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
31 (of 95)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Worship & worshipper 332 penance 50. It adds further sādhaka will not obtain the different fruits and
great merits without the worship to Kanyās". According to the Nilatantra, a
Kumārī without any age bar before the start of menstruation may be
worshipped as a Kumārī in the Kumārīpūjās. The SVT states that whatever
worship or Homa-offering is done for the goddess, it will not be successful
without the Kumārīpūjās 52. The SVT lays down certain criteria about the
selection of the girl to whom worship is to be offered and gives a list as to
who stand disqualified.
The qualifications which a girl must posses to be eligible for the
Kumārīpūjās are as follows - The virgin should be free from disease, healthy
with well formed limbs, of good looks, devoid of any wounds, born in an
unadulterated lineage. The following defects act as disqualifiers for a girl to
be recipient of the Kumārīpūjās - She has either a deformed or undeveloped
limb, is affected by leprosy, is born in a family which is characterless, has
boils and pistules all over her body, cracked and rough skin, with blood and
pus oozing out of the wounds; who is blind by birth, has a harsh voice, has
squinted eyesight, is ugly in appearance, has a hairy body, is diseased, and
born of a harlot.
Another classification is given by the Kubj³. In it the various girls are
classified into different age group ranges to facilitate virgin-worship. This
classification is a fourfold classification and is comparitively easy as it gives
a 'range' for the classification. The table below will facilitate a quick view.
50 Rudy. VI.92; Rudrayamala Tantram, Yogatantra Granthamala Vol. VII, ed.-Yogatantra Dept.
Sampurnanda Sanskrit Viswavidyalaya, Varanasi 1980; P.86
51 Rudy. VI.93
52 SVT. XVIII.
53 Kubj. ch.IV
