Ramanisblog

Tag: Agama

  • What is Tantra? Devi Upasana

    Sriividya Upasana is very complicated and it needs a lot of patience and perseverance and most importantly familiarity with the terms in Tantra Shastra and a passing knowledge of Sanskrit is necessary.

    Sri Meru Yantra, produced by the Devipuram tem...
    Sri Meru Yantra, produced by the Devipuram temple, Andhra Pradesh, India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

    What is Tantra?

    “Tantra is that (Scripture) by which knowledge (Jñana) is spread (Tanyate, vistaryate jñanam anena, iti Tantram). The Suffix Tra is from the root ‘to save’. That knowledge is spread which saves. What is that but religious knowledge? Therefore, as here and generally used, Tantra means a particular kind of religious scripture. The Kamika Agama of the Shaiva Siddhanta (Tantrantara Patala) says:

    Tanoti vipulan arthan tattvamantra-samanvitan

    Trananca kurute yasmat tantram ityabhidhyate.

    (It is called Tantra because it promulgates great knowledge concerning Tattva and Mantra and because it saves.)-Arthur Avalon.

    There is a feeling that the Tantra Shastra is related only to Shakti or Devi Worship.

    It is not correct.

    There are Tantras of other sects of the Agama, Tantras of Shaivas andVaishnavas.

    The Tantra Shastra belongs to the Agamas, and not the Vedas.

    The Agamas are divided into the following parts.

    1.Shakta Agama,

    2.Shaivagama, and

    3.The Vaishnava Agama or Pancaratra.

    Tenoktang sattvatang tantram yaj jnattva muktibhag bhavet

    Yatra strishudradasanang sangskaro vaisnavah smritah

    There are Agamas which follow the Vedas called, Vaidik Agama and others,Avaidikagama,Non Vedic.

    Avaidika Agamas.

    The Kurma Purana (XVI.1) mentions as Avaidika Agama, the  Kapala, Lakula, Vama, Bhairava, Purva, Pashcima, Pañcaratra, Pashupata and many others.

    Pashupata again is said to be both Vaidika and Avaidika such as Lakula.

    Kurma Purana (Uttarabhaga, Ch. 38) says “By Me was first composed, for the attainment of Liberation, Shrauta (Vaidika) Pashupata which is excellent, subtle, and secret, the essence of Veda (Vedasara).

    The learned devoted to Veda should meditate on Shiva Pashupati.

    This is Pashupata Yoga to be practiced by seekers of Liberation.

    Woodroffe on Srichakra.
    Srichakra Explanation.-John Woodroffe.
    Image credit.
    http://www.workofthechariot.com/TextFiles/Back-Tantra.html

    By Me also have been spoken Pashupata, Soma, Lakula and Bhairava opposed to Veda (Vedavadaviruddhani).

    These should not be practiced. They are outside The Veda.” Sanatkumara Samhita says:

    Shrautashrautavibhedena dvividhastu shivagamah

    Shrutisaramapah shrautah sah punar dvividho matah

    Svatantra itarash ceti svatantro dashadha pura

    Tatha’ shtadashadha pashcat siddhanta iti giyate

    Itarah shrutisaras tu shatakoti-pravistarah.

    .

    The Shaiva Agama is of Two Kinds.

    Sharautha and Ashrautha.

    Shrauta is Shrautisaramaya and of two kinds, Svatantra and Itara.

    Svatantra is first of ten kinds and then Siddhanta of eighteen kinds

    (This is the Shaivasiddhanta Agama with 28 Mula Agamas and 207 Upagamas. It is Shuddhadvaita because in it there is no Visheshana).

    Itara is Shrutisara with numerous varieties.

    There are many schools of Shaivism and so are the Tantras associated with Shaivism.

    The Devi Worshippers or Shaktas are of many kinds,of which three are important.

    1.Those who follow 64 Tantras.-Ananta Shastry in the introduction to Anandalahari.(Kaulachara.

    2.Eight Tantras-Mishra and

    3.Five Tantras-Samaya sect.

    There are many more.

    But these five will do .

    What are the Common Practices in Tantra?

    Mantra,

    Bija,

    Yantra,

    Mudra,

    Nyasa,

    Bhutashuddhi,

    Kundaliyoga, construction and consecration of temples and images (Kriya), religious and social observances (Carya) such as Ahnika, Varnashramadharma, Utsava; and practical magic (Maya-yoga).

    Where there is Mantra, Yantra, Nyasa, Diksha, Guru and the like, there is Tantra Shastra.

    There are some extreme practices in some schools,

    As also variations.

    The Kaula rites are philosophically based on monistic doctrine.

    Now it is this Kaula doctrine and practice, limited probably, as being a secret doctrine, at all times to comparatively few, which has come to be known as “The Tantra”.

    Nothing is more incorrect. This is but one division of worshippers who again are but one section of the numerous followers of the Agamas, Shaiva, Shakta and Vaishnava.

    The basis of all these schools is the Lalitha Sahasranama, which recognises various sects and interpretations.

    “Samayachara Thatpara”

    ‘Kaulamarga Thatpara Sevitha_

    -Lalitha Sahasranama.

    –

    These relate to the schools.

    We also have how he Lalitha Saharanama speak of various Yoga Practices.

    “Srimad Vakbhavakudaika Swarupa Mukha Pankaja(Sloka 34)

    ‘Kandaatha Kadparyandha Madhya kudaswarupini

    Sakthikoodai Kathapanna  Katyatho Bhaagadhaarini( Sloka 35)

    Our goal is to realize Her and follow one system faithfully with out getting into academic discussions as these discussions are useless.

    As Adi Shankaracharya says in The Bhaja Govindam.

    Sampraapthe Sannnihithe Kaale,

    Nahi Nahi Rakshasi Rok Tukung Karane”

    As we near Death, decided by our actions, these philosophical discussions will not help us.

    I plan to follow Bhaskararaya and shall be posting on these lines.

    Citation.

    Arthur Avalon.  http://www.sacred-texts.com/tantra/sas/sas03.htm

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  • Dravida Vedas.Why there are no Vedas in Tamil?

    Some time back a friend of mine called up and asked why there are no Vedas in Tamil.

    The second query was what Dravida Vedas are.

    I informed him the details.

    Since then I have been receiving  questions of the same nature( not through him or the same source).

    The term Veda is from the Sanskrit root ‘Vid’ -To Know’

    Anything that informs is Knowledge;whether it is correct or incorrect, Right or Wrong is another matter.

    So Vedas mean knowledge.

    There is a slight difference.

    Knowledge that is eternal is classified as Absolute and Vedas impart this knowledge.

    It is called Para Vidya as opposed to worldly knowledge(of senses) which is  called Apara Vidya or transitory Knowledge.

    That Knowledge which speaks of reality is Para or Absolute Knowledge.

    This is what the Vedas speak of.

    So any knowledge that speaks of Knowledge of this nature  can be technically called Veda.

    In Tamil we have Bhakti Ilaakiyam like Thevaaram,Thiruvaasagam and Naalayira Divya Prabhandam

    While the first two extol Lord Siva, the latter is dedicated to Lord Vishnu.

    They are named as Dravida Vedas in Agama Sastras.

    In  temples only Agama is followed and not Vedas.

    The reason is Vedas do not teach collective/public Worship.

    It is not a social phenomena.

    It is intensely Personal and the worship of Fire is stressed in the Vedas.

    Agama Sastra was organised by the descendants of Sage Viswamitra.

    It is said that Viswamitra banished some of his sons for questioning him on his decision to impart Knowledge to a born Panchama.

    Viswamitra declared thatVedas must be taught to any one with Charactrer,Discipline ans Aptitude along with dedication to Guru.

    The Vedas emphasize this.

    Therefore the sons were banished for not respecting the Vedas and father(Viswamitra).

    Beyond Vindhya ,it was presumed to have been occupied by barbarians.

    So Viswamitra banished his sons to the South of Vindyhas-Dravida-meaning South.

    When his sons landed in the South, instead finding a barbaric culture they found a culture(Tamil) which was equal to Vedic Culture.

    They blended the best of both.

    They also noticed that idol worship was practiced.

    They incorporated this as well.

    The wearing of Thiru mangalyam or Thali is a Tamil Concept as well as Pancha kachcha.

    Vaidika marriage is over as soon as Panikgrahanam and Sapthapathis over.

    All these were compiled by Aapasthamba which we follow to day.

    Later to counter the influence of Vedas Agama System was brought into being where Public worship, Building Temples etc was incorporated.

    However the Vedas took notice of this and followers of Aapasthamba incorporated this in Vaidiaka system as well.

    But they did not intrude into Agama Sastra.

    In every temple one would have noticed, after poojas are nearing the end they shall declare ‘Dravida vedam sandarsyami’-meaning recite Dravidian Vedas.

    For Saivites it is Thevaaram/Thiruvaasagam; for SriVaishnavaas it is Naalaairam .

    It may of interest that no Vadika is allowed by Sastra to perform abhiseka to the Murthy unless he is qualified in Agama Sastras.

    Only Gurukkal are allowed for this.

    Gurukkal do not have subsects, they have only Gothrams.

    Ref.

    Vedas,

    Agamas,

    History of the Tamils by P.T.Srinivasa Iengar