Tantra Revival: School

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TANTRIC REVIVAL BACK TO HOME

 

By Bindu Suraj

 

The Thanthra Vidya Peedhom in Kerala, perhaps India's first tantric

school, strives to revive this ancient science by freeing it from

taboos and misconceptions

 

Tantra shastra, an ancient and powerful science with its unique

rituals and beliefs, fell victim to the ravages of time and faded out

from most parts of India. More so because it was often looked upon as

an extension of black magic. Tantra worships Shakti (emphasizes

female power and has a history that can link it with ancient

fertility cults) and emphasises the identity of the obsolute and the

phenomenal world, which can be realized through a set of practices.

 

However, this ancient system survived in Kerala, perhaps the only

place where tantra is practiced and performed in a wider sense with

the aim to develop individual potential. Here, the temples are

consercrated strictly in accordance with tantra and mantra as the

temple structure is considered a replica of the human body.

 

It was late Sri Madhavan and some eminent tantra practitioners such

as Mangattu Kashi Vishwanath Varma, Mulanavazhi Devan Namboothri and

Chenas Parameshwaran Namboothripad who stood as pivots of this

tantric renaissance. Their urge for a systematic revival of this

dying tradition resulted in Thanthra Vidya Peedhom, the first school

teaching tantra— theory and practice—in the country, which was

founded at Guruvayur in 1972. "This school was initiated by Sri

Madhavan with the kind blessings of Kanchi Shankaracharya, Swami

Jayendra Saraswati, " informs Cheruvakad Narayanan Namboothiri,

manager of the school.

 

Situated near Periyar river, the school follows the traditional

gurukul system of education. Besides tantra, the school provides

training in the Vedas, yantra (pictorial representation of the

tantric science), silpa (temple architecture), Jyotisa(astrology),

yoga and meditation. The students are also exposed to domestic work.

Prasad, a senior student, explains: "First year students have to do

the cleaning, second year students look after the adjacent temple of

Lord Narasimamoorthi and its administration, fourth year students

serve food and fifth year students cook for the entire faculty".

 

An exclusive library with many valuable and rare books caters to the

research faculties of the school. According to the principal,

Brahmasree Kalpuzha Dvivakaran Nambuthiripad : When we started this

school, very few people were interested. But now, we have to select

students out of an increasing number of applicants."

 

Tantra has a unique tradition of guru-shishya (teacher and student)

relationship. Here, a strong bond and good understanding between the

teacher and the taught is imperative for attaining knowledge.

Initiation into mantra is its principle tool, which is practiced by

the acolyte under his guru's strict surveillance, Girish, scholar,

explains: "Based on the habits, tastes and attitude of a student, the

guru gives him some mantras. These mantras evoke immense power

through repeated chanting, sensitizing the body. Hence, without a

guru, the body might react to disturbances."

 

This process of transmission of spiritual knowledge from teacher to

student is called guru diksha. It culminates in poorna deeksha

(attaining full knowledge) after which a student can perform the

rituals. Girish adds: "Tantra is older than the Vedas as far as the

written texts are concerned. Here everything has to be practiced and

performed to cater to the need of a man, group and society in order

to lead them to salvation, the ultimate aim of tantra shastra."

 

Tantra is not restricted to the priestly class. The tantra school

welcomes anybody who is interested in the science, irrespective of

class, creed or sex. "Women can also learn tantra, though none have

yet come forward to join the school. In fact, women are given

prominence in tantra since their performance is more powerful than

that of men," says Girish.

 

Tantra is also practiced in some temples of north India such as

Kamakhya temple in Assam, Jagannath temple in Puri and Vishwanath

temple in Varanasi. Girish says: "These are the centres where real

tantric rituals are performed once in a year for the purification of

the temple and its surroundings. But people are scared to learn

tantra due to various misconception."

 

However, efforts are being made in various quarters to preserve this

ancient science. The Indian government and some non-governmental

institutions are offering grants to the Vidya Peedhom in Guruvayur.

But the expenses often exceed the grants. Says its principal: "We

provide free education to all students, therefore funds have to be

collected from other sources." The school also receives donations

from its devotees and patrons, and considering the rising interest in

tantra shastra, there might still be some hope for the total revival

of this much-maligned system.