Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra

Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab

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as Abhisheka; Vaidik and Tantrik initiation (Upanayana and Diksha ); Vaidik and Tantrik Gayatri; the Vaidik Om, the so-called "Tantrik Bijas such as Hring; Vaidik Guru and Deshika Guru and so forth. This dualism may be found carried into other matters as well such as medicine, law, writing. So whilst the Vaidik Ayurveda employed vegetable drugs, the Tantrikas " used metallic substances. "This indicates that there must have been two sources of religion one of which (possibly in some respects the older) incorporated parts of, and in time largely superseded, the other." Some of the Avaidika cults must have in course of time adopted certain Vaidik rites such as Homa; the Vaidikas in their turn taking up some of the Avaidika practices. It is not possible to sketch here the development of Tantras through all the stages and compare all the salient features thereof with those of the Vedas. For details we would refer the readers to Appendix II to "Shakti and Shakta." It is shown in the said appendix what was the counterpart of the Tantrik details and rituals in the Vedas. In the Yajnas, Vaidik people principally worshipped the female deity named Sarasvati who is the same as Vāk or Vagdevi and who became a lioness and went over to the Devtas on their undertaking that › offerings should be made to her before they were made to Agni. For the purpose of attaining eternal bliss they worshipped Rātridevī. Rātri is substantially the same as, but in form different from Vägdevi; but they are sometimes worshipped as one and the same. Ratri Sūkta describes her as black. It calls Rātridevī by the name of Durgā. Brihad-devatā (II. 79) mentions that Aditi, Vāk, Sarasvati and Durgā are one and the same. Taking these ideas with that of Sama-Vidhāna Brahmana we have almost the complete form of Devi who is called at the present day by the name of Kali. Another devi whose worship is very popular at the present day is Durga, who has a lion for her carrier. We have mantioned how Durga is identified with Vāk and how Vāk is identified with lion and this explains how Durgā has a lion to carry her. Shiva Purāna cited above says from Durga emanated the Tantrik ten Mahavidyās. The worship of Ratri is to be performed at night
INTRODUCTION