Kamashastra Discourse (Life in Ancient India)
by Nidheesh Kannan B. | 2018 | 52,434 words
This page relates 鈥楾antric Sexuality鈥� of the study on Kamashastra representing the discipline of Kama (i.e., 鈥榮ensual pleasure鈥�). The Kamasutra of Vatsyayana from the 4th century is one of the most authoratitive Sanskrit texts belonging this genre. This study focusses on the vision of life of ancient India reflected in Kamashastra.
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3. T膩ntric Sexuality
The T膩ntric tradition of India witnesses its prominence in the level of application. Symbols are one of the basic teachings of T膩ntrism and those are largely related with sex concept. There are also some symbols which are highly significant in the T膩ntric 蝉腻诲丑补苍腻. Among them, symbol of five 惭补办腻谤补蝉 is the basic one and they play a vital role in the degeneration of the T膩ntric tradition and system. 痴腻尘腻肠腻谤补, Dak峁峁嚹乧膩ra etc. are some of the sub-sects of T膩ntrism. The five 惭补办腻谤补蝉 will come under the 痴腻尘腻肠腻谤补. It is known as so because there are five items which start with the syllable 鈥淢鈥� that is why it is recognized as five M鈥檚. They are Madya (wine), 惭腻峁僺补 (meat), Matsya (fish), 惭耻诲谤腻 (grain) and Maithuna (Copulation)[1]. It is not proposed here to have a detailed analysis of the five 惭补办腻谤补蝉, except the last one Maithuna. According to Tantra, Maithuna indicates the union of male and female; the opposite poles required to be brought together for the purpose of creation by nature.
鈥淭antra has presented the subtle meaning of creation, that is, spiritual creation for which two opposite poles are required. These two poles are 艢颈惫补 and 艢补办迟颈. 艢颈惫补 resides at the 蝉补丑补蝉谤腻谤补 (brain) while 艢补办迟颈 at the 惭奴濒腻诲丑腻谤补肠补办谤补 (pelvic region). In between these two, there are six centres of energy around the spinal cord. The energy which resides at the 惭奴濒腻诲丑腻谤补肠补办谤补 awakens and penetrates all the centres and units with 艢颈惫补 at the Sahasr膩racakra. This is the real T膩ntric Maithuna or copulation which occurs in the 厂腻诲丑补办补. So, it is not a gross Maithuna or copulation taking place between two physical bodies but it is a spiritual communion with 艢颈惫补 and 艢补办迟颈 which gives birth or transforms the whole personality of 厂腻诲丑补办补鈥� (1998: 201).
The sexuality, sexual concept and that of sexual symbols in T膩ntric system are purposefully used mainly for supernatural gains. They are represented as part of ritualism. In a material as well as 碍腻尘补艣腻蝉迟谤补 view T膩ntric mode of sexuality is totally inappropriate. T膩ntric system is entirely different and wide ranged subject. But an elaborate discussion on the topic is not attempted here.
Footnotes and references:
[1]:
For a detailed reading on the five 惭补办腻谤补蝉, see Pushpendra Kumar, 1998:196-203