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
83 (of 95)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Worship & worshipper 384 163 community. 161. In the 膧gama works some types of d墨k峁Ｄ� are mentioned for
the Siv膩c膩rya such as Samaya- d墨k峁Ｄ�, Vi艣e峁- d墨k峁Ｄ� and Nirv膩峁嘺- d墨k峁Ｄ伮�62.
The tantras speak of different types of d墨k峁Ｄ� such as Mantri- d墨k峁Ｄ�
Var峁嘺- d墨k峁Ｄ�, K膩la- d墨k峁Ｄ�, Vedha- d墨k峁Ｄ�, Spar艣a- d墨k峁Ｄ�, V膩g- d墨k峁Ｄ�, D峁沢-
d墨k峁Ｄ�, and 艢膩mbhav墨- d墨k峁Ｄ�. The process of initiation starts one day prior to
the actual day of initiation. The disciple approaches the Guru and observes
religious discipline. The next day, after homa etc... the Guru instructs the
disciple into the discipline. The initiation is laid down only for the male
members 164. The different types of initiation are explained in brief.
Varna - d墨ks膩.
This initiation is prescribed for a child. In this the guru identifies the
different letters of the mantra into the body of the child- s盲dhaka. By the
dint of austerities, the Guru enjoins divinity into the sadhaka by the
Samhara-method. The Guru again, by the Anga-ny膩sa performed on the
s膩dhaka this time by the sri峁i-method makes the s盲dhaka divine souled and
the s膩dhaka is forever in a state of bliss.
K膩la -d墨ks膩
In K膩la d墨ks膩, the body of the s盲dhaka is divided into five zones
corresponding to the five gross elements. The goddess is identified with the
different k膩las of a letter. This type of initiation bestows divinity on the
s膩dhaka. The different k膩las are identified in the body of the s盲dhaka. The
following table will make it clear about the nature of initiation.
161 SVT ch. XIII
162 Uttara-Kamika-Agamam Patala XX, XXIII.
163 NUT ch. I
164 SVT ch. XIII
