Mahānirvāṇa Tantra 1.1–Set & Setting

Gnowly

Chapter 1 Questions About the Liberation of Beings The enchanting summit of the Lord of Mountains, resplendent with all its various jewels, clad with many a tree and many a creeper, melodious with the song of many birds, scented with the fragrance of all the season’s flowers, most beautiful, fanned by soft, cool, and perfumed breezes, shadowed by the still shade of stately trees; where cool groves resound with the sweet-voiced songs of troops of Apsarā, and in the forest depths flocks of kokila maddened with passion sing; where Spring, the Lord of the Seasons with his followers ever abide (the Lord of Mountains, Kailāśa); peopled by (troops of) Siddha, Charana, Gandharva, and Ganapatya (1-5). It was there that Pārvatī, finding Śiva, Her gracious Lord, in serene mood, bent low with obeisance. For the benefit of all the worlds She questioned Him, the Silent Deva, Lord of all things movable and immovable, the ever-Beneficent and ever-Blissful One, the nectar of Whose mercy abounds as a great ocean, Whose very essence is the pure sattva-guṇa, He Who is white as camphor and the Jasmine flower, the Omnipresent One, Whose raiment is space itself, Lord of the poor and the beloved Master of all yogīs, Whose coiled and matted hair is wet with the spray of Gaṅgā and (of Whose naked body) ashes are the only adornment; the passionless One, Whose neck is garlanded with snakes and skulls of men, the three-eyed One, Lord of the three worlds, one hand wielding the trident and with the other bestowing blessings; easily appeased, Whose very substance is unconditioned Knowledge; the Bestower of eternal emancipation, the Ever-existent, Fearless, Changeless, Stainless One without defect, the Benefactor of all, and the Deva of all Devas (5-10). Śrī Pārvatī said: O Deva of the Devas, Lord of the world, Jewel of Mercy, my Husband, Thou art my Lord, on Whom I am ever dependent and to Whom I am ever obedient. Nor can I say ought without Thy word. If Thou hast affection for me, I crave to lay before Thee that which passeth in my mind. Who else but Thee, O Great Lord, in the three worlds is able to solve these doubts of mine, Thou Who knowest all, and all the Scriptures (11-13). --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/gnowly/message