What is Tantra- Part-I

44  Ashok Razdan  

From ancient times Indians have been seekers, they invented Yoga, Meditation as a tool of seeking. There were others (very small number) who opposed Yoga and invented Tantra. Both talk of self-realization but use opposite methods. Yoga insists on suppression to transcend desires. Tantra insists on over indulgence in act of desires till you overcome and drop it voluntarily. If you love drinking, Tantra tells you not only to continue drinking but also offer it to the deity. Mainstream temples did not allow tantric rituals in their premises, so they build their own temples where you can offer meat, wine as a offering to the deity.

At the time of birth three attributes from Prakŗti get attached to humans. These three attributes are Satva, Rajas and Tamas. Everyone makes transition between these psychological states unconsciously. A person in Tamasic state is mostly in state of agitation, anger, over-reaction and has extremely lazy lifestyle, eats all types of food. A person in Rajas state is active, ambitious, worldly and eats oily and spicy foods and a person in Satva state is meditative, calm and eats only freshly cooked grains and fruits as food. In yogic/Vedic path, state of Rajas in a person is used to transcend state of Tamas and state of Satva is used to transcend state of Rajas. Once a person is fully established in Satva and grace of Guru helps him to transcend Satva and this is state of Samadhi or Moksha or self-realization. This Vedic path of self-realization requires lot of self-discipline and lot of meditation, not possible for everyone to follow.

Tantra is about rituals and mantra when operating in the Tamasic state. In the Tamasic lifestyle, a Sadhaka eats non-vegetarian food, drinks alcohol and is married also. Since operating platform is Tamasic state, Vedic deities also become ferocious in appearance. Lord Shiva becomes Bhairav, Divine mother Durga appears as Kālī. Tantra is practiced in Shaivism, Vaishnavism, Shaktism. Outside Hinduism it is practiced in Jainism, Buddhism etc. Tantra started in Kashmir and also independently in Assam.

Shaivism has two branches, one is Shiv Sidhanta and another is non Sidhanta. Both branches started in Kashmir. Shiv Sidhanta based on Agamas is very popular in South India. Shiv Sidhanta is not in conflict with Vedic traditions. However, non Sidhanta branch deviates from the Vedic traditions. Both branches use mantra marg. Shiv Sidhanta spread across India because families, society at large became part of it. Non Sidhantic path became individual choice involving very few temple rituals. This non Sidhantic path finally evolved in Tantra. Because of Shiv Shakti concepts, Tantra became part of Shakti rituals also. Tantra is not just one stream but involves multiple streams of mantra and rituals. One of the first Bhairava is Svacchandra Bhairava (autonomous form of Bhairava) and his consort Aghoreshvari. Savchhanda Bhairava is a fierce form of Lord Shiva with five faces wearing a necklace of scorpions garlanded with skulls having eighteen arms. Accompanied by Aghoreshvari, is encircled predominantly by male deities. In Kashmir Shaivism, Svacchandra Bhairava is Para Prakash Vapusam, the embodiment of Supreme light, who is Visvaikarupa, who is universal, who creates the universe, who protects the universe and who conceals the universe.

Tantra is primarily Mantra Marg Sadhana with lot of rituals in which attaining the state of Moksha is not necessarily highest state. In Tantra possession by the deity is the highest state or to be like the deity is the highest state, hence my comparison with movie “Kantara”. The first level of Tantra is called as “Veda[1]char”. In this level mantra Sādhanā is multiple number of times as told by the Guru. The second level is called as “Vaishnav-char”. In this level mantra Sādhanā, homa, tarpana, abhishekhaetc is performed for only on one deity. The third level of Tantra is called as “Shaiva-char”. In this stage one has to study scriptures of Tantra. The fourth level is called as “Dakshina-char”. In this stage one needs initiation from the Guru for Shakti mantra. Shakti Mantra consists of chanting beej Mantra and its impact is very huge in Tantra. Mantra chanting along with Nyasa (placing deities in different parts of the body) is part of the ritual.

During Shivaratri Puja every Kashmiri Pandit touches different parts of the body in which we offer those part to deity. Next level is “Vama-char" in which alcohol, fish, meat etc is offered to the deity. Next level is “Veera-char"in which worship at cremation grounds, at deserted areas, in deserted temples is performed to overcome eight bondages. Highest state is called as “Kaula[1]char” which also involves ritualised sexual practise. Last three steps are very dangerous and cannot performed without the presence of the Guru. Vegetarians also enter Tantra Marg in which substitutes of fish and meat is being offered to the deity. The ultimate goal of Tantra is called as “Samvesha”, a state in which you get possessed by the deity. Tantra classifies people in three groups which are animal(pashu), Verachar (after initiation) and Divya.

Aṣṭami is highly venerated during Navratra Puja. Goddess Durga came into being when suddenly light emerged from Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma and combined together to form Mother Durga. “NATO” was created by western democracies pooling the resources, same way Goddess Durga was created by pooling powers and resources of all Hindu deities. Durga is not wife of Lord Shiva. Given her magnificence, it is not possible to do her puja directly. So it is important to do upasana of Shiva first for doing upasana of Durga. Another name of Mother Durga is Chandi Mata which means no rules, no restrictions and Chandi Sadhana is very difficult.

A Bengali book on Tantra “Tantrabhilashir Sadhusanga"written by Pramod Kumar Chattopadhyay gives deeps insights on tantra. The author is from traditional Vedic family who happens to visit cremation ground at Wakeshwar in west Bengal state. He observes Aghori sitting in the cremation ground. After some days he observes lot of tantrics gather at the cremation ground. He comes to know that they are there for Chakra Anushtan. A lady tantric also arrives at the cremation ground.

He comes to know from the cremation ground caretaker that chakra Anushtan is to be performed on new moon night. On the due date he comes and hides behind the bushes to witness extraordinary night of tantric rituals. He observed that tantrics sit in a circle along with their partners called as Bhairav and Bhairavi. It is not necessary for Bhairav and Bhairavī to be at the same place for this kriya to take place. This circle is called as Chakra and in Chakra Anushtan there is a leader of the Anushtan called as Chakreshwar or Chakreshwari. He saw Chakreshwar and Chakreshwari sat at the centre of the circle and mantra jaap begins. He saw them doing all the steps of Tantra rituals one by one along with mantra jaap and at the end Chakreshwari in the centre got up and sat on the lap of Chakreshwar. Suddenly there was a flash of light from the sky and he saw that there was Shiva and Pārvatī sitting at the centre of the chakra instead of Chakreshwar and Chakreshwari and he fainted. Next day when he woke up, he found himself being helped by the cremation ground caretaker. We also have Chakreshwari temple in Kashmir and Mata Sharika is a tantric deity.

Kashmiri Pandits have been following Laugakshi Grhya sutras which are deeply influenced by Minimasa philosophy which was founded by Jamini. Minimasa Sutras of Jamini has twelve chapter which describes Vedic rituals and sacrifices. With the passage of the time Jamini philosophy became unpopular because end result was Swarga and Narka. It had nothing to offer about final emancipation. Dissatisfaction with the Minimasa led to Tantra which was natural progression. Kashmir played very important role in the development of tantric rituals. In the 9th century three important schools of Tantra namely Kula, Karma and Trika were integrated together to form what is known as Kashmir Shaivism. Kula system of Tantra has its roots in Ma Kamakhya temple of Assam.

Tantra Loka by Abinavgupt gives interpretation of tantric rituals. In the tantric traditions mantras are sound forms of the deity. Hence correct chanting of mantra is very important step. Abinavgupta was also called as Guptapada which means incarnation of Sesa. Maharishi Patanjali was also incarnation of Sesa. As a student, Abinavgupt studied all three branches of tantra. His teacher in Kula system was Shambunath from Jullundur, Punjab. He describes his teacher in the Tantraloka as “The lotus of his heart (Abinavgupt's heart) got fully bloomed by the rays of light coming from the Sun in the form of Shambunatha. "Kashmiri Pandits believed that Abinavgupt was Bhairav incarnate. Introducing the theme of Tantraloka, Abinavgupt writes, “Being prompted by the Shiva, I am explaining it on the basis of my personal experiences, logical arguments and Shiva Shastra. "Tantraloka has 37 chapters. The topics discussed are cause of bondage, way to freedom, knowledge as distinct from ignorance, concept of Moksha, Ultimate reality, manifested universe, Bimba[1]Pratibimba Vada etc. Abinavgupta has written forty books including commentary on the Bhagwad Gita.

Krama and Kula system which Abhivnavgupta followed are part of Advaitatantra. The worship of twelve Kaalis is important aspect of Krama. Krama system tells us that our body is temple where twelve Kaalis reside. It identifies prana with Lord Ganesha,

In Kula system there are no rituals. Pratyabijñā system neither supports nor opposes rituals. Krama systems has its origins in Kashmir and there are two traditions in it. One considers Shiva as a ultimate principle and others consider Shakti under name of Kaali as the ultimate principle. This path is known as shaktimarg or Shaktism. Both Krama and Kula system allow paanchmakraas traditions. Only those people whose object is purely spiritual not social or material are allowed to take part in paanchmakraas. Such people must have attained the state of perfection so that they can detach their mind at any stage. They should have control over prana to enter Sushmana. Parmahans Rama Krishna practised all paths including tantra Sādhanā. It is said that at the mere look at paanchmakraas, Rama Krishna used to enter into Nirvikalpa Samadhi and remained firmly there. There are two currents in Shaivism, one is Advaita Vedanta of Adi Shankaracharya and other is Shaiva Darshana of Abinavgupt. One starts with Nigama (Vedas) and other starts with Agama but both meet at the same point in self-realization. Both of these currents fall in Advaita Darshana.

Adi Shankaracharya wrote Saundari Lahari in Kashmir in praise of divine mother Tripur Sundari. In Saundari Lahari 1- 41hymns, describe ritual of tantra, Sri Chakra and mantra and rest 59 hymns are in praise of mother Tripursundari. In verse 53 of Saundari Lahari he says about Ma Tripura Sundari, “Oh, Darling of God Shiva, those three eyes of thine, Coloured in three shades, By the shades you wear, To enhance thine beauty, Wear the three qualities, Of Satva, Rajas and Tamas, As if to recite the holy trinity, Of Vishnu, Brahma and Rudra, After they become one with you, During the final deluge. "In this verse he is actually describing daughter of Kashmir, Devi Pārvatī with three eyes, In the photo of copper alloy sculpture with silver inlays depicts Pārvatī seated on a Nandi with Vajra and Japmala. However, it is important to note that Sri Shankaracharya was a great exponent of Vedic path. In Vivek Chudamani, Sri Adi Shankaracharya says, “Let people quote the scriptures and sacrifices to the gods, let them perform the rituals and worship the deities, but there is no liberation without the realization of one's identity with the Atman, no not even in the lifetime of the hundred Brahmas put together.” Same thing has to be said about Lalded, she was a follower of Vedic/yogic path yet she did not oppose tantra. On tantra Lalded said, “When tantra ends, mantra shrinks, When mantra ends, chitta remains, when chitta ends, nothing is left, void merges in the void.” (Tantra galeyti mantra mouche, mantra galeytehmouchechith, Chithyelihgaley kehnekouney, Shunays shunyamilthgav). Animal sacrifice is part of Tantra and Lalded was against animal sacrifice, she said, “It covers your shame, saves you from cold, its food mere water and grass, who counselled you oh Brahmin to slaughter a living sheep as a sacrifice unto a lifeless stone?” In Bhagwad Gita Chapter 9,26-27 Lord says, “If one offers Me with love and devotion, a leaf, a flower, fruit or water, I will accept it”. Lalded was a Shiv bakth yet great exponent of Vedic/yogic path.

According to Nathsampraday traditions, Dattatreya is considered as Adiguru. He was considered as Lord of Yoga and master of Tantra. He was son of sage Atri and Anasuya. Some people consider him combine incarnation of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva. He was the guru of Parashuram. Avadhuta Gita (song of free soul) is attributed to him. Tripura Rahasya is a dialogue between Dattatreya and Parashuram and falls in Advait school of philosophy. The states of consciousness of waking, dreaming and deep sleep is one and is called Sri Tripura, Ma Tripura Sundari. Dattatreya inspired many monistic movements in Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism. Some sections of Koul surname in Kashmir claim to have come from Dattatreyagotra. However, in other parts of India there is gotra on the name of Atri or Atreya, Dattatreya father. Apparently it seems Dattatreya followers among Koul surname in Kashmir may actually have Atrigotra.

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Courtesy: Ashok Razdan   and January 2024, Naad