"The Mother Goddess and Tantric Shaktism", Part V

[Guest guest]

Many of the Tantric texts known to us are quoted in the digests,

which occupy a very important place in the literature of the Tantras.

 

Of the earlier digests may be mentioned the "Prapancasara",

attributed to the great Sankara; and the "Saradatilaka" of Laksmana

Desika. There are about half a dozen commentaries on the former,

while the latter has been commented upon by Madhavabhatta,

Raghabhatta and others.

 

Of the later digests, Krsnananda's "Tantrasara" stands unique, and

it has a nice agreement with the "Saradatiliaka" regarding the

description of the deities.

 

These works describe numerous forms of Shaktis, a number of them

being classes as the Mahavidyas or Vidyas, and the Nityas.

The "Tantrasara" quotes two lists of Mahavidyas from

the "Malinivijaya" and "Mundamala". Some later Tantras correlate the

ten Mahavidyas with the ten Avataras of Visnu.

 

Besides the digests, the Shakta-Tantric ideas were enriched by the

contributions of the outstanding Shakta philosophers and

commentators like Bhaskararaya of South India, Nilakantha of

Maharastra, and others.

 

The traditional 77 Agamas belonging to the Shakti cult are divided

into five subhaagamas, which teach practices leading to the

knowledge of liberation; 64 Kualaagamas, which teach practices

intended to develop magical powers; and eight misraagamas, which aim

at both.

 

Shiva and Shakti stand in the Tantras in the relation of prakasa and

vimarsa respectively, the former quality being of the nature of pure

consciousness, impersonality and inactivity. Bhaskararaya defines

Vimarsa as the spontaneous vibration of the Prakasa, the power which

gives rise to the world of disctinctions, but which remains latent

in the absolute. The potentiality of the whole object-world exists

as the Vimarsa or Shakti.

 

Prakriti or Maya is looked upon as the substance of Shakti, under

whose direction it evolves into the several material elements and

physical portions of all sentient beings. Instead of the 25 tattvas

of the Sankhya, here we have 36, classed into Sivatattva (or the

absolute); Vidyatttva (or the subtle manifestations of Shakti); and

Atmatattva (or the material universe, from Maya down to the earth).

 

The individual, under the influence of Maya, looks uper herself or

himself as a free agent and enjoyer, and it is only the knowledge of

Shakti that leads her or him top the way of liberation. Jivanmukhti,

or liberation in this life, is admitted -- which depends on self-

culture, and on the awakening of forces within the organism.

 

(Excerpted from Bhattacharyya, Narendra Nath, "The Indian Mother

Goddess," 2nd Edition. South Asia Books, New Delhi, 1977.)

 

(To be continued …)

[Guest guest]

, "Devi Bhakta"

<devi_bhakta> wrote:

>

> The traditional 77 Agamas belonging to the Shakti cult are divided

> into five subhaagamas, which teach practices leading to the

> knowledge of liberation; 64 Kualaagamas, which teach practices

> intended to develop magical powers; and eight misraagamas, which

aim

> at both.

 

Devi Bhakta,

 

At Ranipur-Jharial, Orissa, there stands a circular 11th century

Tantric temple, containing 64 Yoginis. The Yogini figurines occupy

niches within a circular wall, facing and surrounding a square

shrine, at the centre of the circle, which contains an image of

Shiva, called "Bhairava".

 

Could you kindly comment on the 64 Kulaagamas in the context of the

64 Yoginis, please - there must surely be some relation?

 

Namaste,

 

m6

[Guest guest]

The temple you mention certainly exists; and there are indeed 64

Yoginis. And yes, the number 64 has a certain numerological resonance

in tantra (for example, there are also the "64 Arts," 64 petals on

certain chakra lotuses, etc) ...

 

As for the correlation you suggest, however, I am simply not

qualified to expound on it. It may exist; it seems a plausible

theory. Beyond that, I would defer to more knowledgeable members.

 

Thanks for your query. I'm sorry I can't be more helpful, but I'm

glad you've found this series of posts useful.

 

DB

 

, "m6" <megalith6@h...> wrote:

> Devi Bhakta,

>

> At Ranipur-Jharial, Orissa, there stands a circular 11th century

> Tantric temple, containing 64 Yoginis. The Yogini figurines occupy

> niches within a circular wall, facing and surrounding a square

> shrine, at the centre of the circle, which contains an image of

> Shiva, called "Bhairava".

>

> Could you kindly comment on the 64 Kulaagamas in the context of the

> 64 Yoginis, please - there must surely be some relation?

>

> Namaste,

>

> m6