Tantric Jyotisha

[Guest guest]

I noticed that practically a pall descended over this list when I posted the

excerpt from _Light on Life_ on tantric jyotisha. I mean, literally, Das was

the only one who acknowledged it.

It seems that many will praise this book out of sheer recognition that it is a

rich modern Classic, but would like to wish they didn't have to deal with the

tantric or generally shamanic facets of Jyotish; or one might pretend that the

book's authors are not tantrikas -- which they certainly are!

Of course much of what makes up puja in normative Hindu religiosity (and yes,

quite certainly in Vaishnavism) has major tantric components, but many of the

normative Indian traditions (which have their share of puritanical traits, as

is typical in mass religion the world over) shun tantra as the way of the

bogeyman, witches, da Devil, et al. This can be seen even in, say, the modern

catechital _Am I a Hindu? The Hinduism Primer_ by Ed Viswanathan, which is an

otherwise lovely volume for children and young adults until it gets to tantra,

at which point it dumbly resorts to prudery and hatred vis-à-vis the body,

magic, sexuality -- really toward all the things that power our world.*)

I may be totally mistaken as to a lack of interest in or taste for this side of

the Jyotish tradition of course -- given the rich discussion a while ago, for

example, concerning Santería (which shares many features with both Hindu and

Buddhist tantric traditions). Please dismantle my perception. I will post the

Svoboda and deFouw excerpt again below, for your reference. I know a bit about

the tantric worldviews, but little more about Tantric Jyotish than what I've

gleaned from Svoboda in _Light on Life_, his _Aghora_ series and his version of

the Shani Mahatmya (trans. and annotated as _The Greatness of Saturn_). If you

can recommend other textual springs and oases that can nourish us, please

advise. . .!

With my love and interest,

Jesse Abbot

Infant Jyotishi

_______________________________

*NOTE: You know how at Das's site it says "Powered By Sri Vishnu" [a PEERLESS

slogan, by the way!]? -- Well that means Powered by the creative sexual play

[lila] of Krishna and Radha or Krishna and the Gopis! In my coaching practice

that I call Vision Powered Training, I do not explicitly connnect the power of

creative vision with the divine erotic root through whose creative agency

EVERYTHING is created in every new moment -- but anyone who explores creativity

will discover this threefold continuity of eros, artistic power and the sacred.

Most critically, tantra is not a sadhana for the bordello, but highly

systematized and structured _creativity_. Also known as Resourcefulness. Also

known as touching and accessing real Magic in our sometimes outrageous and

sometimes quite workaday and mundane lives.

----------------

Tantric Jyotish

If the origins of the Parashari and Jaimini systems are unclear, then Tantric

Jyotish's roots are utterly unknown. In fact, neither Tantric Jyotish nor

Tantra, its parent, can be readily defined. Like Ayurveda, Tantra is said to be

an offshoot of the Atharva Veda, the fourth of the four Vedas; but as yet no one

has a clear idea of the origins of the Atharva Veda, a hymnal filled with occult

chants and charms. In an astrological context the word 'Tantric' implies a

mystical and intuitive attitude toward Jyotish. Tantra calls for 'sacrificial

rites', and a practitioner of Tantric Jyotish tends to rely on internally

derived information over that collected from external sources, arriving at

startling correct conclusions via magical techniques.

These techniques include but are not limited to the observation and

interpretation of omens; the observation and analysis of the jyotishi's

breathing patterns at the moment a question is asked; the interpretation of a

client's speech-patterns and actions; the encouraging of spontaneous or forced

visions; clairvoyance, clairaudience, or astral travel; the use of information

received from ethereal beings; the use of substances or techniques to induce

such paranormal or psychic phenomena as the charming of objects or people,

past-Iife readings, miraculous cures, and the granting of boons; and the use of

intense spiritual practices to bring the powers of nature under one's direct and

personal control.

Many systems of divination around the world also employ such techniques, but few

who do past-Iife readings or trance channeling are practicing Tantric Jyotish.

Tantric methods of divination are typically performed within the framework of

Jyotish's model, a framework which helps to focus, enhance and structure them.

It is this process of standardization and correlation which makes astrological

the collection of shamanic techniques that is Tantric Jyotish. For example,

while omens may be interpreted in many ways, Jyotish tends to interpret them

according to time (when they happen) and space (where they happen). An omen

which occurs in a westerly direction is likely to cause a jyotishi to think

first of Saturn, who rules the west, and then to consider Saturn's implications

on the question at hand. Another example: people in many cultures have been able

to gain control over certain classes of spirits, but most do so haphazardly, and

are often unaware of what sort of spirit they have harnessed. Jyotish, however,

can determine, by examination of the horoscope, whether or not a person can

succeed at such an endeavor, what classes of spirit they will be able to

summon, when in their lives they will be able to succeed, and at what precise

moment they should begin their rituals in order to succeed. (pp. 18-19)

[Guest guest]

Many systems of divination around the world also employ such techniques, but few

who do past-Iife readings or trance channeling are practicing Tantric Jyotish.

I may be mistaken, but didn't B.V. Raman speak against tantric practices?

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest guest]

I've been singularly fond of your witty, astute and sensitive posts on this

list. I hope to respond at greater length to your note; this is a quick

beginning.

What I want to say is that many otherwise inspired and informed Indian writers

just lose it when they have to address tantra. Tantra scares them shitless

(forgive my tone: due to rushing out the door rather than reason.) Yet so

much of Indian religiosity and culture is dependent on Tantric aesthetics,

poetics, hermeneutics and even practices, it is astonishing how little most

Indians know about their debt to this tradition.

It must be said, any "shamanic" engagement with reality undertaken without a

firm and clear commitment to one's ishtatadevata (or the equivalent) is indeed

most dangerous. I myself am not overfond of picking up live wires and putting

them in my mouth! But it would be challenging to lead productive contemporary

existences without finding a way to tap the power running through such wires.

Shashibhusan das Gupta's extraordinarily probing and rich text _Obscure

Religious Cults as Background of Bengali Literature_ (Calcutta, Firma K. L.

Mukhopadhyay, 1969 [3rd ed.]) is an excellent resource on many tantric themes.

The master iconographer and practitioner of Tibetan painting (and scholar in

his own right) Robert Beer recommended it to me, and I'm forever grateful. It

is, I think, impossible to understand virtually any of the religious brilliance

of Bengal without looking at the tantric Sahajiyaa movements.

I know much less about Hindu tantrism than Buddhist, but feel kinships with the

inspired saints in all such traditions (and also am circumspect toward the

tantric fundamentalists of all stripes -- yes, they exist, too!)

More soon, I hope.

All my best,

Jesse Abbot

In a message dated 8/10/2002 1:39:08 PM Eastern Standard Time, Carolhook (AT) aol (DOT) com writes:

I may be mistaken, but didn't B.V. Raman speak against tantric practices?

Thanks,

Carol

[Guest guest]

Shashibhusan das Gupta's extraordinarily probing and rich text _Obscure

Religious Cults as Background of Bengali Literature_ (Calcutta, Firma K. L.

Mukhopadhyay, 1969 [3rd ed.]) is an excellent resource on many tantric themes.

Dear Jesse,

Thanks for your kind words and comments--I hope you may have time to

elaborate on this theme as you'd like to. Looking on the web with WebFerret

search, I was able to locate references to this work but not found on

booksellers's sites. The University of Colorado has a 1946 copy with pages

falling out.

Web references state the information in this volume is found nowhere else;

your friend steered you to a unique compendium, aptly described by its title.

Question: where did you find your copy?!!

Love to all,

Carol