Pādukā Pañcaka

Pādukā Pañcaka - Fivefold Guru's Sandals

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Guru Cakra: Layayoga: The Definitive Guide to the Chakras and Kundalini [with devanagari adjustments]

Pādukā Pañcaka (Fivefold Footstool), written by Swami Purnananda (1526 CE), is a supplement to Ṣaṭ-Cakra Nirūpaṇa published by Arthur Avalon.

Pādukā, the Footstool consists of:

The (twelve-petalled) Lotus;
the triangle A-Ka-Tha in its pericarp
the region of the Nāda, Bindu,
the Maṇi-pītha;
the Haṁsa-which is above it and taken collectively form the triangular Kāma-kalā

The author Swami Purnananda notes that the meditation on Pādukā Pañcaka brings liberation.

INTRODUCTORY VERSE

I Meditate on the Guru in the Lotus of a thousand petals, who is radiant like the cool rays of the full moon, whose lotus hands make the gestures which grant blessing and dispel fear. His raiment, garland, and perfumes, are ever fresh and pure. His countenance is benign. He is in the Haṃsa in the head. He is the Haṃsa Himself.

VERSE 1

brahmarandhra-sarasīruhodare
nitya-lagnamavadātamadbhutaṃ
kuṇḍali-vivarakāṇḍamaṇḍitaṃ
dvādaśārṇasarasīruhaṃ bhaje.

I adore the wonderful White Lotus of twelve letters which is within the womb (Udare) of, and inseparable from, the pericarp of the Lotus in which is the Brahma-randhra, and which is adorned by the channel of Kuṇḍalī.

VERSE 2

tasya kandalitakarṇikāpuṭe
kḷptarekhamakathādirekhayā
koṇalakṣitahalakṣamaṇḍali-
bhāvalakṣyamabalālayaṃ bhaje

I adore the Abode of Śakti in the place where the two pericarps come together. It is formed by the lines A, Ka, and Tha; and the letters Ha, Ḻa, and Kṣa, which are visible in each of its corners, give it the character of a Maṇḍala.

VERSE 3

tatpuṭe paṭutaḍitkaḍārima-
spardhamānamaṇipāṭalaprabhaṃ
cintayāmi hṛdi cinmayaṃ vapur-
nādabindumaṇipīṭhamaṇḍalaṃ

In my heart I meditate on the Jewelled Altar (Maṇipīṭha), and on Nāda and Bindu as within the triangle aforespoken. The pale red glory of the gems in this altar shames the brilliance of the lightning flash. Its substance is Cit.

VERSE 4

ūrdhvamasya hūtabhukśikhātrayaṃ
tadvilāsaparibṛṃhaṇāspadaṃ
viśvaghasmaramahoccidotkaṭaṃ
vyāmṛśāmi yugamādihamsayoḥ

I intently meditate on the three lines above it (Maṇipīṭha), beginning with the line of Fire, and on the brilliance of Maṇipītha, which is heightened by the lustre of those lines. I also meditate on the primordial Haṃsa, which is the all-powerful Great Light in which the Universe is absorbed.

VERSE 5

tatra nāthacaraṇā ravindayoḥ
kuṅkumāsavaparīmarandayoḥ
dvandvamindumakarandaśītalaṃ
mānasaṁ smarati maṅgalāspadaṃ

The mind there contemplates the two Lotuses which are the Feet of the Guru, and of which the ruby-coloured nectar is the honey. These two Feet are cool like the nectar of the Moon, and are the place of all auspiciousness.

VERSE 6

niṣaktamaṇipādukāniyamitāghakolāhalaṃ
sphuratkisalayāruṇaṃ nakhasamullasaccandrakaṃ
parāṃṛtasarovaroditasarojasadrociṣaṃ
bhajāmi śirasi sthitaṃ gurupadāravinddvayaṃ

I adore in my head the two Lotus Feet of the Guru. The jewelled footstool on which they rest removes all sin. They are red like young leaves. Their nails resemble the moon shining in all her glory. Theirs is the beautiful lustre of lotuses growing in a lake of nectar.

VERSE 7

pādukāpañcakastotraṃ pañcavaktrādvinirgataṃ
ṣaḍāmnāyaphalaprāptaṃ prapañce cātidurlabhaṃ

This hymn of praise of the Fivefold Footstool was uttered by Him of Five Faces. By (the recitation and hearing of) it is attained that good which is gained by the recitation and hearing of) all the hymns in praise of Śiva. Such fruit is only attainable by great labour in the Wandering (Saṃsāra).