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Review Article International Ayurvedic Medical Journal ISSN:2320 5091

TANTRA AND YOGA Mini KV1, H H Awasthi2 1PhD Scholar, 2Prof & Head, Dept of Rachana Sharir, Faculty of , IMS BHU, , Uttar Pradesh,

ABSTRACT Yoga teaches us to identify the various factors that influence our thoughts and feelings and to transcend the obstacles to our evolution arising from ignorance, intolerance, at- tachment to our animal , and selfishness. By refining our thoughts and feelings by means of these Tantra Yoga practices, we learn to create peace, harmony, and order within ourselves. Tantra Yoga thus promotes a one-pointedness and centeredness that help us to free the con- sciousness from limitations. Tantra Yoga offers practical tools for reprogramming the mind and our desires. By means of physical and cleaning, breathing exercises (), contem- plation, visualization (of and deities), repetition of a (mantra ), Tantra Yoga helps to unfold our divine nature. In or Laya Yoga, a large set of techniques is used to concentrate all life force in the Sushumna and raise the coiled Kundalini energy through all six towards the seventh . In this way, the divine mother , in the form of Kundalini, can find union with her beloved, the supreme , who resides in eternal bliss at the top of the skull. Thus one can move beyond the elements and achieve the non-dual consciousness that brings liberation from the ever-changing world of illusion. Keywords: ,Dosha,Srotas,Grahini, IBS

INTRODUCTION Veda and Tantra are part of the same tras, such as Sat Nam, meaning "truth is my greater Yoga tradition that has continued in identity." The goal is to build physical vitali- India since the most ancient times. The ty and increase consciousness. [2]Tantric names and forms have naturally changed yoga is the Vedic internalized; a wor- over time but the basic principles and prac- ship of the inner fire of the kundalini with tices have remained the same. Any differ- Pranayama, Mantra and . The ences between Vedic and Tantric teachings worship of Shiva also maintains many Vedic are within this same greater tradition. All forms, using the Vedic fire, Vedic serious Yoga students can benefit by Vedic and a Vedic communion with nature. Shaiva and Tantric practices and by the are famous for their sacred fires, with philosophy that is the essence of both.[ 1] which they worship with Vedic Mantras, An uplifting blend of spiritual and physical anointing their bodies with its ashes. The practices, Kundalini Yoga incorporates Rudram, the most famous to Shiva, movement, dynamic breathing tech- which is found in the Yajur-Veda, makes niques, meditation, and the chanting of man- Mini Kv & Hh Awasthi: Tantra Yoga And Kundalini Yoga Shiva’s identity with the Vedic sacrifice obstacles to our evolution arising from igno- very clear. rance, intolerance, attachment to our animal Tantra Yoga: Tantra Yoga is a holistic ap- nature, and selfishness. By refining our proach to the study of the universal from the thoughts and feelings by means of these point of of the individual: the study of Tantra Yoga practices, we learn to create the macrocosm through the study of the mi- peace, harmony, and order within ourselves. crocosm. Tantra Yoga draws on all the sci- Tantra Yoga thus promotes a one- ences - astronomy, astrology, numerology, pointedness and centeredness that help us to physiognomy, physics, chemistry, alchemy, free the consciousness from limita- Ayurveda (the traditional medicine of India), tions.Tantra Yoga asserts that desires are psychology, mathematics, geometry, and so natural and that as long as we are embodied, on - to provide a practical means of realizing we will have them. Our sense organs serve the highest ideals of philosophy in daily life. as windows through which desires enter. Instead of separating and categorizing the The constant presence of desire arouses a different areas of human knowledge, Tantra yearning and love for the desired object. Yoga draws them together. Tantra Yoga Most desires center on the physical body studies the tree of life itself instead of limit- and its comforts. People become slaves to ing itself to any single branch of the tree. their instincts, which constitute the lower This tree is a microcosm, a great organiza- part of the personality and fall prey to agita- tion of diverse elements linked together by a tion, loneliness, anxiety, dissatisfaction, self- unifying law () that is inherent in ishness and misery. Tantra Yoga offers prac- their very nature. Tantra Yoga seeks to un- tical tools for reprogramming the mind and derstand this law. our desires. By means of physical and ritual Aims of Tantra Yoga: The aim of Tantra cleaning, breathing exercises (pranayama), Yoga is to expand awareness in all states of contemplation, visualization (of yantras and consciousness, whether waking state, dream deities), repetition of a mantra (mantra japa), state or sleep state. To accomplish this we Tantra Yoga helps to unfold our divine na- need a kind of "deprogramming" and "re- ture [3] programming" of our human computer. Our THE CHAKRAS AND THE SPIRITUAL birth in a particular place and time gives us HEART: Most Tantric Yoga approaches our primary programming, influenced by emphasize the 7 chakras, with the highest heredity and environment. If we are content self-realization occurring with the opening with the results and live our lives without of the crown Chakra or 1000 petal lotus of too many problems, then we will see no the head. However, the Yoga of knowledge need for change. But when we experience and many ancient teachings like great difficulties in life or begin to seek and the emphasizes the heart something beyond our limited "program" instead, as in this Upanishad statement. then we need a way to alter it. Tantra Yoga “As far as space extends, so far is provides the methodology and the tools for this space within the heart. Placed in it are this work. Tantra Yoga teaches us to identify both Heaven and Earth, in it are both Fire the various factors that influence our and Wind (Agni and ) both sun and thoughts and feelings and to transcend the moon ( and Chandra), both lightning www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 9; September- 2015 Mini Kv & Hh Awasthi: Tantra Yoga And Kundalini Yoga and the stars, whatever is here and whatever (great vehicle) has is not here, all of that is placed within the prevailed, including China and Japan. Tan- heart.”[4 The Yoga III.33 similarly tric Buddhism has much in common with regards the origin of the mind or Chitta to be as a whole. In fact, it appears to in the heart. “Through meditation on the have more in common with Hinduism than it heart, comes knowledge of the Chitta.” does with the Buddhist traditions The spiritual heart is not the same as the of south East Asia. Tantric Buddhism is heart Chakra, which is called in characterized by ritual worship, devotion to , though it does have a close connec- forms of the Gods and , Mantra tion with it. The spiritual heart is not simply Yoga, and an emphasis on Yoga techniques, a place on the spine or an energy center in which are seldom found in the southern the . It is the core of awareness Buddhism of Sri lanka, Burma and Thailand, that is both the basis of the casual body and but which are fundamental to Hinduism. the supreme self beyond all manifestation. It Ayurvedic medicine and Vedic astrology are contains all the Chakras and yet is beyond part of the Buddhist tradition, particularly them. We can identify the spiritual heart the Tibetan.[6]Every one of the centers that with the Sushumna or Spinal Nadi itself. are called Chakras corresponds to an area of Ascending the Sushumna is also a process of the body, certain behavioral characteristics opening the spiritual heart. The Kundalini and a stage of spiritual growth. Chakras rep- Shakti is not just a movement up the Su- resent specific psychophysical energies that shumna but an expansion of the spiritual are activated one by one through the breath heart. Sushumna in itself, an expansion of along with the flow of the elements the spiritual heart. The Sushuman in itself is throughout daily life. Aroused by the prac- experienced as space or the void. One need tices of Tantra Yoga, the dormant spiritual not actually move out of the Sushumna into Kundalini energy can be made to leave the the different Chakras but can remain in it, first Chakra and pierce the Chakras above, going directly to the crown Chakra and the causing various spiritual experiences to oc- spiritual heart. The movement of Kundalini cur. Each of the seven Chakras represents a fire up the spine is complemented by a de- definite set of desires that correspond to a scending flow of nectar, Amrit, Soma or particular element (up to the fifth Chakra). grace, while an expansion occurs at the level While desires should not be cultivated, they of the heart as the enfoldment of a solar should be fulfilled if they are found to be force. The different ways how these forces really present instead of artificial. Otherwise move is important for particular Yoga prac- one will be inevitably drawn back to them. tices, even though ultimately, as part of the The understanding of the seven Chakras of- same process of self- realization, they dis- fers a way to balance ones desires and lead a solve into the one and their details are for- more happy and spiritual life along personal gotten.[5] destiny.In Kundalini Yoga or Laya Yoga, a BUDDHISM AND TANTRA: Buddhism large set of techniques is used to concentrate has its own tradition of Tantra which has all life force in the Sushumna Nadi and raise been preserved mainly in , but can be the coiled Kundalini energy through all six found to some extent in all the lands where Chakras towards the seventh Chakra. In this www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 9; September- 2015 Mini Kv & Hh Awasthi: Tantra Yoga And Kundalini Yoga way, the divine mother Shakti, in the form in the universe. Hence all things can be ap- of Kundalini, can find union with her be- proached and communed with as if they loved, the supreme Shiva, who resides in were conscious, because in truth they are. eternal bliss at the top of the skull. Thus one As part of consciousness each thing in the can move beyond the elements and achieve universe, including ideas, can be communed the non-dual consciousness that brings liber- with and spoken to as if to another person. ation from the ever-changing world of illu- Thus we should address all aspects of life- sion (). [7] including not only plants and animals but PIERCING OF KUNDALINI OR SER- inanimate nature and even our own emo- PENT POWER: According to Yoga sci- tions- as forms of the Gods and Goddesses ence, Kundalini (Serpent Power) is lying in or as divine powers and presences. Ultimate- a dormant condition in the first ly we must discover that all aspects of the Chakra which is situated in the base of the universe are parts of our own nature- which spinal column at the lower end of the Spinal is not merely human, but the nature of trans- cord (Sushumna).If this Latent Bioenergy cendent awareness. The Tantra is the teach- Kundalini is activated by Yogic practices; it ing, which represents the reality we are leaves Muladhara and pierces upwards to the seeking to realize. [9] 2nd Swadhisthana Chakra. Kundalini further REFERENCES travels upwards through the spinal cord (su- 1. Inner Tantric oga, Working with the shumna) by piercing the remaining 4 Chak- Universal Shakti-secrets of man- ras one by one and ultimately enters the last tras,deities and meditation, By- David Chakra. [8] Frawley CONCLUSION 2. www.yogajournel.com Tantric practices are timed according to 3. www.santansociety.org the rules of symbolism 4. VIII.3 based on Hindu astrology occurs in many 5. Tantric Yoga & the Wisdom Goddesses, Tantric teachings, Tantric methods- includ- By- Dr. David Frawley ing , Mantars and Gems- are also 6. Inner Tantric Yoga, Working with the used for balancing planetary influences as Universal Shakti-secrets of Mantras, dei- part of astrology, Hindu astrology includes ties and meditation, By- David Frawley palmistry and other forms of divination, 7. www.santansociety.org many of which came to Europe along with 8. Kundalini Yoga, A Brief Study of Sir the Gypsies, who originated in India. These John Woodroff’s “The Serpent Power”, are also part of Tantric science which seeks By- M.P. Pandit to unlock the underlying laws of life Tantra 9. Tantric Yoga & the Wisdom Goddesses, aims at a personal relationship between one By- Dr. David Frawley . selves & cosmic reality which is to directly CORRESPONDING AUTHOR experience truth in our daily lives. Tantra Dr. Mini K V teaches that consciousness is the sole reality Email: [email protected]

www.iamj.in IAMJ: Volume 3; Issue 9; September- 2015