A look at the whirling ritual among KP women and a possible link to Kashmir Shaivism. Why do KP women dance in circles at certain special occasions? Touching the tip of an iceberg here.
Chakrini, the principal shakti, potter’s wife. Mentioned in Tantraloka, Book 29, Kula ritual, Abhinavagupta, 11th century, Kashmir. (tr. John Dupuche):
“She brings pressure to bear on the seed in order to separate the oil from the husk, she who, in the [midst of these wives], is Kundalini. As mistress of the ‘three-and-a-half’ tradition, she while standing on the ‘bulb’, circulates everywhere.”
“She who is the ninth [sakti], Cakrini, circulates while remaining at the centre of the universe. She brings pressure to bear on every seed inorder to separate the oil from the husk. Moreover, she who is called ‘Kundalini’ moves out from the confines of the ‘bulb’.”
