya
Aghora
Sharabheshwara (Sharabaha Kali)
khadgaravana
Veerabhadra
Rudra
Shaastaa
Vayavyastra
Agneyastra
Bhairava (Anga, Aghora, Bhima, Vijaya, Rakta, Kala, Samhara, Kapala, Siddha and Swarnakarshana Bhairava)

Medha Dakshinamurthy (sixteen including Lakshmi, Kirti, Samba, Veera, Apasmaranirvartaka Dakshinamurthy etc)

Pashchimamnaya, the Western Quarter

Lopamudra (Hadi Vidya)
Bhuvaneshwari
Annapoornaa
Kamakala
Maha Sudarshana
Garuda
Kartaveeryarjuna
Narasimha
Rama and Seeta
Krishna (Srividya Rajagopala, Mahavaikuntheshwara, Rajagopala, Sanatanagopala, Vidyagopala, Guptagopala and Anna Gopala)
Dhanvanthari
Indrajaali Mahamaya
Indra and other Dikpalakas
Indrakshi
Dattatreya
Narayana ashtakshari
Vasudeva dvadashi

Utaramnaya, the Northern Quarter

Tureeyamba
Mahaardhaa (Mahakalsamkarshini)
Ashwaroodha
Mishramba
Mahalakshmi
Vagvadini
Durga (Mula, Shulini, Jwala, Lavana, Shanti, Asuri, Shabari, Bhramari, Pakshi, Ati, Vanadurga)
Dakshinaa Kaali (Maha kali, Guhya kali, Kamakala Kali)
Navarna Chandi
Nakuli
Pulindini
Renuka
Matrika
Swayamvaraaa Kala

Urdhwamnaya, the Quarter Above
Paraa Shodashi
Laghu Shodashi
Paraa
Para Bhattarikaa
Para Shambhava
Para Shambhavi
Praasaada (Prasaadaparaa and Paraapraasaada)
Dahara
Hamsa
Mahavakya
Shiva Panchakshari
Shakti Panchakshari
Kula Panchakshari

Anuttaramnaya, the Quarter Beyond

Sripurtividya
Mahashodashi
Guhya Shodashi
Shodasha Mulavidyas
Maha Paduka (Maha Maha Paduka, Para Paduka, Guhya Paduka, Kula Paduka, Shambhava Maha Paduka etc)
Atma Paduka

Sadashiva is said to have five faces.

but really it is six; only the sixth is hidden. Each face has a name, and from each of the faces a group of mantras emanated numbering millions. The mantras of the four groups are the mantras of East; West, North, South. These are the mantras that are normally called the Amnaya Mantras.

Urdhwamnaya - the "upper" one - and anuttaramnaya - the one above the upper one! - are available only to the upasakas of the Mahaa ShodaShakshari; thus we have the Urdhwamnaya Dhyana. For those initiated as far as Mahaa Shodashi, The six faces are the four facing the four cardinal points, a fifth looking up, and a sixth below and ever hidden - it is called anuttaramnaaya; that which is above the one above, i.e., the one below.
Now, then. The Urdhwamnaya Dhyana says:

"On the most enchanting golden island, in the middle of the ocean of nectar, in the grove of kalpavrikshas, in the nine-pillared ruby hall, on a throne studded with precious stones and having the effulgence of an infinite number of suns and moons, the Urdhwamnaya aspect of Shiva sits, half being Ambika [Devi], appropriately ornamented. She is ever 16 years old, with a smiling face, three eyes and the crescent, wearing otherworldly, divine ornaments and clothes. With Her four hands, She holds a drinking vessel (perhaps a brandy snifter!); trishoola; book; and displays the chin mudra. She is attended to by all the Devas including Mahaashoda (whom you shall come to know later). So shall one meditate upon the Shiva who is Ardhanareshwara."

But here is the important part. Look back at the last line: "So shall one meditate upon the Shiva who is Ardhanareshwara." Okay? So that dhyana was of SHIVA as Ardhanareshwara! But the next line continues, pum roopam vaa smareddevI strIroopam vaa vicintayet: "DEVI can be meditated upon as a man or woman." adhava nishkalam dhyaayetsachidaananda lakshanam: "or SHE can be meditated upon as attributeless; as a sign of absolute bliss." sarwa tejomayam dhyAyet sa caraacara vigraham: "