By DR BHUSHAN KUMAR UPADHYAYA :
Since the time immemorial Indian seers and sages
have made an intuitive
journey to know the real
nature of truth. First, they
focused on the senses and
realised that the body is not
the final reality. On the other
hand there is consciousness
which permeates the human
body. The further inquiry into
the nature of consciousness
revealed that individual consciousness is the integral part
of the cosmic consciousness.
Tantra is one of the most
ancient methods used by
Indian seers to know the ultimate truth.The word Tantra
is derived from the Sanskrit
roots Tanoti and Trayate.
Tanoti means expanding and
Trayate means protecting.
Hence, the Tantra is a collective bulk of techniques, methods and tools which expand
human consciousness and
protect it from impurities.
The
protection leads to freedom
from duality and establishes
the human consciousness in
pure bliss and tranquillity.
Among the Tantric texts, the
Vijnana Bhairava Tantra
ranks prominently. Guru
Kiruvati of Kashmira is said
to be the author of the text.
Its tenets are based upon
Kashmira Shaivism. It dates
back to the seventh century
AD. It contains 163 Sanskrit
couplets and 112 Tantric
methods to concentrate and
meditate.
The feature of the text is
that all the 112 methods of
spiritual awakening described
are independent of one
another. Even one method is
potent to lead to the blissful
state. The text is presented in
the form of a dialogue
between Lord Shiva and
Mother Parvati. Actually the
awesome form of Lord Shiva
is called Bhairava. Bhairavi is
the power of Bhairava.
Ignorance is generated due to
separation of Shakti or
Bhairavi from Shiva or
Bhairava. They are all pervading. Human existence is
also immersed into them. But
Shakti or the divine power is
locked into the gross body.
Shakti is sitting dormant in
the Muladhara Chakra or the
base of the spine. When
Shakti is awakened through
different spiritual practices, it
rises and reaches the crown
Chakra, the supreme seat of
Lord Shiva. In between it has
to traverse through
Swadhisthana, Manipura,
Anhat, Vishuddhi and
Anjana Chakras. These
Chakras are different psychic
centres of the human body.
The union of Shakti or
Kundalini with Shiva is the
ultimate freedom or enlightenment. Different breathing
exercises are prescribed to
raise the consciousness from
the lower parts of the body to
the upper ones. The text
describes many postures or
the movements of the body
which calm down the mind
and generate a tranquil state
of the mind. There are many
Mudras or the different bodily
gestures which divert bio
energy or Prana from one
place to another. Similarly,
many Bandhas are also prescribed. These Bandhas are
different locking postures
which are used to arrest or
confine the bio energy at
some vital parts of the body
to enhance it.There are many
methods of imagination and
visualisation found in the
text.All these methods of
Tantric practices are supposed to lead to a higher state
of concentration and meditation. A meditative state of the
mind is full of relaxation ,bliss
and creativity. Most of these
techniques described in the
Vijnana Bhairava Tantra are
like the psychological and
psychotherapeutic tools
which are being used today in
the treatment of psychosomatic and stress related ailments.
(The writer is Former DG
Police & CG, Homeguards,
Maharashtra)