Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra
by T. S. Syamkumar | 2017 | 59,416 words
This page relates 鈥楧ynamics of Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra鈥� 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.
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3. Dynamics of Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra
Kerala Tantric scriptures deal with many subjects akin to initiation, 碍补濒补艣补, Homa, 痴腻蝉迟耻 and 艢ilpalak峁峁嘺. All Tantric manuals significantly discussed the 笔谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补蝉, the atonement rites to be done for the removal of the effects of mistake crept in the course of rituals. The mistake may be due to a Mantra, an action or a substance or the impurity affected to the sanctum sanctorum or the temple courtyard or to the idol. For the removal of the bad effects or impurity caused by the undesired happening, Tantric manuals of Kerala have recommended various expiatory rituals.[1] These expiatory rites have a significant role in the evolution of the religious tradition of Kerala.
Domanic Goodall, the scholar of 艢补颈惫补 Tantra asserts:
鈥淭he subject of rites of expiation or reparation (笔谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补) is not central for the history of the 惭补苍迟谤补尘腻谤驳补 (Tantric 艢补颈惫颈蝉尘), but it provides a fascinating angle from which to view the evolution of this broad religious tradition [鈥�..]鈥�[2]
The thematic continuity and influence of 艢补颈惫腻驳补尘补蝉 can be evidently seen in Kerala Tantric ritual manuals. 莫艣腻苍补艣颈惫补驳耻谤耻诲别惫补-paddhati and 笔谤补测辞驳补尘补帽箩补谤墨 are the best examples. Later in the period of Tantrasamuccaya, the Kerala Tantric ritual manuals mostly represent a synthesis of religious practices having the worship of different deities like 痴颈峁ａ箛耻, 艢颈惫补, 顿耻谤驳腻, Skanda, 厂补蝉迟峁� and 艢补峁卥补谤补苍腻谤腻测补峁嘺. Nevertheless the 艢补颈惫补 ritualistic method is profusely used in Kerala, because of the influence of Temple 膧驳补尘补蝉 flourished in South India.
狈颈艣惫腻蝉补迟补迟迟惫补蝉补峁僪颈迟腻, the existing most primitive 艢膩iva Tantra text has little to say about 笔谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补. Subsequent to the period of 狈颈艣惫腻蝉补, the number of expiatory rites seems enlarged. 笔谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补-samuccayas of 罢谤颈濒辞肠补苍补艣颈惫补 (Twelfth century) and H峁沝aya艣iva (Eleventh century) are excellent examples. In the initial period, 艢补颈惫腻驳补尘补蝉 had little to say about expiatory rites, but in course of time the Tantric manuals began elucidating various expiatory rites, because of the influence of 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补.
Goodall rightly remarked thus:
鈥淏ut the existence of such post-initiatory rules might not by itself have given rise to a complex code of penance rites without the strong influence of Brahmanical 顿丑补谤尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补.鈥�[3]
All through the earliest period, 笔谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补 was performed only for 膧迟尘腻谤迟丑补辫奴箩腻 (as part of individualistic worship) and progressively it was performed for 笔补谤腻谤迟丑补辫奴箩腻 (worship for the social community performed in temples). In Kerala, Tantric systems used the 笔谤腻测补艣肠颈迟迟补 for asserting Brahmanical hierarchy, casteism, landlordism and for gaining amassing wealth in the form of 顿腻苍补 and 顿补办峁峁嚹�. As a result, Kerala Tantric expiations characteristically concentrated in the temple rituals.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
笔谤补测辞驳补尘补帽箩补谤墨, 21.22, 21.34; 痴颈峁ａ箛耻-sa峁僪it膩, 25.3-14, 25.16-17; 莫艣腻苍补艣颈惫补驳耻谤耻诲别惫补辫补诲诲丑补迟颈, 3.20.1; Tantrasamuccaya, 10.1-6.
[2]:
Satyanarayanan, R., ed., 艢补颈惫补 Rites of Expiation, French Institute Pondicherry, 2015, Introduction by Dominic Goodall, p. 17.
[3]:
Ibid., p. 27.