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 4 - Worship and The Worshipper
22 (of 95)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Worship & worshipper side and half asura from his mother's side. As a result of this he was sympathetic towards the asuras who were his maternal uncles and used to secretly offer offerings to the Asuras. On knowing this Indra killed Visvar奴pa for his deceit. This act of killing ones priest incurred the sin of Brahmahaty膩 to Indra. Indra divided this Bramhahaty膩 into four parts as a means of self purification and gave it to the earth, to the trees, to women and to the waters 28. The occurrence of the monthly menstrual flow in women is considered as the third part of sin of Indra29. In return for accepting the third part of Indra's sin, women got a boon of constant sexual urge. 323 This occurrence of the monthly menstrual flow in the customs and
traditions has made women doomed and considered them to be impure and
restricted to strict confinement. According to the Dharmas奴tras, the
occurrence of the menstrual cycle is considered as an unparalleled means of
purification which women posses. By this they ever remain defied, for,
month after month their menstrual flow washes away their sins30. In the
DSS鲁鹿 it is mentioned that the womenfolk worldwide are but the forms and
variations of the goddesses. It would not be improper to state that the woman
was looked upon as divine in origin for she was the embodied form of a
fraction of the goddess. In the theology of tantra, women have been given an
important place as part and parcel of the ritual. Female tantric devotees are
28 BHP. VI.9.6
29 BhP. VI.9.9
30 VDs. 28.4 also Br.Sam. 74.9.
31 DSS. 11.5
