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Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra

by T. S. Syamkumar | 2017 | 59,416 words

This page relates ‘Expiatory Rites in Kulikkattupacca� of the study on Expiatory Rites in Sanskrit literature and ancient Indian religion and society, with special reference to Keralite Tantra. Further references to texts include those found in Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism as well as Dharmashastra literature. This study also investigates temple records and inscriptions of Kerala in order to demonstrate the connection between social life and expiatory rites and its evolution.

Go directly to: Footnotes.

3.4. Expiatory Rites in ḻiṭṭܱ貹

ḻiṭṭܱ貹, composed in the first half of the 19th century, is a popular Tantric work written in Malayalam, authored by Maheśvaran Bhaṭṭatiri of Kuḻikkāṭṭu family in Alappuzha district.[1] The work contains 15 ʲṭa, and the expiatory rites are described in the 10th ʲṭa. As ḻiṭṭܱ貹 is a lucid Malayalam commentary of Tantrasamuccaya, the causes leading to expiatory rites in this text are almost same to that of Tantrasamuccaya, but many additions are seen in ḻiṭṭܱ貹 Comparatively, it gives a long list of untouchables other than those found in the early Tantric literature. According to ḻiṭṭܱ貹, Bauddhas, Paṟaya, Pulaya, Maṇṇān, Kāṭar, Velan, Pāṇan, Kaṇiyān, Vāḷan, Cekon, Arayan, Āśāri, Kallan, Kollan, Mūśāri and Veḷuttedaṃs are the untouchables. In the case of entering of these untouchables in to the temple or temple campus, ḻiṭṭܱ貹 recommended various expiatory rites.[2] K.P.C. Anujan Bhattatiri, the translator of the Tantrasamuccaya in Malayalam,146 added many other expiatory rituals like Bṛhatcatuśśuddhi, Mahāpañcaka, Mahākuṃbha of վṣṇ and Ś, Mahākuṃbha of Skanda, Dahanaⲹśٳٲ, Lepādi-ⲹśٳٲ, Bhūparigrahādiⲹśٳٲ and Jalādhivāsaⲹśٳٲ.

ḻiṭṭܱ貹, the commentary of Tantrasamuccaya also has included the above-mentioned additions. In Pre-Tantrasamuccaya period the number of expiatory rites is less in number than the Post-Tantrasamuccaya period. The expiatory rites in ĪśԲśܻܰ𱹲貹󲹳پ are different from other Tantric expiatory rituals in Pre-Tantrasamuccaya texts. ĪśԲśܻܰ𱹲貹󲹳پ discusses various types of Individual expiations (Ātmārthaⲹśٳٲ) related to Ś. The concept of Niramālya and related expiations and Ātmārtha-Prāyaścitta are only seen in ĪśԲśܻܰ𱹲貹󲹳پ The entering of Tantrasamuccaya is very important in the history of Tantra literature of Kerala. Tantrasamuccaya suggests various expiatory rites to the deities like Ś, վṣṇ, Skanda, Ҳṇa貹پ, Śṅkⲹṇa and Devi. After the period of Tantrasamuccaya also, the number of expiatory rites seems increased. The earlier Tantra texts do not seriously mention Prāyaścitta related to Utsava. But Tantraⲹśٳٲ discusses Utsavaⲹśٳٲ very seriously. Also Tantraⲹśٳٲ discuss Utsava related expiations in a meticulous way. The expiations like ٰ岵, Gaurīyāga and Anantayāga are not followed by Tantrasamuccaya and Post-Tantrasamuccaya ritual manuals of Kerala. It can only be seen in Pre-Tantrasamuccaya Tantric manuals like ʰDzñᲹī, ĪśԲśܻܰ𱹲貹󲹳پ and Ś岵ԾԻ󲹲Բ The impact of the concepts of , ʳṇy and Karma are implicitly seen in all Kerala Tantric expiations.

Footnotes and references:

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[1]:

Vide Sangamesan, K.M., op.cit., p. 57. Also vide Unni, N.P., Tantra Literature of Kerala, p. 343.

[2]:

ḻiṭṭܱ貹, Panchangam Pusthakashala, Kunnamkulam, 2004, p. 297-299.

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