Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
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96<br />
INTRODUCTION TO TANTRA ŚĀSTRA<br />
water) with mantra, cleanses his teeth, and takes his<br />
early morning 1 bath <strong>to</strong> the accompaniment of mantra.<br />
He then puts on his castemark (tilaka) and makes tarpaṇ<br />
am, or oblation of water, <strong>to</strong> the Deva, Ṛ ṣi and Pitṛ .<br />
The sa ṃdhya follows, which consists of ācamana (sipping<br />
of water), mārjana-snānam (sprinkling of the whole<br />
body with water taken with the hand or kuśa-grass),<br />
prāṇ āyāma (regulation of prana through its manifestation<br />
in breath), agha-marṣṇ a (expulsion of the person of<br />
sin from the body), the prayer <strong>to</strong> the sun, and then (the<br />
canon of the saṃdhya) the silent recitation (japa) of the<br />
Gāyatrī-mantra, which consists of invocation (āvāhana)<br />
of the Gāyatrī-Devī; ṛ ṣi-nyāsa and ṣadāṇganyāsa (vide<br />
post), meditation on the Devī-Gāyatrī in the morning as<br />
Brahmanī; at midday as Vaiṣṇ avī; and in the evening as<br />
Rudrāṇ ī; japa of the Gāyatrī a specitied number of<br />
times; dismissal (visarjana) of the Devi, followed by<br />
other mantras. 2<br />
Besides the Brahminical Vaidiki-saṃdhyā from<br />
which the Śūdras are debarred, there is the Tāntrikisaṃdhyā,<br />
which may be performed by all. The general<br />
outline is similar; the rite is simpler; the mantras vary;<br />
and the Tāntrika-bījas or “seed” mantras are employed.<br />
1 The householder is required <strong>to</strong> bathe twice, the ascetic at each of the<br />
three saṃ<br />
dhyas.<br />
2 The above is a general outline of the Sāma Veda saṃ<br />
dhyā, though as<br />
each Hindu is of a particular sect and Veda, the saṃ<br />
dhyā differs in detail.<br />
See Kriyākāndavāridhi and the Purohita-darpaṇa, and Śrīśa Chandra-Vasu,<br />
“Daily Practice of the Hindus.” The positions and mudrā are illustrated in<br />
Mrs. S. C. Belnos’ “Saṃ<br />
dhyā or Daily Prayer of the Brahmin” (1831).