365bet娱乐

128
(Acc. Nos. 161, 162, 465) from Tamluk subdivision also throws
light on this point. According to a number of scholars these--
figurines "may have used by the people either as votive offerings
or as cult objects. #141
a) Tantrism
Generally Tantrism has a close relation with Sakti worship
or with the worship of female divinities. Prof. Winteinitz remarks
that the term "Tentra ought to be restricted to the texts connected
with 艣ekti worship.n142 The derivative meaning of 'Tantra' is
rules and regulations framed to be followed in a controlled and
systematic way. In course of time the Tantric rituals have been
mixed with the rites of the deities of Hindu and Buddhist pantheon
in Bengal. As a result of the Tantric influences the methods of
worship of many deities of both the religious systems underwent
143 changes.
For this H. Kem rightly observes that "the development
of Tantrism is a feature that Buddhism and Hinduism in their leter
.144
phases have in common鈿�
During the P膿la-Sena period the Tantric
cult which greatly emphasises the worship of prakriti or the
female principle became more powerful in Bengal and it had great
145 effect on all contemporary religious sects. Evidence of it
can be found from the Charvapadas composed between the 10th - 12th
141. Pal, M.K., Catalogue of Folk Art in the Asutosh Museum,
Part- 1. p. 2
142. I.HQ., Vol.- IX, p. 4
143. Ghose, B op city P鈼� 733
B., op.cit
144. Kern, J.C.H., Manual of Indian Buddhism, p. 133
145. Maity, Historical studies in the Qult of the Goddess
Manase, pp. 61 - 70