Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra
by T. S. Syamkumar | 2017 | 59,416 words
This page relates ‘Expiatory Rites in Pre-Tantrasamuccaya Period (Introduction)’ of the study on Expiatory Rites in Sanskrit literature and ancient Indian religion and society, with special reference to Keralite Tantra. Further references to texts include those found in Shaivism, Vaishnavism and Shaktism as well as Dharmashastra literature. This study also investigates temple records and inscriptions of Kerala in order to demonstrate the connection between social life and expiatory rites and its evolution.
1. Expiatory Rites in Pre-Tantrasamuccaya Period (Introduction)
Tradition says that the legend Paraśurāma is the early authority of Kerala Tantra and he has entrusted the Tantric rights to Brahmins. There were no textual sources available before the period of 10th century CE. Nevertheless, it is believed that the famous Advaita philosopher Śaṅkara (CE 8th century) wrote a Tantric text Prapañcasāra related to goddess worship. Also the Tantric scriptures like Saparyā-hṛdaya, Saubhāgyavidya and Subhagodayapaddhati are attributed to Śaṅkara. The name Bhavatrāta is mentioned in Prayogamañjarī and Vāsudeva in Rahasyagopālacintāmaṇi as earlier Tantric preceptors of Kerala. Unfortunately no work has been seen in their names.
Many Tantric treatises have been composed in pre-Tantrasamuccya period. The works like Prayogamañjarī, Viṣṇu-saṃhitā, Īśānaśivagurudevapaddhati, Śaivāgamanibandhana, Mātṛsadbhāva and Puṭayūrbhāṣa come under the period. Previous to the composition of Tantrasamuccaya, most of the Tantric manuals of Kerala give emphasis to Śaiva worship, Viṣṇusaṃhitā is an exception. Hence the pre-Tantrasamuccaya phase has given importance to Śaiva mode of expiations. A brief account of the description of the expiation seen in these texts is given below: