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Tantra : Ecstasy Through Rituals / 287
experience is not real. It is illusory. As against this, dualism holds that there are two basic realities underlying the universe, one representing the material, the other representing the spiritual. According to the Tantra view, the world is many so long as the sadhaka is ignorant; but it becomes one when the sadhaka becomes a siddha by a complete unification with the ishtadevata.
One special characteristic feature of tantric sadhana is that there are ways and means in it available to aspirants of all dispositions, tendencies, and abilities. For the lowest type of aspirants there are crude and preliminary forms of sadhana, while increasingly subtle, intelligent and advanced procedures of sadhana are also available, which are meant for the superior aspirants. Such catholicity and flexibility of sadhana was natural for the Tantra since it was meant for all castes and, unlike the vedas, also for women. It is said, for instance, in the Gautamiyatantra (chpt. I.)
a auffarga TITOI Gr 72 11 Thus, all were allowed to read the Tantra works, recite the mantras and perform worship (puja).
Tantric sadhana consists of two types of practices. First, there are the general practices which are followed by students of all schools of Tantra, such as, the Shaiva, Shakta, Saura, Ganapatya, and so on. They usually include the following: -
1. Japa-Reciting a mantra received from a guru at the time of
initiation or diksha. 2. Purascharana-Reciting the mantra a milion times or more. 3. Homa or Yajoya-Offering sacrifice to the fire God. 4. Tapa-Austerities like fasting, giving up one meal, foregoing
certain items of food, etc. 5. Puja-Image worship. 6. Bhutashuddhi---Purification of the body and its parts. 7. Nyasa-Imagining oneness of the deity with different parts of the
body. 8. Sandhya-A special form of worship and prayer without using an
image, flowers, food, or other materials. 9. Yantra-Using diagrams for concentration. 10. Mudra-Facial expressions and arrangements of hands and fingers. 11. Asana-Postures for sitting for prayer or meditation. 12. Pranayama-Techniques of controlling the breath in order to
control the mind.
आसनस्थ तम 3717H7e An तब हो सके आश्वस्त जम
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