Mircea Eliade YOGA IMMORTALITY AND ... - Brihaspati.net

SIXTH CApfruLO
APPROXIMATIONS
It is difficult to define Tantrism. Among the multiple meanings of the term tantra (Rafz as
"extend, continue to multiply") we inte-resa especially one: that of "succession,
development, process continuum. Tantra serious "thus prolonging the Knowledge
'(tanyate, vis-Ui anena taryatejnanam Tantramar). In this sense, the term was applied to
certain philosophical systems (Nyaya-tantresu, etc.).. It was unclear why and after that
circumstance came to designate a great philosophical and religious movement that is
announced in the fourth century of our era and takes the form of a "fad" pan-Indian, from
the sixth century. Because it is really a 'fashion' ; Repen-tinamente, Tantrism enjoys
immense popularity among both philosophers and theologians as between "practitioners"
(ascetics, yogis, etc.). and prestige also comes to the "popular" sectors. Before long,
relatively, the philosophy, mysticism, ritual, morality, iconography, literature itself, feel
the influence of so-centrism. It is a pan-Indian movement, it is assimilated by all major
religions of India and all the schools " sectarian. "There is another important Buddhist
Tantrism Tantrism Hindu, but also Jainism accepts certain tantric methods (not the" left
"), and strong influences are felt in the if-tantric Vaisman Kashmir, in the great
movement of the Pancaratra (around 550), in the Bhagavata-Purana (c. AD 600) and in
other streams of devotion visnuita.
According to Buddhist traditions, Tantrism would have been intro-lished by Asanga (c.
400), the eminent teacher Yogacara, and
AD), the distinguished representative of hyamika and one of the most celebrated and
mysterious characters of medieval Buddhism, but the problem of the historical origins of
Buddhist Tantrism is still far from resolved (see Note VI, I). It is likely that the Vajrayana
( "Vehicle of the Diamond"), name it is known Buddhist Tantrism in general, has made
its appearance in the early fourth century and reached its maximum expansion in the
eighth century. The Gw / ij / osama / a-tar.fra.considerado by some as a work of Asanga,
is probably the most ancient text Vajrayan-mail, and undoubtedly one of most important
cough.
In principle, Buddhist Tantra is divided into four groups: kriya-tantra, Carya-tantra, yogatantra
and anuttara-tantra, the two first few are about the rituals and the other two on Iguis
processes by which will reach the ultimate truth. Almost all texts contain references
tantric rituals, as well as instructions for order yogi and philosophical pieces. According
to Tibetan tradition, the four classes of Tantra would be in relation with the main types of
human temperaments: the texts of kriya-tantra agree to the Brahmans and those devoted
to ritual; the Carya-tantra is recommended primarily for ne men businessmen, and so on.
It is interesting to note that Tantrism is developed in the two border regions of India to
the northwest, bordering Afghanistan and in the eastern part of Bengal, particularly in
Assam. Moreover, according to the Tibetan tradition, Nagarjuna was born in the Andhra
region, south of India, ie in the heart of the Dravida Tndia. From this we may conclude
that Tantrism development, especially early in the provinces hin-duizadas poorly, where
the spiritual counterattack aboriginal sector was booming. Indeed, through the vehicle of
Tantrism, a large number of foreign and exotic elements penetrated into Hinduism as