The Goddess Of Tantra

Author : Anway Mukhopadhyay
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 210 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2018-04-20
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9781351063524

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The Goddess in Hindu-Tantric Traditions by Anway Mukhopadhyay Pdf

The Great Goddess, in her various puranic and tantric forms, is often figured as sitting on a corpse which is identified as Shiva-as-shava (God Shiva, the consort of the Devi and an iconic representation of the Absolute without attributes, the Nirguna Brahman). Hence, most of the existing critical works and ethnographic studies on Shaktism and the tantras have focused on the theological and symbolic paraphernalia of the corpses which operate as the asanas (seats) of the Devi in her various iconographies. This book explores the figurations of the Goddess as corpse in several Hindu puranic and Shakta-tantric texts, popular practices, folk belief systems, legends and various other cultural phenomena based on this motif. It deals with a more intricate and fundamental issue than existing works on the subject: how and why is the Devi – herself - figured as a corpse in the Shakta texts, belief systems and folk practices associated with the tantras? The issues which have been raised in this book include: how does death become a complement to life within this religious epistemology? How does one learn to live with death, thereby lending new definitions and new epistemic and existential dimensions to life and death? And what is the relation between death and gender within this kind of figuration of the Goddess as death and dead body? Analysing multiple mythic narratives, hymns and scriptural texts where the Devi herself is said to take the form of the Shava (the corpse) as well as the Shakti who animates dead matter, this book focuses not only on the concept of the theological equivalence of the Shava (Shiva as corpse) and the Shakti (Energy) in tantras but also on the status of the Divine Mother as the Great Bridge between the apparently irreconcilable opposites, the mediatrix between Spirit and Matter, death and life, existence-in-stasis and existence-in-kinesis. This book makes an important contribution to the fields of Hindu Studies, Goddess Spirituality, South Asian Religions, Women and Religion, India, Studies in Shaktism and Tantra, Cross-cultural Religious Studies, Gender Studies, Postcolonial Spirituality and Ecofeminism.

Author : Sanjukta Gupta
Publisher : Motilal Banarsidass
Page : 494 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2013-01-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9788120835429

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The Cosmic Play of Power by Sanjukta Gupta Pdf

In Hindu theology, Divine Power is conceived as a divine woman-the Goddess. Sometimes she is wholly autonomous and sometimes she is the divine spouse of the creator God, Siva or Visnu. She is also held to be the evolving material source of every created phenomenon. Religious texts like Puranas and Tantras have thoroughly investigated the mysterious nature of the Cosmic Goddess. Tantra as a religious practice endeavoured to show how through ritual and Yoga one may achieve the realization of the mystery of the Supreme Goddess. Authors in Sanskrit and modern Indian languages have poured out their ecstatic devotion to the Goddess. She is close to the heart of the passionate devotee, who adores her as mother or daughter - a mortal emotional bond with the divine so peculiar to Hindus. She is also sovereign Power a little part of which reigning royalties covet to possess in order to be good rulers. AS the divine woman she is represented in all women. Therefore women should be holding a high position amongst Hindus. But the question is, do they? In spite of the obvious contrary evidence, women do succeed in carving out a very important position in Hindu religious practices by having their alternative religious rituals highly valued by Hindu women have a very complex interrelationship. The book focuses on the great cosmic Goddess and her ritual worship, Tantric theology and praxis in a wider sense, the attitude of her devotees towards her authority and the social character of the Tantric practitioners, and the position of Bhakti. It also figures out the position of women inside the Tantric and non-Tantric Hindu religious milieu. The Goddess symbolizes the supreme divine authority that activates the creation, protection and governance and necessary dissolution of the world in accordance with the ancient Indian concept of cyclical time. But She also discharges the divine sovereign privilege of punishing evil-doers and rewarding true devotees. Finally, the relevant forms of the Cosmic Goddess in this book are Sri/Tripurasundari/ Lalita; Goddess Kali and Her various emanations; and Laksmi and Her powers in the Pancaratra canonical texts.

Author : Pranab Bandyopadhyay
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 390 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2002
Category : Tantrism
ISBN : UOM:39015052173674

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The Goddess of Tantra by Pranab Bandyopadhyay Pdf

This Book Deals Mainly With Tantra Sadhana With The Help Of Illustrations Of The Important Yantras That Are Commonly Used In The Spiritual Practices By The Tantrikas.

Author : Caroline Muir
Publisher : Monkfish Book Publishing
Page : 260 pages
File Size : 51,9 Mb
Release : 2013-05-15
Category : Self-Help
ISBN : 9781939681027

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Tantra Goddess by Caroline Muir Pdf

Tantra Goddess is Caroline Muir’s memoir of her personal journey from innocent Kansas girl to skilled sexual and spiritual healer and leader. She shares the experiences that shaped her and lessons learned over a lifetime of searching for, and most often finding, love. While pioneering the now burgeoning Tantra movement in the United States and abroad, she experiences the highs and lows of the polyamorous, Tantric lifestyle, finds peace at last in a sexually monogamous relationship, and a new found sense of herself.

Author : David Frawley
Publisher : Lotus Press
Page : 260 pages
File Size : 43,5 Mb
Release : 2000-11-01
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780910261395

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Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses by David Frawley Pdf

This book provides an excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism, discussing all the major concepts and correcting many existing misconceptions.

Author : Bjarne Wernicke Olesen
Publisher : Routledge
Page : 186 pages
File Size : 50,9 Mb
Release : 2015-09-16
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9781317585220

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Goddess Traditions in Tantric Hinduism by Bjarne Wernicke Olesen Pdf

Hinduism cannot be understood without the Great Goddess and the goddess-orientated Śākta traditions. The Goddess pervades Hinduism at all levels, from aniconic village deities to high-caste pan-Hindu goddesses to esoteric, tantric goddesses. Nevertheless, the highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship have only recently begun to draw scholarly attention. This book addresses the increasing interest in the Great Goddess and the tantric traditions of India by exploring the history, doctrine and practices of the Śākta tantric traditions. The highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship form a major part of what is known as ‘Śāktism’, and is often considered one of the major branches of Hinduism next to Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism and Smārtism. Śāktism is, however, less clearly defined than the other major branches, and the book looks at the texts of the Śākta traditions that constitute the primary sources for gaining insights into the Śākta religious imaginative, ritual practices and history. It provides an historical exploration of distinctive Indian ways of imagining God as Goddess, and surveys the important origins and developments within Śākta history, practice and doctrine in its diversity. Bringing together contributions from some of the foremost scholars in the field of tantric studies, the book provides a platform for the continued research into Hindu goddesses, yoga, and tantra for those interested in understanding the religion and culture in South Asia.

Author : Loriliai Biernacki
Publisher : Oxford University Press on Demand
Page : 313 pages
File Size : 49,7 Mb
Release : 2007-10-11
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN : 9780195327823

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Renowned Goddess of Desire by Loriliai Biernacki Pdf

The role of women and ideas of gender are fundamental components of all religious traditions. This book examines the representations of women within Tantra using a case study of a selection of Hindu Tantric texts from the 15th through 18th centuries in Northeast India.

Author : Matthew Martin
Publisher : Createspace Independent Publishing Platform
Page : 188 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2016-01-01
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 1523324007

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Love Goddesses of the Tantra by Matthew Martin Pdf

This book is about spiritual tantric love. It is not a tantric sex how-to-do-it manual, though it does show new ideas and ways to experience the love relationship and the love ritual. This book does not contain any sexual images, though it does contain tantric metaphor and figurative language. This book is more about unique kinds of experience - different perspectives, attitudes, and ways of being in the love ritual. It is about different ways of loving and different kinds of lovers. Moreover, it's about understanding oneself and the other. The emphasis is mostly on increasing one's understanding of the spiritual powers and energies potentially involved in the love-sex experience, and also having an attitude of spontaneity and exploration, so that we are always in wonder and discovery in the magic of love. Yet any real learning about this whole subject, as well as any increase of one's love powers, will have to come from personal experience - from exploration and discovery. So all that this teaching can provide are ideas and suggestions to explore. This book is primarily about the powers and qualities of Goddesses - in relation to sexual love and the love ritual. Our main focus here is on four love Goddesses, their unique powers and qualities, as well as their unique attitudes and approaches in the love-sex relationship, as manifested through a woman. These goddesses can also be understood as love archetypes; each with a distinctly unique power and quality, attitude and approach. Each woman will recognize at least one of these goddesses in her self-experience, perhaps even a few, or maybe all four goddesses in varying degrees. Part Two focuses on the spiritual sacredness of each other, in love and in love-making, and how to spiritually experience one another as manifestations and expressions of the Great Divine. In this are ideas and ways to greatly enhance and spiritualize the love experience for both lovers, woman and man. The man will begin to see his woman lover as the expression of one of the Love Goddesses, or even as the Goddess Herself. He will experience the woman as the Goddess loving him, and he will be worshiping and devoting himself to Her. Likewise, the woman will begin to see her man lover as the expression of the Divine Love God. She will be the Divine Attraction and he the Divine Force. He will be the Divine loving her, and she will be the Divine loving him. Then both will come back into Union as One. Part Three focuses on the Great Goddess Shakti and her spiritual love relationship with the Great God Shiva. Tantric love, at its heights of realization, is the love play and enjoyment between Shiva and Shakti, and their eventual re-union as being really One Being. Here we find juicy love metaphors at its erotic depths. The goddesses, Kali and Maya, also come into this love play.

Author : David Kinsley
Publisher : Univ of California Press
Page : 332 pages
File Size : 49,6 Mb
Release : 2023-07-28
Category : Religion
ISBN : 0520917723

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Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine by David Kinsley Pdf

The Hindu pantheon is rich in images of the divine feminine—deities representing a wide range of symbolic, social, and meditative meanings. David Kinsley's new book documents a highly unusual group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, many of whom are strongly associated with sexuality and violence. What is one to make of a goddess who cuts her own head off, or one who prefers sex with a corpse? The Mahavidyas embody habits, attributes, or identities usually considered repulsive or socially subversive and can be viewed as "antimodels" for women. Yet it is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas seem to function as "awakeners"—symbols which help to project one's consciousness beyond the socially acceptable or predictable. Drawing on a broad range of Sanskrit and vernacular texts as well as extensive research in India, including written and oral interpretations of contemporary Hindu practitioners, Kinsley describes the unusual qualities of each of the Mahavidyas and traces the parallels between their underlying themes. Especially valuable are the many rare and fascinating images he presents—each important to grasping the significance of the goddesses. Written in an accessible, engaging style, Kinsley's book provides a comprehensive understanding of the Mahavidyas and is also an overview of Hindu tantric practice.

Author : Matthew Martin
Publisher : BRILL
Page : 308 pages
File Size : 46,7 Mb
Release : 2020-08-10
Category : Religion
ISBN : 9789004439023

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Tantra, Ritual Performance, and Politics in Nepal and Kerala by Matthew Martin Pdf

For the first time, Tantra, Ritual Performance and Politics in Nepal and Kerala offers a comparative approach to Tantric mediumship as observed in two locales: Navadurgā rituals in Bhaktapur, Nepal, and Teyyāṭṭam in North Kerala.

Author : Shambhavi L. Chopra
Publisher : SCB Distributors
Page : 200 pages
File Size : 53,5 Mb
Release : 2010-04-28
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN : 9788183281676

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Yogini by Shambhavi L. Chopra Pdf

Yogini: Unfolding the Goddess Within is a unique record of personal experiences that portray in its various fascinating episode the secrets of the magical world of Tantra. It shows how the gods and goddesses can manifest themselves within our daily lives, taking us from the mundane to the sublime and making our days and nights a dance of wonder and delight.

Author : Jeffrey S. Lidke
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 376 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2017
Category : Shaktism
ISBN : 8124608768

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The Goddess Within and Beyond the Three Cities by Jeffrey S. Lidke Pdf

Author : Lex Hixon
Publisher : Quest Books
Page : 244 pages
File Size : 41,5 Mb
Release : 1994-06-01
Category : Religion
ISBN : 083560702X

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Mother of the Universe by Lex Hixon Pdf

Those who love poetry will appreciate the wildly metaphysical, allegorical, and yet intensely honest and personal songs of the eighteenth-century poet and saint Ramprasad. These songs vividly present the mystery of the Feminine Divine, an intimate experience of the Mother, and a vast play of energy sustained by the Goddess Kali.

Author : Daniel Odier
Publisher : Simon and Schuster
Page : 128 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2016-10-14
Category : Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN : 9781620555606

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Tantric Kali by Daniel Odier Pdf

The mythology, rituals, meditations, and practices used in Tantric worship of the goddess Kali in the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism • Reveals the practices of Vamachara, known as the Left-hand Path but more accurately translated as the Path of Shakti • Includes a Kali ritual from the Nirrutara Tantra, translated here for the first time • Presents devotional chants, meditations, and mudras specific to Tantric worship of Kali According to traditions going back to pre-Vedic times, Kali sprang from the third eye of the Goddess Durga as a destructive and terrifying manifestation of feminine power sent to lay waste to the forces of evil. Throughout India to this day, Kali is worshipped as the destroyer of bondage, capable of liberating her devotee from all rules and subjugation. In Tantric Kali, Daniel Odier presents the mythology, practices, and rituals of Kali worship in the Tantric Kaula tradition within Kashmiri Shaivism. He reveals the practices of Vamachara, commonly known as the Left-hand Path but more accurately translated as the Path of Shakti. In this tradition the body itself is Kali’s temple, and it is therefore unnecessary to reject or deny the body to know union with the divine. Instead, nothing is regarded as pure or impure and there is complete freedom from rules. Focused on working directly with forbidden emotions and behaviors, this path allows the seeker to transcend obstacles to liberation through sexual union. According to the Kaula Upanishad, “In your behavior do the opposite to what the norms dictate but remain in consciousness.” This is the essence of Tantra. Kali is absolute reality: manifested as woman intoxicated by desire, she frees the tantric practitioner from all desire except union with the divine. The author includes an evocative ritual from the Nirrutara Tantra--never before translated into any Western language--containing devotions to the 64 yoginis according to Matsyendranath, founder of the Kaula path. Offering devotional chants, meditations, and mudras specific to Tantric worship of Kali, this empowering book provides practices and teachings for those on the Tantric path to liberation.

Author : Elisabeth Anne Benard
Publisher : Motilal Banarsidass Publ.
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 49,5 Mb
Release : 2010
Category : Chinnamasta (Buddhist deity)
ISBN : 8120817486

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Chinnamastā, the Aweful Buddhist and Hindu Tantric Goddess by Elisabeth Anne Benard Pdf

This is the first monograph which examines the rare Buddhist and Hindu Tantric goddess, Chinnamasta, her rituals, her names and forms (namarupa) and their symbolism by comparing and contra-sting her sadhanas (spiritual practices) in Hinduism and Buddh-ism. The entire Hindu Chinnamastatantra section from the Sakta Pramoda, the Buddhist Chinnamunda Vajra-varahisadhana and theTrikayavajrayoginstuti are translated for the first time into English. Since Chinnamasta is a rare goddess, her texts were not popularized or made fashionable according to the dictates of a particular group at a particular time. The earliest extant texts dated from the ninth and tenth centuries a time when Hindu and Buddhist Tantras were developing under common influences in the same place in India. Having such texts about Chinnamasta Chinnamunda from these centuries, one can begin to understand the mutuality of a general Tantric tradition and the exclusivity of a particular Hindu or Buddhist Tantric tradition. Hence the study not only examines Chinnamasta, but also attempts to under-stand what is a Tantric tradition.