Introduction
The term Tantra has earned a bad reputation and is often looked upon with a negative connotation. This Blog will help correct the misinterpretation. It will help a layman understand the science of Tantra.
Setting the context
The human body is a mystery & a miracle. Only a divine source could have created this complex being. Artificial Intelligence can never come close.
A few questions begs for answers. How do we have child prodigies? What powered the rare intellect of Einstein & Ramanuja? How do Rishis travel in their subtle bodies? How were enlightened souls like Ramkrishna, Shirdi Sai, Neem Karoli Baba capable of reading your mind? They performed what most thought were miracles. Why is it that most humans have a limited audio frequency hearing ability? Do we have senses and perceptions which are hidden or not activated?
Swami Satyananda Saraswati founded the Bihar School of Yoga. He believes that most humans use only a tenth of their brain faculty. The vast majority of our brain especially the frontal part is inactive.
Modern science divides the dormant part of the brain into ten parts, Kundalini Yoga divides it into six. A genius is one who has awakened a few of the dormant portions of the brain. As divine energy awakens in the human body, it begins to flow upwards. It explodes in the crown of the head, the Sahasra. The dormant or inactive areas of the brain start blossoming like flowers. Man then becomes a demi God. The science of Tantra can help you achieve this.
Divinity is present in our body
The human body is a sublime edifice that houses the spark of the divine power – Para Shakti. After creating life in the womb, She descends into a small cavity at the base of the spine. She is in a dormant state there. Tantra is a science that helps you to awaken this dormant energy. It enables you to channel the energy upwards thru the Sushumna (A psychic channel within the spine) to the Sahasra. There, She merges with Lord Shiva. This is the ultimate goal of every yogi. This should be the purpose of life of every human being.
What is Tantra
Sanskrit literature can be classified under six orthodox heads and four secular heads.
- Orthodox Heads – Shruti, Smriti, Itihasa, Purana, Agama, Darshana.
- Secular Heads – Subhashita, Kavya, Nataka, Alankara
The Agamas are theological treatise and practical manuals of divine worship. The Agamas include Tantras, Mantras & Yantras. The Agamas are divided into three sections – Vaishnavism, Shaivism & Saktaism. Sakta Agama or Tantras glorify God as the divine Mother of the world. There are 77 Agamas and the texts are usually in the form of a dialogue between Shiva & Parvati.
Tantra is a combination of Yantra & Mantra. Yantra is a diagram (machine or symbol), Mantra is the sound that activates the energy in the Yantra. Tantra explains in great detail the knowledge about Tattva (Ultimate Truth or Brahman) and Mantra (Mystic Syllables).
Kundalini & Tantra Yoga
Kundalini Yoga is the great discovery of the Tantric tradition. It identified a dynamic potential force in the human body called the Kundalini. This dormant potential force is resting at the base of the spine. In men at the perineum, in women at the root of the uterus in the cervix. This center is called the Mooladhara. When you direct Prana into the seat of the Kundalini it awakens.
Tantra Sadhana lays emphasis on the activation of the latent power in the six Chakras. It starts from the Mooladhara and extends all the way to the Sahasra at the crown of the head.
Chakras are vortices or whirlpools of psychic energy. There are many Chakras in the human body. For the practice of Tantra & Kundalini yoga, six Chakras are under focus.
These six Chakras are connected to the higher unilluminated centers of the brain. The Sahasra at the crown of the brain is also the location of the pituitary gland. It controls each and every gland and system in the human body. The Agna Chakra is aligned with the centre of the eyebrows. It is also aligned with the midline of the brain along the spinal cord. This alignment is the location of the Pineal Gland. This is the centre for intuition and clairvoyance. Tantra & Yoga maintain the Agna Chakra is the command centre of life in the human body. Similiarly other Chakras control elements like digestion, speech, creative skills etc.
Whatever happens in spiritual life is related to awakening of the Kundalini. Samadhi, Kaivalya, Nirvana, Moksha are all the outcome of igniting the spark and awakening Para Shakti.
Meaning of the word Kundalini
Kundal means coiled. Kundalini means that which is coiled. Kunda is also a ceremonial pit. The divine energy is identified as a sleeping serpent coiled 3 ½ times in the Mooladhara. Serpent power symbolises the unconsciousness in man. The 3 coils are said to represent the three matras of Om – Past, Present, Future. Or the three Gunas, or the 3 states of consciousness – or all of these. The ½ coil represents the state of transcendence. In this state, there is neither waking, sleeping nor dreaming. It is also referred to as Turiya.
Why Awaken the Kundalini energy through Tantra
This is one of the paths to accelerate your spiritual evolution. Once divine Shakti awakens man is no longer a gross physical body. Every cell is charged with high voltage Prana. As the energy ascends, it pierces and activates the hidden switches in the Chakras. This activation opens up an explosion of energy in the unilluminated parts of the brain. This awakens physical, mental and spiritual development.
To awaken the Kundalini, the practise of Yoga is required. Additionally, the entire social structure and way of life has to be reorganized. It is like opening the gates of the temple within your body. You reach the core, the divine energy – Para Shakti or Kula Kundalini. To achieve this the body & mind need to be pure. A light Sattvic diet that takes the strain off the liver is helpful.
In the journey a practitioner will start seeing transformation. The body is charged & rejuvenated. There are changes in voice, smell, hormonal & secretions. Aging slows down. You eat less, sleep less.
How can I learn Tantra
Tantra is rare and secret doctrine – it’s called Gupt Vidya. It can’t be learnt from books. It is a long arduous journey and can only be achieved with the help of an accomplished teacher. If not done correctly it can have a serious impact. The energy when activated is so explosive that one needs to be prepared to get it.
The Kundalini energy can be awakened by a combination of the following means
- Birth – Evolved soul based on earlier life karma’s
- Mantra Sadhana
- Tapasya
- Herbs (Aushadhi)
- Raja Yoga
- Pranayama
- Kriya Yoga
- Tantric Initiation
- Shaktipath
Bhuta Shuddhi is an important Tantric rite. It means purification of the five elements that compose the body.
Yoga Nidra evolved from a Tantric practice called Anga Nyasa. Anga means main limbs or organs of the body. These include the toes, knees, hips, the back, chest, shoulder blades, and head. Nyasa means to place. In Tantra, when you sit for puja, you focus the mind on various organs of the body. You also recite the respective mantras.
The two paths of Tantra
The left handed path called Vamachara or Kaula Tantra focuses on a set of structured practices and rituals. They perform their worships using the Pancha Makharas. These include meat, fish, intoxicants, mudras (certain gestures), and sexual contact. They believe that man is still an animal (Pashu) and cannot give up everything. He has to enjoy and move forward. The concept of Bhoga and Yoga illustrate the balance between enjoying worldly pleasures and seeking spiritual liberation. Bhoga represents the enjoyment or experience of life, while Yoga signifies the union with the divine. Together, Bhoga and Yoga provide a holistic approach to life, blending material and spiritual fulfilment
The right-handed Tantrics perform these rituals only symbolically. They are called Samaya Margis. Adi Shankaracharya followed this path.
In Conclusion
Tantric knowledge was strongly prevalent in Kashmir, East India (Bengal, Assam) & Kerala. During foreign invasion the ancient texts were hidden in the Himalayas. A lot of Buddhist & Tibetan practice also involve Tantric rites.
It is interesting to note that if you draw a triangle with Kerala, Kashmir & Assam as the three vertices you will cover almost all of Bharat. Which in a way reflects that this sacred land is always protected by Para Shakti.
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