Book Title: Sambodhi 1983 Vol 12
Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani, Nagin J Shah
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Previous | Next

Page 62
________________ TRIPURĀ TANTRA (SRI VIDYA) : ITS PHILOSOPHY AND PATH OF SĀDHANĀ * Y. S Shastri It is a wellknown fact in the history of Indian thought that liber·ation or self realisation is the highest aim of life for all the systeins of Indian Philosophy, barring the Materialist (Carvaka). Different systems in the field of philosophical heritage have shown the various paths to achieve the same goal in accordance with difference in temparament. idiosyncrasy, as well as intellectual and spiritual advancement of the people. Tantra Sastra is one of the important branches of Indian thought which truely represents, quintessence of Upanisadıc Philosophy. It is mainly practical scripture of Vedanta. It prescribes the means by which the highest aim of life is fulfilled in an easy way by all, without any discrimination of caste, creed and sex. 1 The word "Tantra' las various meanings. More than twentyfive meanings have been ascribed to this word.2 In reality this word is origin. ally derived from the root 'tan’-to extend or spread out and usually applied to Tantra system which pertains to the development of man's power, both material and spiritual. This Šāstra is also known as Agama and Nigama It is said that an Agama is so called because it proceeds from the mouth of Siva and goes to Girijā, being approved by Vasudeva and Nigama is so called because it emanates from the mouth of Girija to enter the ears of Siva, being approved by Vasudeva, 3 The word igama, which stands indifferently for the Veda and Tantra, shows its authoritative tradition. Tantra Sastra is considered as the fifth Veda+ and called śruti. Kullūkabhatta, clearly states in his commentary on Manusmrti that Sruti is of two kinds-Vaidiki and Tantriki.5 There are mainly three kinds of Ägamas namely Vaişnava, Saiva and Sākta. The Vaisnava Āgamas mainly deal with idolatry, rules of temple architecture, worship of Tulasi plant (holy basil) and lay emphasis on the path of devotion, thus suited even to the lowest intellectual capacity. Vişnu and his consoit Laksmi, are the main deities of these Āgamas. More than 108 works with various commentaries, belonging to this sect slow its popularity in olden days. Phi # A paper presented to the XXXII International Congress for Asian and North African studies, at Hamburg, F. R. G. August 1986, Sambodhı X1148

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326