Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

TANTRA SHASTRA AND VEDA

ning or end. He is attributeless and above the highest. He is Sachchidananda” (I. 6-7. And see the Dhyana and Pancharatnastotra in Mahanirvana Tantra ITI. 50, 59-63). Brahman is Sachchidénanda, eternal (Nitya) changeless (Nirvikara) partless (Nishkala) untouched by Maya (Nirmala), attributeless, (Nirguna) formless (Arfipa), imperishable (Akshara), all spreading like space (Vyomasannibha), self-illuminating (Svayangjyotih) Reality (Tattva), which is beyond mind and speech and is to be approached through spiritual feeling alone. (Bhavanagamya,)(Kularnava I. 6-8 ; IIT. 92, 93; [X. 7). Mah4nirvana (ITI. 50, 59-63, 67-68, 74 IIT. 12). In His aspect as the Lord (Ishvara) of all, He is the all-Knower (Sarvajna) Lord of all: whose Body is pure Sattva (Shuddhasattvamaya), the Soul of the universe (Vishvatma) (Mah4nirvana I. 61, ITI. 68). Such definitions simply re-affirm the teaching of Veda. Brahman is That which pervades without limit the universe (Prapancnasara XXIX Mahanirvana III. 33-35) as oil the sesamum seed (Sharada Tilaka I. Shaktanandatarangini I. Pranatoshini 13). This Brahman has twofold aspect as Parabrahma (Nirguna, Nishkala) and Shabdabrahman (Saguna, Sakala). Sammohana, a highly interesting Tantra, says (Ch. D that Kubjika is of twofold aspect namely Nishkala when She is Chandra-vaktra, and Sakala called Paramukha. So too is Guhy4 KAli who as the first is Ekavaktra mahapashupatishi advaita-bhavasampanna and as_ the second Dashavaktra. So the Kularnava says Shabdabrahmaparambrahmabhedena Brahmano dvaividhyam uktam. (Khanda V. Ullasa 1). The same Tantra says that Sadashiva is without the bonds (of Maya) and Jiva is with them (Pashabaddho bhavejjivah pashamuktah sadashivah IX 42) upon which the author of the Pranatoshini citing this passage says “thus the identity of Jiva and Shiva is shown (iti Shivajivayoraikyam uktam). The Shakta Tantra is thus Advaitavada: for it proclaims that Paramatma and Jivatma are one. So it affirms the “ grand 47