Shakti in Tantra: A Repost

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"nora55_1999" <nora55_1999

Wed Apr 10, 2002 11:49 pm

Basics of Tantric Shaktism ( A repost )

 

 

The human body is a microcosm. The Universe is the macrocosm.

According to Shaktism and Tantrism, there is nothing in the Universe

that is not in the human body. As stated in the Vishvasaara-Tantra:

 

Yad ihaasti tad anyatra yan nehaasti na tat kvacit. "What is here is

there; what is not here is nowhere."

 

So there is no need to throw one's eyes into the heavens to find

God/dess.

She is within - the Paramaatmaa (or Transcendental Consciousness; the

Supreme Siva-Shakti who pervades all things). All else is Her Power

as Mind and Matter (this is Mother; Shakti or Prakrita-Sakti and all

of Her products). According to Tantric Shaktism, each human being

(Jivaatma) is in essence One with Siva-Shakti.

 

We say, therefore, that the body is a vast magazine of Power/Shakti.

The center and root (Mula) of the Jivaatma's power is Kundalini-

Shakti - scientifically speaking, the static ground of all energy in

the body. Just as atomic structure consists of a static center around

which kinetic forces revolve, so in the human body Kundalini provides

the immobile support for all of the myriad activities of the body.

The object of Tantric Shakta ritual is to raise the various

manifestations of Power to their full expression. This is the work

of Saadhana.

 

Supreme Consciousness is achieved by awakening Kundalini Shakti in

Her grounding place at the base of the spinal column, and leading Her

upward - through various Tantric exercises and disciplines - to a

subtle (not physiological) area in the upper brain called the

Sahasraara. Here, She is reunited with Siva - in effect, completing

the "circuit" and yielding Enlightenment.

 

In Tantric disciplines, Kundalini is generally conceived of as a

Serpent, sleeping coiled around a Siva Linga - again, the

electromagnetic parallel is astonishing! When roused, she moves

upward through the (subtle body's counterpart of the) spinal column.

 

This upward movement leads Kundalini through a series (usually

conceived as seven; sometimes more) of subtle centers

called "Chakras" (Wheels) or Lotuses. These Chakras have generated a

vast and highly sophisticated literature; I certainly can't claim to

summarize any of the myriad subtleties involved in this little essay.

But I hope they'll be discussed by members as the Club develops. For

now, suffice it to say that Chakras are "multidimensional" centers

arranged along the spine, existing partly in the physical body, and

partially in the spiritual, or "subtle" body (Soul).

 

In their grossest manifestation, Chakras are merely nerve clusters,

glands - physical bodies that govern certain feelings, tendencies and

bodily functions. Just as acupuncture might cure a headache by

treating the foot, different Chakras affect parts of the body far

removed from their "physically" conceived location along the spinal

column. Woodroffe has written an interesting comparison of Chakra

theory and modern anatomy, in which the Tantric viewpoint makes a

pretty impressive showing.

 

At the more subtle levels, the Chakras are conceived in terms of

deeply layered, mystical symbolism. Each Chakra is envisioned as

possessing its own unique arrangement of "petals" (that's why the

term Lotus is sometimes used interchangeably with the term Chakra),

as well as its own shapes, colors, letters of the alphabet, gods and

goddesses, and so on. These characteristics aid the meditations that

open each Chakra, washing away the physical, mental and spiritual

hang-ups caught in each one, and allowing Kundalini to pass through,

moving ever closer to Her (and thus the Sadhaka's) ultimate Bliss.

 

WHO IS SHAKTI?

 

All that is manifest in the Universe -- as Mind, Life and Matter - is

Energy. That's what modern physicists say, beginning with Einstein;

and that's what the ancient texts of Tantric Shaktism say as well.

 

Energy implies an Energy-Holder. There can be no Energy-Holder

without Energy, and no Energy without an Energy-Holder. As conceived

by Tantric Shaktism, the Energy-Holder is Shiva, or Pure

Consciousness. The Energy is Shakti, the Great Mother of the

Universe.

 

"Shakti" is simply the Sanskrit term for Energy, or Power, which is

conceived as Female. Shakti, then, is all that is manifest in the

Universe. There is no Shiva without Shakti, and no Shakti without

Shiva.

 

And so it is that we call the Ultimate Reality Shiva-Shakti. It is

One, it is All, it is God. It is infinite and formless, without

degrees or differences, although human beings limit it, naming it

and limiting it is different religions that arose (and continue to

arise) in different times and places.

 

As a great Hindu proverb states, "All Truth is One; the wise call it

by different names." The modern saint, Mother Meera - considered a

living Avatar of Mother by her devotees - adds, "The Divine is the

sea. All religions are rivers leading to the sea. Some rivers wind a

great deal. Why not go to the sea directly?" In Tantric Shaktism,

this is precisely what we attempt to do.

 

In Shaktism, the Ultimate Reality is sometimes perceived as

Ardhanaarishvara - the co-joint Male (right side) and Female (left

side). The object of Sadhana (Spiritual Discipline) and Upasana

(Worship) is

to transcend the human mind, to transcend finite experience and gain

access to the infinity of Pure Consciousness beyond. In Tantric

Shaktism, our vehicle for doing so is Shakti, to Whom we surrender,

accepting Her as our guide to the Infinite.

 

 

WHAT IS SHAKTISM?

 

Sir John Woodroffe writes, "The Shaktas [practitioners of Shaktism]

predominantly worship the left [side of the Ardhanaarishavara] and

call her Mother, for She is the Great Mother, the Mahadevi who

conceives, bears, and nourishes the Universe sprung from Her womb

(Yoni). This is so because She is the active aspect of Consciousness.

The quiescent Shiva-aspect is by definition inert. It is because of

this that the Devi is in the Tantras symbolically represented as

being above [or atop] the body of Shiva, who lies under Her like a

corpse (shava). When the Devi stands above Shiva, the symbolism

also denotes -- particularly in the case of Kali -- the liberating

aspect of the Mother."

 

As Silent Soul 55 has pointed out, some persons consider Shaktism to

be a lesser sub-cult of Hinduism that does not ultimately lead to

Moksha (Liberation) and union (Yoga) with Pure Consciousness. But

this perception is incorrect.

 

Satguru Sivaya Subramuniyaswami, a prominent living Shaivite

(worshipper of Shiva) leader, accurately writes, "Shaktism [is] the

religion followed by those who worship the Supreme as the Divine

Mother - Shakti or Devi - in Her many forms, both gentle and fierce.

Shaktism is one of the four primary sects of Hinduism. Shaktism's

first historical signs are thousands of female statuettes dated ca.

5500 BCE, recovered at the Mehrgarh village in India.

 

 

"In philosophy and practice, Shaktism greatly resembles Saivism, both

faiths promulgating, for example, the same ultimate goals of advaitic

union with Siva and moksha. But Shaktas worship Shakti as the Supreme

Being exclusively, as the dynamic aspect of Divinity, while Siva is

considered solely transcendent and is not worshiped. There are many

forms of Shaktism, with endless varieties of practices which seek to

capture divine energy or power for spiritual transformation.

 

"Geographically, Shaktism has two main forms, the Srikula "family of

the Goddess Sri (or Lakshmi)," which respects the brahminical

tradition (a mainstream Hindu tradition which respects caste and

purity rules) and is strongest in South India; and the

Kalikula, "family of Kali," which rejects brahminical tradition and

prevails in Northern and Eastern India. Four major expressions of

Shaktism are evident today: folk-shamanism, yoga, devotionalism and

universalism. Among the eminent mantras of Shaktism is: Aum Hrim

Chandikayai Namah, 'I bow to Her who tears apart all dualities.'

There are many varieties of folk Shaktism gravitating around various

forms of the Goddess, such as Kali, Durga and a number of forms of

Amman."

 

Contributor : Devi_Bhakta