Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

TANTRA SHASTRA AND VEDA

Vedas, the Agamas and Nigamas, it is now based, as are all other truly Indian Shastras on Veda. Veda, in the sense of knowledge, is ultimately Spiritual Experience, namely the Jnana which Brahman is, and in the one partless infinite ocean of Which the world, as a limited stress in consciousness, arises. So it is said of the Devi in the Commentary on the Trishati :Vedantamahavékyajanya-sakshatkdérartipabrahmavidya She is Brahmavidya in the form of immediate knowledge arising from the Vedantic Mahavakya—that is ‘Tat tvam asi” (“That thou art”) and all kindred sayings So’ham, (“ He Tam”) Brahmasmi (“‘ 1 am Brahman”) and so forth. In other words, self-knowledge is self-luminous and fundamental and the basis of all other knowledge. Owing to its transcendency it is beyond both prover and proof. It is self realized (Svanubhava). But Shruti is the source from which this knowledge arises; as Shangkara says, by removing (as also to some extent reason may do) false notions concerning it. It reveals by removing the superincumbent mass of human error. Again, Veda in a primary sense is the world as Idea in the Cosmic Mind of the creating Brahman and includes all forms of knowledge. Thus it is eternal, arising with and as the Sangsk4ras at the beginning of every creation. This is the Vedamurtibrahman. Veda in the secondary sense is the various partial revelations relating to Tattva, Brahman or God, and Dharma, morality, made at different times and places to the several Rishis which are embodied in the four Vedas, Rik, Yajus, Sama and Atharva. Veda is not co-extensive therefore with the four Vedas. But are these, even if they be regarded as the “ earliest,’ the only (to use an English term) revelations? Revelation (Akashavani) never ceases. When and wherever there is a true Rishi or Seer there is revelation. And in this sense the Tantra Shastra or Agama claims to be a revelation. The Shabdabrahmamurti is Nigamadishastramaya : it being said that Agama is the Paramatma of that Marti, the four Vedas with their Angas 43