In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

1) Alaṃgrāsa (अलंग्रास) refers to “absorption”, according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—Accordingly, “Such is the Śāmbhava piercing, beyond thought, one should know it for oneself. It has been explained [i.e., gadita] through the venerable Process of Absorption (alaṃgrāsa-krama). By recollecting the Buddhist and other Siddhas, the piercing (vedha) which is devoid of thought constructs and which is directly perceptible (pratyakṣa) arises in order (to realise) the reality beyond the senses”.

2) Alaṃgrāsa (अलंग्रास) also refers to one of the Siddhas of the Tradition of the Eastern House (pūrvagṛha-āmnāya), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Google Books: The Recognition Sutras

Alaṅgrāsa (अलङ्ग्रास) refers to “total devouring”, according to Kṣemarāja’s Pratyabhijñāhṛdaya (11th century).—Haṭhapāka (“sudden digestion”) and Alaṅgrāsa (“total devouring”) are synonyms, both being technical terms of the Krama. These terms were unintentionally echoed by the great twentieth-century non-dualist Nisargadatta Maharaj, who was unfamiliar with the Tantrik literature but reached the same conclusions about the nature of reality as a result of his awakening. [...] We see similar language in the 900-year old Krama/Mahārtha text called Mahānayaprakāśa (“Illumination of the Great Way”), a primary source for the teaching on sudden digestion, which says that through haṭhapāka, the whole world seems to dissolve, because its dependence on consciousness—indeed the fact that it is nothing but [different forms of one] consciousness—is revealed.

Source: Parabhairavayoga: Practices in Parabhairavayoga – Part 2 (Śāmbhavopāya)

Alaṅgrāsa (अलङ्ग्रास) refers to “the act of bringing all to unity with the Lord”. And this alaṅgrāsa is not gradual but haṭhapāka or persistent. The great spiritual aspirant does not desist from his attitude of considering all to be one with the Great Lord. And this is the fifth act of vilāpana or dissolution. Dissolution of what? Dissolution of manifoldness and the subsequent ignorance derived from it. It is therefore the solution to saṃsāra or transmigration.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Yoga (school of philosophy)

Source: academia.edu: Meaning of haṭha in Early Haṭhayoga

Alaṅgrāsa (अलङ्ग्रास) refers to “devouring”.—In contrasting tranquility (śānti) with haṭhapāka, the commentator, Jayaratha, describes tranquility as a “process of pleasant combustion” (madhurapākakrama). When the Guru has been propitiated, the “tranquil” methods of initiation (dīkṣā-sādhana) and devotion to a religious practice (anuṣṭhāniṣṭhatā) will bring about transcendence (atyaya) at the time of death. However, haṭhapāka is a sudden and violent process that burns up all things (bhāva) in the fire of intelligence. It destroys duality and is likened by Abhinavagupta to the enjoyment (rasa) of devouring enough (alaṅgrāsa). The commentator notes that haṭhapāka is a forceful action (balātkāreṇa) that transgresses the normal order (kramavyatikramarūpa) and, as noted earlier, this connotation of haṭha is implicit in Haṭhayoga’s effect of raising the downward-moving breath (apāna) and the normally dormant Kuṇḍalinī.

context information

Yoga is originally considered a branch of Hindu philosophy (astika), but both ancient and modern Yoga combine the physical, mental and spiritual. Yoga teaches various physical techniques also known as āsanas (postures), used for various purposes (eg., meditation, contemplation, relaxation).

See also (Relevant definitions)

Starts with: Alamgrasakrama.

Full-text: Alamgrasakrama, Hathapaka, Pratyaksha, Parokshartha, Bhava, Rasa, Dikshasadhana, Balatkarena, Diksa, Nishthata, Shanti, Anushtha, Madhurapaka, Paka, Pakakrama, Nishtha, Apana, Samsmarana.

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