Ritual

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The Universe and the terrestrial sphere. The sixty-three layers, in the upper and nether worlds and the central earth zone, merge into boundless space. Rajasthan, c. 1800. Gouache on paper. 53
Diagram illustrating the eternal recurrence of the sevenfold division of the Universe as a cosmic river of time and reality. A manuscript page from Rajasthan, c. 19th century. Ink on paper. 54 models of the doctrine of holism: each single element is a whole and exhibits unitariness whatever the mutations and changes to which it is subjected. And always it is the underlying vibrational processes that sustain this unity in diversity. In every part, the whole is present or at least suggested. I4 A yantra is very often referred to as an energy pattern or a power-diagram. As images of primal energy yantras reveal the varying scales of reality which denote cosmos, infinity, time, space or the play of polarities. Since we interpret infinity in finite terms we are forced to express the limitless in relative terms by creating mathematical patterns of virtual space. The yantras are not only based on mathematical form but also on a mathematical method. The artist must look beyond appearances and penetrate to structure and essence; he must reorganize reality in terms of distinctions and relationships of mathematical dimensions. Here Cezanne's proposition comes to mind: 'To relate nature to the cylinder, the sphere, the cone, all put into perspective so that each side of the object, of a plane, moves towards a central point.' I5 The minimal representation of pervading consciousness is the extensionless mathematical point of zero dimension, bindu, placed in the centre of the yantra. Bindu is the ultimate point of power beyond which a thing or energy cannot be contracted or condensed. By virtue of its nature, it is the repository of all manifestation in its complexity and variety and the basis of all vibration, movement and form: 'Transcending the tattvas [elements] is the Bindu' (Yamala). As a centre, the point controls everything which is projected from it; such a centre is called mahabindu, or Great
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$9.95 Printed in England The life-a
Page 5 and 6: Frontispiece: Manuscript leaf illus
Page 7 and 8: ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Archaeological Surv
Page 10 and 11: Introduction Tantra is a creative m
Page 12 and 13: number of tantric texts were assemb
Page 14 and 15: Saktas (worshippers of Sakti, or fe
Page 16 and 17: The basic tenets of tantra can be e
Page 18 and 19: the union of opposites, the male an
Page 20: notions concerning time and space,
Page 23 and 24: Cosmic energy symbolized as the ser
Page 25: Tantric asana, or sexo-yogic postur
Page 28 and 29: The washer-maid represents the prim
Page 30 and 31: the five ingredients beginning with
Page 33 and 34: 32 but at the same time maintains p
Page 35 and 36: Om, the cosmic sound, is a combinat
Page 37 and 38: Brahmanda, cosmic spheroid, a symbo
Page 39 and 40: Hari-Hara. Painting illustrating Vi
Page 42 and 43: ART The art which has evolved out o
Page 44 and 45: spective, tantric imagery is not an
Page 46 and 47: Symbolism and Imagery Tantric forms
Page 48 and 49: visible and eventually apprehended.
Page 50 and 51: figurative representation. The Sukr
Page 52 and 53: uilt up in stages during the entire
Page 56 and 57: Point, and signifies the starting-p
Page 58 and 59: The Sri Yantra is a configuration o
Page 60 and 61: The Sri Yantra is called 'Nava Chak
Page 62 and 63: The seventh chakra, consisting of e
Page 65 and 66: 64 The mandala indicates a focaliza
Page 67 and 68: The Kundalini Sakti, symbol of coil
Page 69 and 70: The creative spiral, Kundalini. 68
Page 71 and 72: A cosmographical schema showing Jam
Page 73 and 74: Cosmogram: an astronomical computat
Page 75 and 76: Cosmographical scheme showing Jambu
Page 78 and 79: so they signify the action of karma
Page 80 and 81: The terrifying aspects of these ima
Page 86 and 87: Modern research into the compositio
Page 88 and 89: 'Krim', the bijamantra, almost an e
Page 90 and 91: consciousness, came spontaneously i
Page 92: tantric art and their own. Like the
Page 95 and 96: 94 ancient Hindus. Some inferences
Page 97 and 98: Bindu. The universe in its unmanife
Page 99 and 100: 98 units of energy called tanmatras
Page 101: V Astronomical equations, based on
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Samkhya's view that it is possible
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Atoms The atomic hypothesis of the
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matter or the remaining sediment of
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The Siddhayoga of Vrinda is an Ayur
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The science of mathematics was clos
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Solar orb. An astronomical chart us
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Extant astronomical charts were use
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(beginning with the new and full mo
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ecorded in 1954. Though science has
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Being residing in heaven. The real
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126 Moscow Institute of Oriental St
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128 of realization. Harmony is the
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Symbolic marks painted on wooden ma
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Yantra with mantra. 132 guru select
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Chakras in the etheric body. Rajast
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IX A practising Tantrika from north
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142 Both mudras and nyasas are exte
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Schematic representation of how a y
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absorbed within the system and a gr
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object of concentration. Meditation
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After such a survey of various tech
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(from the root nad meaning motion,
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a red triangle 'radiant like the ri
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XVI
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to balance the dialectical process
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that involves the sperm's odyssey t
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inner spiritual urges to flow natur
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chaksuratatam'. He then salutes his
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Only when she is seen through divin
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IV Ram vanhyatmakam dipam sasaktika
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Sakti worship It is not physiologic
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om anaisvaryaya namah om avairagyay
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om Im madanaye namah om Im utpadiny
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haga, which means both female organ
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That Power who exists in all beings
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either position, both the adepts en
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the Ida and Pingala subtle channels
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outgrow the merry-go-round of self-
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of beings and forms; (6) Chinnamast
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of the discipline may even abandon
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chants mantras, nor performs mudras
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BHUTA, any of the five elemental co
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PARA, last stage of consciousness.
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Bibliography Abhinavagupta, Tantras
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Panday, K. C, Abhinavagupta, Varana
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Index Abhinavagupta, 80 Absolute, 1
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Mercury, 19, 73 Mevlevi Dervishes,
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Ritual

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