First Patala
Sri Bhairava said: Innumerable are Tripura (tantras), innumerable those of Kalika, countless those of Vagishvari, numberless the beautiful Kulakulas known as Matangini, Purna, Vimala, Candanayika, Tripura-Ekajata, Durga and Kulasundari.
Numberless the Vaishnava, Ganapatya, Saura, Shaivite, and the different doctrines of Shankara.
The highest of the doctrines are the 64 tantras: the Mahasarasvata, Yoginijala, Shambara, Tattvashambara, the eight Bhairavas, the eight Bahurupas, the Jnana, the eight Yamalas, the Tantrajnana, the Vasuki, the Mahasammohana, the Mahasuksma, the Vahana and the Vahana Uttaram, the Hrdbheda, the Guhyatattva, the Kamika, the Kalapaka, the Kubjika Mata, the Maya Uttara, the Vina, the Trodala Uttara, the Pancamrta, the Rupabheda, the Bhutadamara, the Kulasara, the Kullodisa, the Visvatmaka, the Sarvajnatmaka, the Mahapitrmata, the Mahalakhmimata, the Siddhi Yogesvari Mata, the Kurupika Mata, the Rupikamata, the Sarvaviramata, the Vimalamata, the tantras of east, south, west and north, the Niruttara, the Vaisesikajnanatantra, the Sivabali, the Arunesa, the Mohanesa and the Visuddhesvara.
O Lovely Hipped One, now speak to me of their essence if you have love for me.
Devi said: Listen Deva, supremely blissful quintessence, the Lord of Kula, to the very essence of knowledge of the ocean of Kula tantra, concealed by my Maya.
I am Great Nature, consciousness, bliss, the quintessence, devotedly praised. Where I am, there are no Brahma, Hara, Shambhu or other devas, nor is there creation, maintenance or dissolution. Where I am, there is no attachment, happiness, sadness, liberation, goodness, faith, atheism, guru or disciple.
When I, desiring creation, cover myself with my Maya and become triple, becoming ecstatic in my wanton love play, I am Vikarini, giving rise to the various things.
The five elements and the 108 lingams come into being, while Brahma and the other devas, the three worlds, Bhur-Bhuvah-Svah spontaneously come into manifestation.
By mutual differences of Shiva and Shakti, the (three) gunas originate. All things, such as Brahma and so forth, are my parts, born from my being. Dividing and blending, the various tantras, mantras and kulas come into being. After withdrawing the five fold universe, I, Lalita, become of the nature of nirvana. Once more, men, great nature, egoism, the five elements, sattvas, rajas and tamas become manifested. This universe of parts appears and is then dissolved.
O All-Knowing One, if I am known, what need is there for revealed scriptures and sadhana? If I am unknown, what use for puja and revealed text? I am the essence of creation, manifested as woman, intoxicated with sexual desire, in order to know you as guru, you with whom I am one. Even given this, Mahadeva, my true nature still remains secret.
Devi said: Listen son, to the very plain exposition of the teachings of utmost bliss. I speak of the method relating to the yoga of liberation. This is the one essence of all tantras, worshipped by all devas, giving every sort of knowledge, secret, giving a clear idea of the essence of enlightenment, free of good or evil, giver of both enjoyment and liberation, consisting of all paths. Dear son, it deludes even the wise!
It is of various and numerous meanings and is the goal and refuge of all pure disciples. It is known as the best path according to all the paths, yet is reviled by all doctrines. It should be known only through the best of teachers. It should be protected and hidden in the heart very carefully, as I did not reveal it to Vishnu, Dhatra or Ganapati.
Dear son, whoever is unaware of this tantra is incompetent. Dearest, I speak of the pure knowledge of Kulachara.
Arising at dawn, a sadhaka should bow to a Kula tree. After meditating on the Kulas from the Muladhara to the one thousand petalled lotus, he should meditate on the gurus.
Then he should meditate on and worship the Kulagurus Prahladanandanatha, Sanakanandanatha, Kumaranandanatha, Vasistanandanatha, Krodhanandanatha, Sukhanandanatha, Jnananandanatha, and Bodhanandanatha as being intoxicacted by the nectar of the absolute, whose blissful hearts show in their eyes, their darkness cut and crushed by their having embraced Kulashastra, merciful to Kula disciples, complete, compassionate and effulgent, giving boons and dispelling fear, knowing the essence of all Kulatantras.
After bowing to the Kulagurus, one should give worship to the Kulamatrikas, fashioning a Kula place and bathing oneself in all the holy waters (tirthas).
Dear son, a Kulaguru is an accomplished being and said to be the vehicle of happiness. Dear son, conceal this very secret marvellous doctrine from the sight of pashus.
They who should reject the Kulanatha, who alone is a Shakta, served by the Kulas, for them initiation and sadhana is black magic. Because of this, one should by every effort resort to a Kulina guru. It is said a Kulina is competent in all vidyas and is able to initiate in all mantras.
