In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions

Avadhūtatanu (अवधूततनु) refers to a “body of śakti”, according to the Brahmayāmala-tantra (or Picumata), an early 7th century Śaiva text consisting of twelve-thousand verses.—Virtually all ritual begins with the instruction to enter into a state of meditative concentration, called nirācāra, and to take on a body of śakti, called the avadhūtatanu. Śiva is the nirācārapada, “the state beyond regulated conduct”, while the Goddess is avadhūtā, “the stainless/unblemished one”. The avadhūta-body (e.g., avadhūtatanu), the body of śakti, is a body of mantra engendered by the placement of mantra-syllables in a series of bodily lotuses. The process of taking on the avadhūta-body culminates in assumption of one’s inner identity as Kapālīśabhairava at the heart of a maṇḍala of goddesses, all of whom collectively comprise the Nine-Syllable Vidyā.

This avadhūtatanu (“body of pure śakti”) is formed by lotuses of the three garlands and united by the śaktitantu [i.e., “cord of power”]. This embodies the entire pantheon of deities as well as the hierarchy of ontic levels, from the earth element to paramaśiva. The avadhūtatanu taken on by the sādhaka mirrors, in part, the mantra-body of the deity as Sadāśiva; his divine form is composed of a garland of nine lotuses pierced by the cord of power, further augmented by a triad of cosmological powers—vāmā, raudrī, and jeṣṭhā. To assume the avadhūtatantu is, more specifically, to take on the mantra-body of Kapālīśabhairava, the deities of whose largely female maṇḍala pervade the lotus garlands. Strung together by the cord of śakti [i.e., śaktisūtra or śaktitanu], the lotuses of all the goddesses are also simultaneously loci of Bhairava, whose seed-syllable hūṃ appears in each, paired with the presiding Goddess.

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.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Avadhuta, Tanu.

Full-text: Avadhuta, Niracarapada, Tattvakrama, Bhairavi, Niracara.

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