Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
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100<br />
INTRODUCTION TO TANTRA ŚĀSTRA<br />
Besides the yajña mentioned there are others.<br />
Manu speaks of four kinds: deva, bhauta (where articles<br />
and ingredients are employed, as in the case of homa,<br />
daiva, bali), nṛ yajña, and pitṛ -yajña. Others are spoken<br />
of, such as japa-yajña, dhyāna-yajña, etc. Yajñas are also<br />
classified according <strong>to</strong> the dispositions and intentions of<br />
the worshipper in<strong>to</strong> sātvika, rājasika, and tāmasika yajña.<br />
VRATA<br />
Vrata is a part of Naimittika, or voluntary karma. 1<br />
It is that which is the cause of virtue (puṇ ya), and is<br />
done <strong>to</strong> achieve its fruit. Vratas are of various kinds.<br />
Some of the chief are Janmāṣṭ amī on Kṛ ṣṇ a’s birthday;<br />
Śivarātri in honour of Śiva; and the ṣatpañcami, Durvāṣṭ<br />
ami, Tālanavami, and Anantacaturdaśī performed at<br />
specified times in honour of Lakṣmi, Nārāyaṇ a, and<br />
Ananta. Others may be performed at any time, such as<br />
the Sāvitrī-vrata by women only, 2 and the Kārtikeyapūjā<br />
by men only. 3 The great vrata is the celebrated<br />
Durga-pūjā, mahā-vrata in honour of the Devī as Durga,<br />
which will continue as long as the sun and moon endure,<br />
and which, if once commenced, must always be continued.<br />
There are numerous other vratas which have<br />
developed <strong>to</strong> a great extent in Bengal, and for which<br />
there is no Śāstric authority, such as Madhu-saṃkrāntivrata,<br />
Jalasaṃkrāntivrata and others. While each vrata<br />
has its peculiarities, certain features are common <strong>to</strong><br />
vratas of differing kinds. There is both in preparation<br />
and performance saṃyama, such as sexual continence,<br />
1 Vide ante.<br />
2 To attain good wifehood, long life for the husband in this world and life<br />
with him in the next.<br />
3 To secure children.