Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

CHAPTER IT

WHAT ARE THE TANTRAS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE ?

VERY common expression in English writings is “ The Tantra ;” but its use is often due to a misconception and leads to others. For what does Tantra mean ? The word denotes injunction (Vidhi), regulation (Niyama), Shastra generally or treatise. Thus Shangkara calls the Sankhya a Tantra. A secular writing may be called Tantra. For the following note I am indebted to Professor Surendranath Das Gupta. “The word ‘Tantra’ has been derived in the Kashika-Vritti (7-2-9) from the root ‘Tan’ to ‘Spread’ by the Aunddika rule Sarvadhatubhya stran, with the addition of the suffix ‘stran.’ Vachaspati, Anandagiri, and Govindananda, however, derive the word from the root ‘ Tatri’ or ‘Tantri’ in the sense of Vyutpadana, origination .or knowledge. In Ganapatha, however, ‘Tantri’ has the same meaning as ‘Tan’ ‘to Spread’ and it is probable that the former root is a modification of the latter. The meaning Vyutpadana is also probably derived by narrowing the general sense of Vistara which is the meaning of the root “Tan, ””

According to the derivation of ‘Tantra’ from Tan to spread, Tantra is that (Scripture) by which knowledge (Jnana) is spread (Tanyate, vistaryate jnanam anena iti Tantram). The suffix Tra is from the root “to save.” That knowledge is spread which saves. What is that but religious knowledge? Therefore, as here and generally used, Tantra means a particular kind of religious scripture, The

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