Traverses on Less Trodden Path of Indian Philosophy and Religion

Author(s): Yajneshwar S Shastri
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

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Traverses on less trodden path...
Advaita. This Sakti is not material like Sankhya philosophy but pure Consciousness. It is not praksti of the Sankhyas, which is unconscious and real. Even great Advaita stalwart Sonkara treats Sakti of the Tantra as Supreme Brahman.
It is very important to note that this Tantric literature lays stress on the dynamic nature of the creative power, i.e., Sakti bere as Brahman itself. Though the conception of the goddess Tripura corresponds to that Impersonal Brahman of the Upanişads this Tatra literature, emphasised the dynamic aspect of the godhead-the activity of panifestation of a deity in a form of Divine energy. The Saktas bave transformed the Impersonal Absolute Brahman of the Upanişads into a personal divinity. that is the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient Sakti or a Divine Mother-the source, support and end of the entire empirical Uoiverse 89 According to this Tantra the supreme transcendental Reality (Brahman) which is really nameless and formless conceived through religious imagination becomes goddess in Saguna form. The Nirguna Brahman of the Upanisads comes down step by step and assumes the form of a goddess, and becomes an object of worship in the form of Universal Mother. All the paraphernalia for worship are then offered to her. This concept of the highest as Mother is a special feature of Sakta Tantra and it has its own significance. Mothe, always nurishes a more charitable attitude forgives the faults of her children and offers them an opportunity to reform their ways. This attitude of forgiveness and compassion, love and pity are more natural to Mother than to fatber. Thus. supreme Brahman in the personified form beconies affectionate Mother, worshipped in the name of Maha Tripurasundari. She is also known by various other names, such as Srividya, Sri Lalità Pañcaduśākşari, şodasi, Kamešvari and so forth. She is conceived as the most high, bigher than Sarasvati, Laksmi. higher than Brahma, Vişnu, Isvara and even Sadasiva. To Worsbid of Universal Mother in the Saguna form with ceremonial pomp is only
support for meditation on the highest, which is strictly beyond thought and mind. The Mother is really the bighest Brahman in empiric dress.
68 (a) Lalità Trisati with śānkarabhāşya p. 169, 178, etc.,
(6) Saundaryalahari, 35, 98. 69. (a) Lalita Trisati, p. 235,
(b) Saundaryalahari-7 p. 41.
(c) Ibid—I, Lakşmidharā, p. 2. 70. (a Saundarpalahari-22-29, p. 36-42.
(b) Trisati p. 198.