O & E of shakthi worship -2

[Guest guest]

Tantras and Agamas embody the knowledge that was accumulated through ages. A

Tantra is a system of discipline conceived for attaining the ultimate.

Tantra literally means spreading or extension of knowledge. Agama means a

body of knowledge that is revealed or that comes from outside.

 

Incidentally most of these tantras were practiced to obtain limited

objectives such as riches or power over men. As religion has to recognize

the individuals capability it offered a variety of disciplines suited to

various individuals subjected to a certain universally accepted substratum

of faith and certain conduct. More over due to the difference in life style

and duties assigned to different classes of the society, different

disciplines were offered to different divisions. Some of these Agamas and

Tantras are those prescribed.

 

It's also to be noted that the influence of Buddhisum and Jainisum played a

significant role in shaping the tantric traditions. Though at the time of

Buddha there was no room for tantric practices, later additions made a

religion like Buddhisum equivalent to Vaamaachaara.

 

One point is worth universal acceptance that these tantric practices were

conceived to cater individuals or groups of varied physical, intellectual,

moral and spiritual capacities.

 

Some Tantras and Agamas as sacred texts are held in the same high esteem as

the Veda and Upanishads. There are some Tantras like the Yamala tantra,

which are claimed to have been older than even Vedas. There is an impression

that Tantra is some sort of black magic or immoral practice associated with

mystic practices condemned by orthodox Hinduism. There appear two forms of

rituals mentioned in Tantras known as the ‘vAmAchAra’ (other wise known as

'kaulA chAra') or the left hand ritual and ‘dakshhiNAchAra’ or the right

hand ritual other wise known as ‘samayAchAra’. These two modes of rituals

have again some relation to the dual aspect of shakthi discussed earlier.

The vAmAchArA or the left path is probably an echo of the primitive ritual

with which the terrible aspect of the mother goddess was worshipped in pre

historic times. Lately it found sanction in many tantric texts like

kulArNava and parasurAma kalpa sUtrAs.

 

____