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 4 - Worship and The Worshipper
3 (of 95)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
Worship & worshipper Types of worship. 304 Worship is of three types (i) Dak峁峁嚹乧膩ra (ii) V膩m膩c膩ra and (iii)
Mi艣r膩c膩ra. These three types have been dealt with elaborately in the
introduction. In this chapter, the worship process as such will be undertaken
for study. The process of worship is twofold -
i) Meditative - where no accessories or external objects are required and
ii) Actual -where different sorts of accessories and materials are required.
i) The medetative process.
This type of worship can be referred to as the nirguna or m膩nasika
up膩sana. In this method the worshipper contemplates on the goddesses and
offers worship to her by simply referring to them verbally. The s膩dhaka at
the end of the worship offers the five elements as offerings to the goddesses.
These elements are represented by the fingers of the hands and the
accompaniment of their corresponding B墨ja mantras. This is popularly
known as the Pa帽copac膩rap膩j膩. The following table will help in a quick
check.
Sno. Finger.
Element.
Bija
Substitute
mantra.
Offering.
1.
Thumb
Earth
Lam
Gandham
2.
Fore finger
Sky
Ham
Flowers
3.
Middle finger
Wind
Yam
Incense
4.
Ring finger
Fire
Ram
Lights
5.
Little finger
Water
Vam
Nectar
