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311
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The assimilation of the qualities of a place is
made through successive degrees. While it is necessary for liberation
to outain a thorough identification with Live who is always thought
to be in the middle of the picha (even though he is conceived in one of
with the specific feature of the
his multiple aspects which is consonant
with Siva
spot), propitiation is acquired as a consequence of the Salvite identi
cation and projection onto his body of only a certain direction. This
second technique is also a step towards the complete identification
from whom all the eight directions (cardinal points and their
intermediaries) radiate. Thus, the supreme God is imagined as a lighten-
ing nucleus from where eight pencils of rays corresponding to the
directions are spread out. When the performer wants to be "irradiated"
by the quality of a certain direction, he has to face it. For instance,
in order to acquire supernatural powers leading to fruition, the
aspirant must face the eastern pencil of rays; consequently he will turn
his face toward the west, i.e. in fact towards the central place where
'
Siva resides and scatters directions (TA, XV, 229b-252a).
Every pitha has therefore the same occult
significance of directions and the tantric pilgrim must prostrate himself
always facing the same cardinal point connected with his purpose, in all
the sacred places he circumambulates. Here are the directions with their
lords and their esoteric significance in the Saivite tantric practice:
Indra rules the East and bestows omnipotence upon the earthly world;
Agni rules the South-East and concedes the faculty of bridling the
tantric action;
Yama governs the South and malefic actions; Nirrti rules