|| Tantra: An Unexplored Science, Basic Meaning Explained. How Is It Connected To Bhagawan Shiva? ||

|| Tantra: An Unexplored Science, Basic Meaning Explained. How Is It Connected To Bhagawan Shiva? ||

In Hinduism, there are three ways to worship any Deity- 1. The satavik way- In which we show our devotion to a deity using satvik ways like ringing the bell, offering jal, prasad etc. 2. The rajasik way- In which we show our devotion by dressing up in a specific way, using fragrance, using ratnas, some yantra etc. 3. The tamasik way- In which we show our devotion by using some specific rituals, dead bodies, animal sacrifices, sex etc. It is common for people to misunderstand tantra, but it shouldn't come as a surprise because everyone possesses different qualities within them, namely Sato (purity), Rajo (activity), and Tamo (darkness). Tantra provides a pathway to worship the divine through the Tamo aspect of our nature. In essence, Tantra is a science of the mind, a form of psychological exploration that aims to expand one's perception. The term 'Tantra' originates from Sanskrit and has multiple interpretations. One explanation is that it is a play on the word 'sutra,' which means 'thread' or 'formula.' If sutras represent individual threads of thought, Tantra can be likened to a loom that weaves these threads together into a comprehensive system of thoughts. Another understanding is that Tantra combines the words 'tattva,' meaning the science of cosmic principles, and 'mantra,' referring to the science of mystical sound and vibration. In this sense, Tantra delves into the knowledge of universal principles and the use of sacred sounds for spiritual purposes. According to Hindu beliefs, at the beginning of Satyuga, Bhagawan Shiva appeared as Swacchandanatha, possessing five mouths representing his five energies: Consciousness Bliss Will Knowledge, and Action. Through these energies, Shiva revealed the Tantras, some spoken through each of his mouths and others simultaneously recited through multiple mouths. These Tantras fall into two main categories: Dualistic and Mono-Dualistic, known respectively as "Shiva Tantra" and "Rudra Tantra." When these five energies of Bhagawan Shiva unite in a way that each holds the others simultaneously, they give rise to 64 Bhairav Tantras, which are purely Monistic (Advaitic) in nature. The philosophical teachings expounded in these Tantras are referred to as the "Trika" philosophy or Kashmir Shaivism. The origins of the sacred Tantras are believed to involve teachings initially given by Bhagawan Shiva to his wife, which were then passed on to human sages like Matsendranath. It is crucial to understand that Tantra does not advocate promiscuity but rather emphasizes extreme discipline. It is viewed as a technology or method to harness the energies within the body and from the surroundings. According to Tantra, every human being with limited mental vision is spiritually ill. The true state of health is attained by transcending the constraints of time, space, and causation. The ultimate goal of Tantra is to replace the limited personality with an unlimited and permanent one, facilitating spiritual liberation and profound transformation. Indeed, the practice of Tantra is deeply rooted in the tradition of receiving Guru Diksha or initiation from a qualified spiritual teacher. As Bhagawan Shiva emphasized in the Kularnava Tantram, all the practices advocated by Tantras, such as Yoga, Dhyana (meditation), Puja (worship), Japa (chanting), and others, are considered futile without proper initiation (adikshata). Just as seeds sown on stones fail to grow into plants, similarly, the efforts of an uninitiated person in these practices may not bear fruit. It's crucial to understand that Tantra is a profound and intricate spiritual path that goes beyond the understanding of today's science. It is not synonymous with black magic or superficial spells (tona totka). Instead, it involves a deep exploration of the mind, energy, and spiritual consciousness.