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 6 - On Mandala (mystical diagram)
1 (of 20)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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CHAPTER VI
ON MANDALA
Mandala as mystical diagram. Its symbolism.
Distinctive features of mandalas in saiva
tantra.
The symbolism of the trident (trisula).
Projection of mandala into the practitioner's
body. Different techniques of outlining
mandalas in Saiva tantra. Damara the Saivite
sacrifice of mandala. The mandala of Swastika.
doors.
The mandala is a diagram that represents a
h
potent centre of psychic energy, a consecrated enclosed space from
the profane by barricades of magical figures of any "gardians" of the
The various marked spaces within the mandala represent the
heavenly or terrestrial abodes of deities, such as places, altars,
temples, citadels, figures of consecrated objects etc., and contain
their images or emblems. The mandala is generally drawn on the ground
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on plane surfaces of different things as well as directly on the
worshipper's body. Those who have got the necessary powers of
concentration frequently build up mandalas mentally.
During the inscribing of mandala the Saiva
tantrika will perform special rites and mantras are intoned in order
to fix the various parts of the diagram in a transcendental space of
