Essay name: The Nervous System in Yoga and Tantra (Study)
Author:
Ashok Majumdar
Affiliation: Banaras Hindu University / Department of Kayachikitsa
This study deals with the presentation of the Nervous System in Yoga, Tantra and Ayurveda. Yoga and Ayurveda are allied sciences dealing with science of man in depth. This study has revealed a number of hither to unknown facts about concept of nervous system and thought science of Hindus.
Chapter 4 - Origin and Development of Tantra
3 (of 21)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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There are various derivative meanings of the word
Tantra. According to M.M. H.P.Sastri, "The word Tantra
means shortening abbreviation, that is, reducing into
something like algebric forms of mantras or formulas that
would otherwise run to scores of syllables"? According to
Prof. S.N.Das Gupta, the word has been traced to the roots
'tan' ( to spread), 'tattri' or 'tantri' ( to explain).虏
Tan is the original form of Tantri and the meaning
'explaining' is got by narrowing the sense of spreading.
Thus the original connotation of the term used is any
scientific or systematic discussion on any particular
subject. 3
Isanasivagurudeva Misra has interpreted it in his
Isanasivagurudeva-paddhati as the sastra that expounds the
six catagories of Savism, for example, Pasu, pasa, pati,
Sakti, vicara, Kriyacarya. He derives the word from the
root tatri 'to understand'
4 According to the manuscript Pingalamata dated
1174 A.D. found in Durbar Library of Nepal 5, Agama is that
by which objects around are known and tantra is what spreads
and saves. The term agama is also explained as that class
of tantra which is addressed to Parvati by Siva whereas
Nigama refers to works spoken by Parvati to Siva. The words
are supposed to be formed by the initial letters of agata,
gata and mata on the one hand and Nirgata, girisa and Mata
7 on the other.
