Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study)
by Srider Basudevan Iyer | 2008 | 80,291 words
This essay studies the history of Devi (the Goddess) in relation with worship using Tantra, Yantra and Mantra. The study explores the concept of the 'Female Principle' or Goddess, examining her role and significance in ancient Indian society. Drawing from lesser-known texts, Sri-vidyarnava-tantra and Mahalakshmi Ratnakosa, the research aims to comp...
Shaktavada and the divisions of the Shakti doctrine
The belief or system of thought that upholds the belief that goddess or Sakti is the whole'n'sole of creation and the resultant thereupon is known as 'Sakta vada' and is similar in nature to the 'mayavada' of Samkaracarya. 46 Kak Ramachandra and Sastri Harabhatta, Opcit. P.1 47 Sastri Gaurinath, Opcit. P. n/
chapter 1. Introduction 25 25 According to the Paramesvara samhita, the Sakta doctrine is divided a into the following four branches as - - 1. Nitya, 2. Anitya, 3. Sabara, 4. Sakti. It adds that the mixing or combining of rituals of the one with the other is prohibited 48. Thus the pristine-ness and individuality of each method is prescribed. In tantra, the process is most important and the knowledge of the sadhaka in the ways of the ritual worship is essential 49. The invocation of the supreme deity into the ritual setting is clearly a delineated aspect of the tantra worship. The deity of the tantra is not ascending from an unseen and invisible distant heaven of de? the Vedic cosmogony but, is drawn out directly from the worshippers' heart and requested to manifest in concrete object of the ritual like an image, idol, diagram, and the like. A unique feature of the tantra worship is, concern for the devotees, for, the deities remain present throughout the entire ritual process.