Essay name: Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study)
Author:
Srider Basudevan Iyer
Affiliation: University of Mumbai / Sanskrit, University Department
This essay studies the history of Devi (the Goddess) in relation with worship using Tantra, Yantra and Mantra. The study explores the concept of the 'Female Principle' or Goddess, examining her role and significance in ancient Indian society.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
7 (of 55)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
chapter 1. Introduction 7 much that the two i.e. Dev墨 and tantra sound as synonyms and the one
without the other is inconceivable.
Devi- Synonymns.
The term Devi has some significant synonyms as Vidy膩, 艢r墨-
Vidy膩, Sakti and 艢r墨. Of all the synonyms, the term 艢r墨-Vidy膩 is
significant. In tantric terms 艢r墨-Vidya refers to the highest principle to
which the entire elaborate worship process is accorded. The MLRK'
states that 艢aktividy膩 is two fold- (i) 笔补谤腻 and (ii) Tripur膩. It adds
further that in reality there is no difference between the two. The text
further systematically explains the forms of both. The subtle
difference can best be understood with the help of the following table.
Subtle points
Form
笔补谤腻
Tripura
Sattvika
Tamasika
骋耻峁嘺
Beyond gu峁嘺s
Consisting
of
three gunas
Known as
厂谤颈惫颈诲测腻
笔腻谤惫补迟墨
Form
The
supreme The embodied
Brahman
soul
Known as
惭补丑腻濒补办蝉尘墨
Tripura
MLRK C.36, V.49b-55.
