Book Title: Comparative and Critical Study of Mantrashastra
Author(s): Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri, K V Abhayankar
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
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TANTRIK SADHANA: PSYCHOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
67
naturally question why then such things are permitted in the secret worship of the Tantrikas. He would find the answer in the foregoing portion hereof dealing with Panchatattva. Tantrik Hatha Yoga lays down methods for bodily cleanliness, recommends moderation in food, sexual continence and physical exercise. Periodical fasts are enjoined and during certain worship 'Havishyānnam' (consisting of fruit, vegetable and rice) is prescribed. There are injunctions, though less strict, even for a householder. There are also rules for regulating his sexual life. The aim of preliminary Sadhanā is to secure purity of body and mind by restraining the natural appetites, controlling the senses and all excessive selfishness which transgresses the bounds of Dharma.
The mind is never for a moment unoccupied. The worldly objects continually seek to influence it. “The object therefore of Sadhana is firstly to take the attention away from undesirable objects and then to place a desirable object in their stead. For the mind must feed on something. The object is the Ishtadevatā. When a Sadhaka fully, sincerely and deeply contemplates and worships his Ishtadevată his mind is formed into a Vritti in the form of the Devata. As the latter is all Purity, the mind which contemplates it, is during, and to the depth of, such contemplation pure. By prolonged and repeated worship the mind becomes naturally pure and of itself tends to reject all impure notions. *** Things are not impure. It is the impure mind which makes them so. He learns to see that everything and act are manifestations of the Divine. He who realises Consciousness in all objects no longer has desire therefor. In this way a good Bhāva, as it is called, is attained which ripens into Devatābhāva. This is the principle on which all Sadhana as well as what is called specifically Mantrayoga, is based."
The next principle to be noted is that the objects used to fix in the mind the thought of the Devatā are images, pictures, emblems or Yantras. All these are not meant merely for instruction or for visualising the Devatā in the mind, but for actual worship as soon as they are duly consecrated by Prānapratişthā ceremony. To the superficial persons invocation (Avāhana) of deity and its dismissal (Visarjana) appear absurd. "That which in fact moves is the mind of the Sadhaka in which, if pure, Spirit manifests Itself.” * * * When the Sādhaka's mind fully realises its presence in the Image, the latter as the manifestation
