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Another method of classifying the Tantras is according to the deities that are extolled. This is done on the basis of the existence of five schools among the Saktas which is listed as follows. Name of the school. Eastern Southern Amnaya Purvamnaya Unmani Daksinamnaya Bhogini Deity associated. Western Pascinamnaya Kubjika Northern Uttaramnaya Kalika Upper Urdhvamnaya Mahatripurasundari Classification according to regions: Tantras are also classified according to the regions in which they were popular and according to the transportation available to

chapter 1. Introduction 21 make them available. They were classsified as -Asvakranta, Rathakranta, and as Visnukranta, they thus are the three geographical divisions of India. The Visnukrant is said to be located from the north to the eastern parts of India, the Rathakranta from the north to the western parts of India, and the remaining parts as well as the southern parts were of the Asvakranta 42. The detailed list of the sixty four tantras in each of the three categories is listed in Appendix-I. The Sammohana tantra mentions sixty four tantras belonging to the Sakta. This sixty four as the number of tantras is acceptable to the great Samkaracarya who says so in his Saundarylahari¹³. Another way of classifying the tantras is on the popular places of worship in the somewhat four parts of India as, Kasmira, Gauda, Vilasa and Kerala. Among these four, three are most popular viz. the Gauda, the Kasmira and the Kerala. The difference in them apart from the region of their origin is the differences in the Pancamakara practice. Gauda literally follows Paucamakara, and the deity is identified with the self of the sadhaka. Kerala follows Daksinacara and as such it merely contemplates on the Makaras, the deity is identified with the self of the worshipper. 42 Woodroffe John, opcit. P.165 43 Samkaracarya, Sri Sankara-Granthavali (Saundaryalahiri); Madras (rep.)-1981. P.132 66 catausastya tantrai hi sakalam api..." V.31 44 Woodroffe John, Op cit. P.28, 57.

chapter 1. Introduction 22 22 Kasmira, is a mixture of the above mentioned two extremes. Here instead of the literal application or merely the contemplation on the pancamakaras, substitutes are used, and as above the deity is immersed into the self of the sadhaka. It is observed from the Brhad-gautamiya-tantra, the tantracaras from different regions had different degrees of reputation. Accordingly, those from the west were the best, those from the south of the middle variety and those from the Gauda and Kamarupa inferior while those from Kalinga the worst.