Chapter Sixteen
Tantra- from being a branch that comprised of all art forms now is deluded as a means for sexual gratification for many who are mired.
Pic: By John W Ker
In this chapter on healing, Tantra (let us call it various forms of art to draw energy from the celestial world to use them for the benefit of all human kind and not for particular reasons or persons only), the root word for tantra being ‘Tanu” which means “to elaborate’. I have tried to address the fact that tantra is Mystical powers used to change or utilize the already available natural energy centers and their resources for the benefit of all humankind and not for personal gratifications. Tantra also means ‘weaving together’.
So I write about all 64 forms of arts that were addressed as Tantra, subdivided into two main sects of Tantra, one very Hindu, mythological and mystical and the other being Buddhist. The former being orthodox and the latter being heterodox, the main types of Tantra are “Dialogue between Shiva and Shakti aspect of creation” where in the Aagamas are Shiva’s telling Shakti how he has manifested and what he used for the manifestation... Where as the Nigamas, being the replies that Shakti gave from time to time, and the question Shakti asked Shiva during that exchange and finally the Yaamalas are all the rituals that human beings developed over ages.
But before I do that let me put this important affirmation here:
“Do not be convinced by anything, anyone or any knowledge, unless you have carefully examined these in an unbiased way, yet be as loving as you can, to all that you come across.”
I would like to categorically state here, that as has been misconstrued by many in the west as well as in the east, Tantra does not mean or portray “Use of sexual act as the supreme most of exchange of energy in healing practices or yoga." Of course, it is one aspect of creation that has been deftly handled and would be used always.
Here is a list of the 64 tantras that have been earmarked by Shivaite tradition of South India, and they include almost all mystical powers that are prevalent. The ones that are not included in these are called Siddhis, which are 8 in number. There are two types of Tantra traditions. One is orthodox and the other is heterodox.
Orthodox is pretty much Hindu, and heterodox is Buddhist. Yes the orthodox was divided into three Agama, Nigama and Yaamala. The Agama is where Shiva is telling Shakthi about the creative mystical powers, and the Nigama is where Shakti is replying or questioning Shiva about the Tantras. Yaamalas are normal human being created rituals, etc. The root word for Tantra is “Tanu” in Sanskrit which means “To Elaborate.” It is a word, which has layers after layers of meaning. As we apply that to daily life the main principles of tantra really focus on this: of this dimension there is no life as we perceive life as, that life is like “calling a comet a person.”
Acharya has described the four dimensions of creation as Bhu-loka (meaning earth or physical plane), Bhuva-Loka (Meaning astral or subtle bodies’ plane), Swa-loka (Transcendental plane) and Turiya. (Meaning the fourth dimension where time and space become one factor and have no division). He goes on to describe about all other planes of consciousness too, but here we are coming back to Tantras vide this verse of Soundarya Lahiri:
Chatuh-shahtya Tantraihi Sakalam Ati Sandhaaya Bhuvanam
Stithastat-tat- Siddhi Prasava, Paratantraihi Pashupatihi
Punastvan-nirbandhaad-Akhila Purushaarthaika, Ghatana
Swatantram tey Tantram Kshititalam-Avaateetarat-Idam
Meaning: Pashupati (Shiva) at first remained satisfied after ‘Deluding’ the world, by giving out the sixty-four Tantras, which expound practices conferring only one or another of the various psychic powers and worldly fulfillments. Afterwards, on Thy (Mother Nature) special insistence, Shiva revealed Thy own Tantra (called Soundarya lahiri) to the world. Independent of all others and capable of conferring all the Purushaarthaas—Dharma (Duty), Artha (Wealth), Kaama (Desires and cause and effect) and Moksha (Liberation from the cycles of birth and death) on the votaries, by itself.
This verse has been the subject of very elaborate and conflicting commentaries by lakshmidhaara and other commentators in time. They have raised issues regarding the value and validity of the majority of the religious literature known as the Tantras. The names of the sixty-four tantras and their nature are briefly touched upon by Lakshmidhaara.
The purpose of all Tantras is, according to him, attainment of psychic powers, and most of them include rites of the Kapaalikas and Digambaras, which are cruel and immoral in nature. They are called “Veda baahya” not included in vedic tradition. This opinion, however, is not accepted by another great authority on tantras, Bhaaskaraaraaya. According to lakshmidhaara, Shiva had ‘deluded’ the world by giving out the 64 Tantras. ‘Deluded’ here, means only that he gave through them the means for short lived worldly fulfillments, which could only divert a man from the true end of human life, namely knowing the Self or Moksha.
There is a modern view differing from that of old commentators on the meaning of this verse. The sixty-four tantras mentioned here are not the 64 Vaamaachaara tantra (Left hand path), beginning with Mahaamaaya (magic) and Sambhaara (Destructive) Tantras but are known as sixty-four Kalaas or arts, which are meant to give human beings the joys of the senses.
They all can be called tantras, as that word signifies only “means for attainting an end.” It is also to be noted that what is signified by expression “Idam tantram”, (This tantra) in this verse can be meaningful only if it refers to Soundaryalahiri as a whole and not to the mantra given in that verse. A Mantra itself cannot be a text.
The 64 tantras or forms of Art are as follows: (Tantra Yoga is actually also Addressed as Kundalini Yoga)
1. Orthography
2. Caligraphy
3. Arithmetic
4. The Hindu Vedas
5. A Class of sacred books comprising the whole body of Hindu theology (Puranas)
6. Grammar
7. Jurisprudence
8. Astronomy including Astrology*
9. Ethics
10. Yoga shastra
11. Mantra Shastra
12. Science of prognosticating by Omens and Augury(Saguna Shastra)
13. Architecture and sculpture
14. Science of healing
15. Physiognomy
16. Heroic History
(Itihasas)
17. Epic Poetry
18. Science of Rhetoric (Alankaara Shastra..Ornamentation)
19. Eloquence
20. Dramatic science
21. Art of Dancing
22. Directions for Modulation of sounds
23. Art of playing the lute or stringed instruments
24. Art of playing the wind instruments
25. Art of beating the tambourine
26. Art of beating the cymbals
27. Archery
28. Art of an assayer in Gold
29. Art of driving chariots
30. The knowledge of the Marks on an elephant
31. The art of knowing about the marks of a Horse
32. Art of examining and choosing gemstones.
33. Art of knowing different kinds of Soil
34. Millitary Art, Tactics
35. The Art of wresting, gymnastics and athletics
36. Art of calling or summoning by enchantment
37. Exorcism
38. Exciting hatred between parties by magical spells
39. Erotics...(Perhaps this is the Only one prevalent in west)
40. Libidinous fascinations occasioned by enchantment
41. Art of Seduction by magic
42. Alchemy (See?)
43. The knowledge of the conditions of the celestial choristers
44. The Art of knowing the languages of brute creatures
45. The Art of restoring pleasure to a sorrowful mind
46. The knowledge of Pulse
47. Charms, incantations against poison
48. Information respecting anything lost by astronomical calculations
49. Information respecting anything concealed in the Palms of the hands or feet
50. Art of Entering into thin Air and becoming invisible
(Adi Sankara’s famous Art... He left that way, in the Himalayas, after he waved at his disciples from a distance and they were all freezing, where as he was not and finally he asked them to stop at a point and walked through a water fall and from the other side waved at them and simply vanished into thin air.)
(This is what hanuman a.k.a Hulk did it Ramayana, so did Angada, plus Meghanatha is a name for Indrajit who could walk on the clouds...a Metaphor) Indrajit, because one who walks over clouds must be able to ‘conquer’ lightening.
52. The Power of leaving one’s body and entering another lifeless body (Both Adi Sankara and Jesus Christ had this one, they did it efficiently and also made the dead bodies vanish...)
53. The Power of making One’s self invisible
parakaya pravesha
54. Art of Conjuring and juggling
55. Art of performing wonders in heaven and earth
56. Restraining the action of fire
57. Art of counteracting the yielding of water so as to be able to walk on its surface
58. Art of restraining the Power of the wind
59. Art of Fascinating of the eyes
60. The Art of Fascinating the mouth
61. The Art of restraining the Semen Virile
62. Art of preventing the discovery of things concealed
63. Art of nullifying the power of sword or any other weapon
64. The Power of stationing the Soul at pleasure, in any of the three states of awakening, sleeping or dreaming states
(Where in this is the mention of ‘Sexual contact’ or exchange being the only form of tantra? Tell me.)
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