In Hinduism

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Google Books: Manthanabhairavatantram

Ānandabindu (आनन्दबिन्दु) refers to the “drop of bliss” which is associated with Jālandhara, one of the sacred seats (pīṭha), according to the Manthānabhairavatantra, a vast sprawling work that belongs to a corpus of Tantric texts concerned with the worship of the goddess Kubjikā.—These triads [i.e., Parā, Parāparā and Aparā] delineate the encompassing body of the goddess, which is wrapped around the Supreme Energy (parakalā) in the centre represented by the seat Oḍḍiyāna. The fifth seat, Tisra, is above the Triangle in the form of a Point (bindu) that contains all the energies of the Triangle of seats [i.e., Oḍḍiyāna, Pūrṇagiri and Kāmarūpa]. The Wisdom Sūtra, which follows the Root Sūtra in chapter 26 and comments on it, explains that these five correspond to: 1) Oḍḍiyāna—Bliss (ānanda), 2) Jālandhara—Drop of Bliss (ānandabindu), 3) Pūrṇagiri—the Imperishable (akṣara), 4) Kāmarūpa—the Supreme Energy (paramā), and 5) Tisra—(pure) Energy (kalā). In order to reach the more stable grouping of six that can be related to the sixfold Krama, these five are understood to be Kula pervaded by Kaula, the sixth, which consists of Śiva and Śakti. Beyond Tisra, this is the seat called Candra or Koṅkaṇa.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Bindu, Ananda.

Full-text: Akshara, Ananda.

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