Muni's PlayVidyas in Manisha Sangraha
The sixth chapter of Manisha Sangraha (विद्योपव्याख्यानम्) provides an exposition on the various Vidyas (meditative sciences) mentioned in the Upanishads, defining their focal points (lakshyas).
| Sutra (Devanagari) | Vidya Name | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| सर्वत्र ब्रह्मदृष्टिः शाण्डिल्यविद्या । | Śāṇḍilya Vidya | Seeing Brahman in everything is Śāṇḍilya Vidya. |
| महन्मौनं भूमविद्या । | Bhūma Vidya | Great Silence is Bhūma Vidya. |
| आकाशलक्ष्ये दृष्टिः परोवरीयसीविद्या । | Parovarīyasī Vidya | Focusing on the infinite Space is Parovarīyasī Vidya. |
| हृदयाकाशे दहरविद्या । | Dahara Vidya | Focusing on the space within the heart is Dahara Vidya. |
| दृष्टिर्द्रष्टावा लक्ष्यं चेदक्षिपुरुषविद्या । | Akshi-purusha Vidya | If vision or the Seer is the focus, it is Akshi-purusha Vidya. |
| प्राणगत्यन्ववेक्षणं संवर्गविद्या । | Saṃvarga Vidya | Observing the movement of the Life-force is Saṃvarga Vidya. |
| अन्तरस्वरानुसन्धानमक्षरविद्या । | Akshara Vidya | Contemplating the inner sound/vowel is Akshara Vidya. |
| मन्त्राक्षरानुसन्धानं मन्त्रोद्गीथविद्या । | Mantra-Udgītha Vidya | Contemplating the syllables of a Mantra is Mantra-Udgītha Vidya. |
| अन्तर्यूष्मन् अनुसन्धानं ज्योतिर्विद्या । | Jyotir-vidya | Contemplating the inner warmth/heat is Jyotir-vidya. |
| आत्मज्ञप्तिरविचालिता सद्विद्या । | Sad-vidya | Unwavering pure consciousness of the Self is Sad-vidya. |
| उत्तरगात्रलक्ष्या बुद्धिः वैश्वानरविद्या । | Vaiśvānara Vidya | Focusing the intellect on the upper/higher body is Vaiśvānara Vidya. |
| प्रकाशलक्ष्या मधुविद्या । | Madhu Vidya | Focusing on the Light is Madhu Vidya. |
| हिरण्मयपुरुषलक्ष्या पुरुषोद्गीथविद्या । | Purusha-Udgītha Vidya | Focusing on the “Golden Person” is Purusha-Udgītha Vidya. |
| उपजिह्वालक्ष्ये इन्द्रयोनिविद्या । | Indrayoni Vidya | Focusing on the uvula is Indrayoni Vidya. |
| जिह्वारसलक्ष्या वारुणीविद्या । | Vāruṇī Vidya | Focusing on the taste on the tongue is Vāruṇī Vidya. |
Reference: Manisha Sangraha
Vidyas in Mahavidya Sutra
The following table summarizes the Upanishadic Vidyas and Vedic references associated with the Ten Mahavidyas, as collated in the Vedic Upasana note.
| Mahavidya | Upanishadic Vidya | Vedic / Sutra Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Kali | Samvarga Vidya, Prana Vidya, Mukhya-Prana-Udgitha Vidya | Rig Veda 10.127.2, Sri Suktam 23 |
| Tara | Akshara Vidya, Udgitha Vidya | Rig Veda 1.164.41, 8.94.1 |
| Sundari | Atma Vidya, Brahma Vidya, Sad Vidya | Rig Veda 1.164.29 |
| Bhuvaneshwari | Parovariyasi Vidya, Dahara Vidya | Rig Veda 1.89.10 |
| Bhairavi | Jyotir-Vidya | Durga Suktam (RV 1.99.1) |
| Chinnamasta | Akshi-purusha Vidya, Pratyagatma Vidya, Upakosala Vidya | Rig Veda 10.86.10 |
| Dhumavati | Bhuma-Vidya | Rig Veda 1.38.6 |
| Bagalamukhi | Tapas (Dhruva Smriti) | Rig Veda 10.120.1 |
| Matangi | Gayatri Vidya | Rig Veda 1.3.12 |
| Kamalatmika | Madhu Vidya, Gayatri Vidya | Gayatri Mantra (RV 3.62.10) |
Reference: Vedic Upasana, Mahavidya Sutra
Classification by Fruits (Shanti, Tapas, Bodha)
The note Shantitapobodhanam Phalanirupanam (Determination of the Fruits of Peace, Tapas, and Knowledge) classifies the various Vidyas based on the specific results or states they lead to.
| Fruit (Goal) | Included Vidyas | Manisha Sangraha? | Mahavidya Sutra? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peace (Shanti) | Bhūma, Dahara, Madhu | ✅ | ✅ |
| Śāṇḍilya, Vāruṇī, Sad | ✅ | ❌ | |
| Anujña-Udgītha | ❌ | ❌ | |
| Tapas | Jyotis, Saṃvarga, Akṣara | ✅ | ✅ |
| Vaiśvānara, Mantra-Udgītha, Puruṣa-Udgītha | ✅ | ❌ | |
| Knowledge (Bodha) | Upakosala, Vyāna-Udgītha, Ākāśa-Udgītha | ❌ | ✅ |
NOTE
- Upakosala Vidya is the student-specific name for Akshi-purusha Vidya, which is mentioned in Manisha Sangraha and Mahavidya Sutra (Chinnamasta).
- Parovarīyasī Vidya (MS & Bhuvaneshwari) and Akshara Vidya (MS & Tara) are notably high-level Vidyas mapping to the “Space” and “Sound” aspects respectively.
Reference: Shantitapobodhanam Phalanirupanam