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
78 (of 95)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Worship & worshipper 啷� [1 ] 379 irrespective of their content necessarily speak of two basic things - one the
Guru and other the s膩dhaka.
Characteristics of a guru.
a-
A Guru is characterised by certain traits such as he is adept in all the
scriptures, is clever and knows the essence of all the Sastras. He is born in a
in a good family, is good-looking, pleasant in appearance, speaks the truth
and is fully composed 147. It is stated that the s盲dhaka may test his Guru for
the above conditions prior to accepting his tutelage. The best illustration to
this effect is the testing of the great Tantracharya Sri Ramakrishna
Paramahamsa by Swami Vivekananda. Apart from this the Guru should not
be too young or too old, neither squinted, or thin, or having an extra limb, or
deformed, or bald, or with protruding teeth 148. Apart from the above
identifying physical characteristics, a s盲dhaka can test his guru. The
s膩dhaka should test weather a person is happy in japa, in reciting stotras, in
dhy膩na, in homa and in arcana; weather he is competent in imparting
knowledge, and weather he is a mantrasiddha person 149.
But once the Guru is selected and is initiated by him then the Guru is every
thing for the s盲dhaka. Utmost devotion is prescribed towards the Guru and
his wife. The s盲dhaka begins his worship with a dhy膩na of the Guru and the
Gurup膩duk膩. The s盲dhaka begins his day by mentally saluting his Guru and
gurupatni; followed by the reverential remembering of his parama-Guru and
his consort; parame峁i-Guru and his consort and finally para-para-Guru and
his consort. The initiation by a female preceptor is considered as the best by
147 STT ch. II.141-144 also MLRK ch. VIII.3-5
148 STT ch. II, Raghavabhattas commentory.
149 SVT ch. II
