Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
122<br />
INTRODUCTION TO TANTRA ŚĀSTRA<br />
Prakṛ ti productive of that great pleasure 1 which accompanies<br />
the process of creation. 2 To the Mother is thus<br />
offered the restless life of Her universe.<br />
The object of all sādhana is the stimulation of the<br />
sattvaguṇ a. When by such sādhana this guṇ a largely<br />
preponderates, the sāttvika sādhana suitable for men of<br />
a high type of divyabhāva is adopted. In this latter<br />
sādhana the names of the pañcatattva are used symbolically<br />
for operations of a purely mental and spiritual<br />
character. Thus, the Kaivalya 3 says that “wine” is that<br />
in<strong>to</strong>xicating knowledge acquired by yoga of the Parabrahman,<br />
which renders the worshipper senseless as<br />
regards the external world. Meat (mamsa) is not any<br />
fleshy thing, but the act whereby the sādhaka consigns<br />
all his acts <strong>to</strong> Me (Mām). Matsya (fish) is that sāttvika<br />
knowledge by which through the sense of “mineness” 4 the<br />
worshipper sympathizes with the pleasure and pain of<br />
all beings. Mudrā is the act of relinquishing all association<br />
with evil which results in bondage, and maithuna<br />
is the union of the Śakti Kuṇ ḍ alinī with Śiva in the body<br />
of the worshipper. This, the Yoginī-<strong>Tantra</strong> says, 5 is the<br />
best of all unions for those who have already controlled<br />
their passions (yati). According <strong>to</strong> the Āgama-sāra, wine<br />
1 Śiva in the Matṛ kābheda-<strong>Tantra</strong> (chap. ii) says: (Yadrūpam paramānandam<br />
tannāsti bhuvanatraye).<br />
2 Nigama-Tattvasāra (chap. iv). See chap. xv of the Hara-Tattvadīdhiti;<br />
Mahānirvāṇa-<strong>Tantra</strong>, chap. v, verses 23, 24, and Kāmākhyā-<strong>Tantra</strong>. The<br />
Kailāsa-<strong>Tantra</strong> Pūrva-Khanda (chap. xc) identifies the pentad (pañcatattva)<br />
with the vital airs (prānādi) and the five mahāpretas (vide post and ante).<br />
3 See p. 85 of Pañcatattvavicāra, by Nilamani Mukhyopadhyāya.<br />
4 A play upon the word matsya (fish).<br />
5 Yogini-<strong>Tantra</strong> (chap. v) :<br />
Sahasrāropari biṇḍau kundalyā melana ṃ<br />
śive,<br />
Maithunaṃ<br />
paramaṃ<br />
yatīnāṃ<br />
parikīrtitam.