The Parashurama Kalpasutra is a Shakta Agama, a Hindu text on Shri Vidya practices ascribed to the Kaula tradition. The authorship of the text is traditionally attributed to Parashurama, the sixth avatar of Vishnu and a disciple of Dattatreya.[1] It is a sacred text for the Shri Vidya worshippers of the goddess Lalita, who is considered to be a manifestation of the goddess Adi Parashakti. The text is also used in the worship of Ganesha, Bala Tripurasundari, Matangi, and Varahi. This text has its origins in the Dattatreya Samhita and was compiled by Sumedha, a disciple of Dattatreya.
Among the Agamas (manuals on rituals and practices), some are Tantras. Tantra is principally for 'upasana', inner discipline and are epitomes of knowledge. Tantras that are essentially esoteric deal with inner practices by adoration of the symbolic image, the yantra, and the mantra for awakening the Kundalini shakti.
Parashurama composed the Kalpasutra, emphasizing the importance of ‘Urdhvamnaya’ (the tradition of the above) where he has shown the importance of the esoteric rituals through proper contraction of external rituals like japa, puja, mudras, pranayama, etc. and revealed the secrets of the symbols and the mantras for awakening the inner senses and Kundalini.[2]
A study of this Parashurama Kalpasutra also shows the scheme and essence of the Tantra. It dispels the misunderstanding regarding the Tantra practices.[3]
Parashurama Kalpasutra has its origins in the 'Dattatreya Samhita' which consisted of ten thousand suktas. On instructions from Dattatreya, Parashurama condensed the Samhita to six thousand suktas in fifty parts. The present compact work available to us is of just 84 sutras and is arranged in 10 parts. It was compiled by Sumedha, who was a disciple of Parashurama.[4]
The Kalpasutra consists of:
Key concepts and practices as described in Parashurama Kalpasutra are also written in "Nityotsava Nibandaha", a book compiled by Umānandanātha, a disciple of the famous Śrī Vidyā upasaka Bhāskararāya (Bhāsurānandanātha). [5]
The principal practices of Sri Vidya Sadhana as laid down in the Parashurama Kalpasutra are brought into light by late Sri Amritananda Natha Saraswati of Devipuram and Mahāvidya Sādhana Centre.