Essay name: Shaiva Tantra: A way of Self-awareness
Author:
L. N. Sharma
Affiliation: Banaras Hindu University / Department of Philosophy and Religion
This essay studies Shaiva Tantra and Tantric philosophies which have evolved from ancient cultural practices and represents a way of Self-awareness. Saiva Tantra emphasizes the individual's journey to transcendence through inner and external sacrifices, integrating various traditions while aiming for an uncreated, harmonious state.
Chapter 15 - Pitha-yatra (pilgrimage to sacred places)
6 (of 15)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 305 - on the feet" (TA, AXIX, 59-03). Saiva tantra considers the basic centres on the subtle body of the practician as being the three "knots". Externally, they are three corresponding residences or "supports (adnara) where all the moving or motionless creatures are found" (TA, XV, 84). The basic center is the radix (sometimes the 'bulo.) which must be topographically identified as a namarupa. The other two centres evolve from it and they are the bindu in 323 211 _eart, identified as uddiyana, and the sound
tn dvādasanta, whose topological pattern is called Purnagiri. Between
these three foremost centres, there are three midale-residences (ardna-
pitna, which are called Aromas, i.e. hillocks, hence reminding us of
lingas (Kaulajnananirnaya, Calcutta, 1934, p.24).
they recur
The three "areas" (samdohaka = samdona; the
terms samdoha and upasamdoha are of an uncertain origin and meaning;
even in Buddhist tantric literature under the form chandoha,
HT, I, 7, lo-18 and the respective notes; Jayaratna says:
samdonaketi upapithaninsyandaprayatvāt, deriving samdona from the stem
etc. -
samaun -
to milk, to suck, to give rise to milk
-
HCC, XV, 82) are the
tongue, the forehead and the "pervasion" ("the pervasion is the place
of emanation of power"
-
HCC, AV, 88) which are localized in another
three different topographical places. Thus, there are nine important
wheels along the yogic body which are homologised with the geographical
points.
beside these wheels, there are eight "fields"
corresponding to the eight petals of the heart-lotus. The places are:
