Introduction to Tantra Sastra - Aghori

THE SCRIPTURES OF THE AGES
EACH of the Ages has its appropriate Śāstra or Scripture,
designed to meet the characteristics and needs of the
men who live in them. 1 The Hindu Śāstras are classed
into: (1) Śruti, which commonly includes the four Vedas
(Ṛ g, Yajur, Sāma, Atharva) and the Upaniṣads, the doctrine
of which is philosophically exposed in the Vedānta
Darśana. (2) Smṛ ti, such as the Dharma Śastra of Manu
and other works on family and social duty prescribing
for pravṛ ttidharma. (3) The Purāṇ as, 2 of which, according
to the Brahma-vaivarta Purāṇ a, there were originally
four lakhs, and of which eighteen are now
regarded as the principal. (4) The Tantra.
For each of these ages a suitable Śāstra is given.
The Veda is the root of all Śāstras (mūla-śāstra). All
others are based on it. The Tantra is spoken of as a fifth
Veda. Kulluka-Bhatta, the celebrated commentator on
Manu, says that Śruti is of two kinds, Vaidik and Tāntrik
(vaidiki-tāntriki caiva dvi-vidha śrutihkīrtitā). The
various Śāstras, however, are different presentments of
śruti appropriate to the humanity of the age for which
they are given. Thus the Tantra is that presentment of
śruti which is modelled as regards its ritual to meet the
characteristics and infirmities of the Kali-yuga. As men
1 On the subject matter of this paragraph see my Introduction to “The
Principles of Tantra” (Tantra-tattva), where it is dealt with in greater detail.
2 These are referred to as saṃhitā (collection), which term includes
amongst other things Dharma-Śāstra, Smṛ ti, Śrutijīvikā, Purāṇa, Upapurāṇās,
Itihāsa (history), the books of Vaśiṣtha, Vālmīkī, and others. See
Śabda-ratnāvali, and Brahmavaivartta Purāṇa, Jnāna-Kāṇḍa, chap cxxxii.