Essay name: Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study)
Author:
Srider Basudevan Iyer
Affiliation: University of Mumbai / Sanskrit, University Department
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.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
31 (of 55)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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chapter 1. Introduction 31 *Indirectly addressed, *Directly addressed, *Self invocatory, *Praise
of a deity without desire, *(merely) desire, without any praise,
*Curses and imprecations, *Intentions of describing a particular state,
*Complaint arising from a particular state; and *Censure and praise
which appear together.
The B峁沨addevat膩, in addition to the above gives four more
types as, *Categories of summon, *Chatter, *Questioning; and
*Narrative.
Sabara and Brhaddevat膩, intend to explain mantra as a crucial
aspect of vedic knowledge without which, the sacrifice and indeed,
much of the human activity would not be possible72.
Tantric mantras.
The tantric mantras stand as the essence of the tantric ritual
procedure. They are not only used in rituals but also in meditation; the
tantric meditation 3. Tantric mantras from the grammar point of view
73 may be meaningless but are potential and vibrant from the experience
point of view of the s盲dhaka. In tantra, the mantras are 'deity
focused' and 'fruit oriented' in the sense that the usage of a particular
mantra peculiar to the functional specialty of the deity results in the
s膩dhaka achieving the desired fruit.
11 72 PattonL.Laurice, Myth as Argument, The Brhaddevata as Canonical Commentary. P. 106, 134.
Harvey P. Alper, Opcit. P.59,60,63.
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