Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

TANTRAS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE

Tenoktang sattvatang tantram Yaj jnattva muktibhag bhavet Yatra strishidraddsanang Sangskdaro vaishnavah smritah.

Some Agamas are called Vaidik (Vaidika Agama) and some non-Vaidik (Avaidika). The Ktirma Purana (XVI. 1) mentions as belonging to the latter, Kapala, Lakula, Vama, Bhairava, Parva, Pashchima, Pancharatra, Pashupata and many others. PdAshupata again is said to be both Vaidika and Avaidika such as Lakula. Karma Purana (Uttarabhaga Ch. 38) says “ By Me was first composed, for the attainment of liberation,Shrauta (Vaidika) Pashupata which is excellent, subtle, and secret, the essence of Veda (Vedasara). The learned devoted to Veda should meditate on Shiva Pashupati. This is Pashupata Yoga to be practised by seekers of liberation. By Me also have been spoken Pashupata, Soma, Lakula and Bhairava opposed to Veda. (Vedavadaviruddhani). These should not be practised. They are outside Veda.” Sanatkumara Samhita says :—

Shrautashrautavibhedent dvividhastu shivagamah

Shrutisdramayah shrautah sah punardvividho matah

Svatantra itarashcheti svatantro dashadha pura

Tathashtadashadhaé pashchat siddhdanta iti giyate

Itarah shrutisérastu shatekoti-pravistarah,

(See also Vayu Samhita Ch. 28).

[Shaivagama is of two kinds, Shrauta and Ashrauta. Shrauta is Shrutisaramaya and of two kinds, Svatantra and Itara. Svatantra is first of ten kinds and then Siddhanta of eighteen kinds. (This is the Shaivasiddhanta Agama with 28 Mila Agamas and 207 Upagamas. It is Shuddhadvaita because in it there is no Visheshana). Itara is Shrutisara with numerous varieties.] Into this mass of sects Ido not attempt to here enter, except in a general way. My subject is the doctrine and ritual of the Shaktas, There are said to be Shaiva, Vaishnava, Mayavada, and Shakta Upanishads favouring one or another doctrine, 19