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 2 - Unity, Polarity, Multiplicity
13 (of 14)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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their fusion as the third eye or Siva, Irom which the whole multiplicity
springs. Maya is associated with time in its action or negation and
darkening of consciousness.
Duration and succession of events
obscure the knowledge of reality which otherwise would be unitary.
harma brings the individual into the realm of maya. lattvas can be classed
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as pure or impure according to their affiliation to two kinds of creation.
The first live categories represent the five powers or aspects of the
Ultimate Reality and thus the pure mode of creation. The categories
following iron maya to earth, form the impure way.
The world of multiplicity is the realm of maya.
1.e. gross, subtle and supreme
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There are three aspects or planes
through which maya manifests itself. These mayic planes correspond also
the three successive bodies that the Saivite tantrika aims to master:
physical, subtle and mystic. The inferior maya is the so-called "knot"
of visnu and is usually tantamount to the heart or, sometimes, with the
throat cakra. The intermediate aspect of maya is the principle maya.
The knot is called the cavity of maya (mayabilam) and it is conceived
asaving six attributes which are embodied by six Rudras residing in
six cavities. The knot of maya is thought to be the main way of access
towards higher existential levels, when the path of powers is followed
(Matangatantra, 1, VIII, 67-88). In lact, this is a cakra (i.e. a wheel
of power) placed about the cardiac plexus on the subtle body and the
adept must meditate and worship it. The mayaprinciple is imagined as
