Linga-purana and the Tantra Sastra

Linga-purana and the Tantra Sastra [liṅgapurāṇam tantraśāstrañca] / By Shri V. V. Paranjape, M. A. ; Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Poona / 354-364

[According to the writer the ten chapters of the Linga-Purana (Viz. Uttara-Kh. 19-25; 51-53) contain the tantric matter. He has here discussed this tantric matter and has shown similarities between this portion of the Linga-Purana and the corresponding matter of the Sarada-tilaka, a famous work on the Tantricism. The original Linga-Purana is said to consist of 11,000 slokas, but the present text of the Purana contains about 9,000 slokas. So it is just possible that under the tantric influence some non-tantric material was deleted and a portion containing tantric elements was inserted. Moreover, all the topics of the Uttara-Kh. of the Purana are not mentioned in its Anukramani Adhyaya. The text of the Linga Purana developed gradually, and in the course of this development the above mentioned portions acquired tantric character. The Sarada-tilaka consists of twenty-five Patalas or chapters, in which rules of Diksa, Mudra, Nyasa and tantric worship are given. Similar is the subject-matter of the ten chapters of the Linga-Purana. The Linga-Purana prescribes the concentration on God Siva in the orb of the sun. This mode of Siva-worship is quite tantric. These ten chapters of the Lingapurana are full of such tantric elements. The tantricism originated in about the 3rd or the 4th century A. D. The Tantras recognise the authorities of the Agamas and not of the Vedas. The Puranas, however, mostly propound the Vedic religion and the duties of the four Varnas and Asramas. The inclusion of the tantric elements in the Puranas pre-

July, 1964] lingapuranam tantrasastram ca supposes the influence and popularity of the Tantras. So the date of these chapters of the Linga-Purana must be about the 8th or the 9th century A. D., when the Puranas could not ignore the Tantras.] 355 bharatiyanam sakalapramanamurdhanyabhutam pramanam tavat srutih | srutimula- katvadeva ca smrtinamapi paramam pramanyamangikurvanti bharatiyah | tadvadeva purananyapi pramanabhutani bharatiyanam santiti sarvaviditamevasti | nityanam naimittikanam kamyanam va karmanam samkalpaprasamgena 'srutismrtipuranokta phalapraptyartham ' iti vakyaprayogah bharatiyanam puranesu pramanyabuddhim spastayatyeva | puranavanmayasya anitarasadharanam mahattvam karyam ca 'itihasapuranabhyam vedam samupabrmhayediti vacanena spastataram pratiyate | , tadidam srutiriva smrtiriva ca pramanabhutam puranavanmayam vedadisvapi ullikhitam samupalabhyata iti vicarya purananam kaladrstyapi pracinatvam sadhayitum sakyate | 'puranam ' iti ekavacananirdesah atharvavede, satapathabrahmane, gopathabrahmane, sankhayana- srautasutre gautamasutre ca samupalabhyate | suparicitasya brhadaranyakopanisadi vidya- manasya "mahato bhutasya nihsvasitametadyad rgvedo yajurvedah samavedo'tharvangi- rasa itihasah puranam " ityadivacanasya vicaramatrena vaidikanamaryanam manasi vidyamana puranavisayini pramanyabuddhih suspastam pratiyata eva | a- pastambadharmasutre upalabhyamanena " 'punahsarge bijartha bhavanti ' iti bhavisyatpurane " iti vacanena spastataya pratiyate yat apastambadharmasutrasya pranayanasamaye 'puranam ' iti kascana vanmayaprakarah samesam jananam drdhaparicita asit iti | yadyevam na syat tada bhavisyapuranam ' iti vyaghatatmakam sabdam katham va prayujyat dharmasutrakarah | na kevalam "puranani " iti bahuvacananirdesameva upalabhamahe naikesu purana- granthesu, apitu astadasa purananyeva pariganitani santi tatra tatra puranesu | lingapuranasya purvardhe 39 tame adhyaye 61-63 tamesu slokesu samullikhitani santi astadasapuranani - itihasapuranani bhidyante kalagauravat | brahmam padmam vaisnavam ca saivam bhagavatam tatha || 61 ||

3.56 puranam - PURANA bhavisyam naradiyam ca markandeyamatah param | [Vol. VI., No. 2 agneyam brahmavaivartam laingam varahameva ca || 62|| vamanakhyam tatah kurmam matsyam garudameva ca | skandam tatha ca brahmandam tesam bhedah prakathyate || 63|| purananamesam mahapuranani upapuranani iti vibhagadarsakam vacanam bhagavate mahapurana eva prathamam adhigacchanti vimarsakah | vividhesu puranesu upalabhya- mananamastadasapurananam samjnakramadiparyalocane tavat vayupuranam varjayitva aikamatyamiva pratibhati samesam | kanicit puranani caturtham puranam vayu- puranamiti samullikhanti | anyani ca sivapuranameva caturthatvena svikurvanti | lingapuranam tu ekadasasamkhyakam puranamitivisaye samesam puranagranthanamaika- matyameva daridrsyate | matsyadipuranesviva lingapurane'pi evam upavarnitam yat brahmana viracitam satakotigranthatmakamekameva mahapuranam pragasit, gacchata kalena vyaso maharsirdvaparayuge samksipya tanmahapuranam laksacatustayaslokatmakam astadasadha bhinnamakaroditi | tesu ca puranesu ekadasa sahasraslokatmakam lingapuranam bhavati tacca ekadasam kramena ityapi suspastam tatra nirdistam bhavati | sarvesveva puranesu samullikhyamanam kotislokasamkhyatmakam brahmana viracitam puranam tavat sva- kapolakalpitameva prayah pratibhati | yato hi suksmeksikaya vicaryamane etadrsasya mahatah puranasya racana asambhavya itthameva pratibhayat sarvasyapi vicaravatah purusasya | napi ca upalabhamahe kimapi pramanametadrsasya mahattamasya grantha- syastitvasucakam etavata | vimarsakagresarah ma .ma. kane mahabhaga api svakiyam matam kotislokatmakasya puranasya kapolakalpitarupatasthapakameva nigamayanti sviye granthe | lingapurane eva nirdista ekadasasahasraralokasamkhya tavat mudrite linga- purane upalabhyate na veti vicaryamane sa sahasratrayena nyuna ityeva sloka-

July, 1964] lingapuranam tantrasastram ca 357 lingapuranasya purvardhe sloka vartante | uttarardhe'pi ca 55 parigananayam krtayam suspastam bhavati | yato hi mudritasya 108 adhyayesu kevalam 5813 adhyayesu kevalam 2215 slokah santi | ahatya ca bhavanti slokah 8028 parimitah | lingapurane ullikhita 11 sahasram iti samkhya, pratyaksam mudrite pustake upalabhyamana slokasamkhya ca 8028 iti bhedah katham va ghateta iti vicare kriyamane evamritya parikalpaniyam bhavati yat purvam tavat 11000 slokatmakam eva lingapuranamasit | gacchata kalena puranagatah kecana amsa anupayukta iti matva nihsaritah syuh | avasyakasca kecana adhyayah (tantramargapara iva ) nutanataya tatra svikrtah syuh iti | vikhyatah puranavimarsa kagresarah pra . hajara mahabhago'pi sviye granthe pracinaih jimutavaha- nadibhih nibandhakaraih lingapuranaduddhrtesu satadhikesu padyardhesu ekamapi padyardham mudrite lingapurane nopalabhyata itimam vipratipattim nirakartumuparivarnitaya disa kasyacana bhagasya apasaranam kasyacana nutanasya vibhagasya samavesanam nirdisati iti madiyam niskarsam dradhayatyeva | upari prasthapitasya nyunadhikabhavasya samarthakam anyadapi pramanam granthantargata- meva upalabhyate | yato hi lingapuranasya dvitiye adhyaye ya tavad atra anukramanika samgrathita tatra uttarardhagatah naikopi visayah samavistah | kinca anukramanikadhyaye yo va kramah nirdistah tadvisaye aha lingapuranasya tikakarah 'uktakathanamanupurvya abhavat tatha kathanam prayasah samksepat nanupurvyena na vistarena ' iti | anena tikakrtah spastikaranena ayamamsastu suspastam pratiyate yat mudrite lingapurane asti kramabhedah kathanam samksepavistarau ca kathayata iti | sampurnasya puranasya kalavadharanam tu duhsakameva bhavati | yatah purananam idanimupalabhyamananam grathanam anekaih varsasatakaireva paripurnataya gacchati | tatra ca tattatkalanurupanam visayanam nutananam samavesah tatkalanupayuktanam ca nihsaranam iti prakriya satatam pravartata eva | 13

358 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 pro . vimtaranitjmahasayena mahabharatasya kalanirnayaprasangena yaduktam, "That the date of each Section, nay, sometimes of each single verse in Mahabharata must be determined separately" tat sampurnataya lingapuranasya visaye'pi vaktum sakyate | anayaiva disa lingapuranasya uttarardhe 19 tah 25 paryantam saptasu adhyayesu 51 tah 53 paryantam adhyayatrisveveti ahatya dasasu adhyayesu samavesitanam visayanam svarupam paryalocya sati sambhave tesamadhyayanam racanakalanirdharanamapi kartavyamasti prabandhe'smin | nirdiste adhyayadasake samavisto visayah kadacit sa syat sivapujarupah anyada bhavet gurusisyalaksanavivecanatmakah, athava syat diksavidhisadrsah sarvatha tantrasastranusaryeva iti yah ko'pi nirdharayitum saknuyat | tannirdharanosa- yuktam tantrasastragatavisayaparicayameva purvam sampadayitum prayatamahe | " tantrasastrasya svarupaparicayakah santi naike granthah | tesu sarada- tilakakhyo granthastu visesatah prasiddhah pramanabhutasca tanmarganusarinamiti tasya granthasya pancavimsatipatalesu samgrhitanam visayanam svalpam namagrahamatram paricayam lingapuranantargatanam visayanam tantrikatvaparijnanarthamatyavasyakamiti hetoreva karayami prathame patalapatke tavat srstikrama, matrkasvarupam, mudra, diksavidhi bhusuddhi, mantropadesaprakarana, padadhvasuddhi nyasam ca nirupayati, • granthakrt | tadanantaram ca saptadasabhih patalaih ganapatih, visnuh, durga, sivah ityadinam devatanam bijamantrasahitan mahamantranupadisya mantrasiddheh atyavasyakam purascaranam, upasyadevatayah mandalavahanapurvakam pujanam, avaranadevatanam, anga- devatanam sthapanapujanadi varnayitva siddhamantrasya santike, paustike, abhi- carike ca karmani viniyogam pratipadayati granthakarah | urvarite pataladvaye vividhanam devatanam pujarthamavasyakanam yantranam svarupam vivicya padmasanadinam abhyasena kundalini jagrtyadikam yogamargam pratipadayan granthakara upasamharati • sviyam grantham | lingapuranasyottarardhe 19 tame adhyaye ya sivapujopadista sa sampurnataya tantramargameva anusarati | yatah tatra ardhanarisvarah sivah, caturmukhah, astabahuh,

July, 1964] lingapuranam tantrasastram ca 359 dvadasaksasca dhyeyah suryamandala iti upadistam | tatraiva ca sivasya saktinam varnanam krtva avaranadevatanam navagraharupanam pujadikamapi vihitamasti | rgveda- kalamarabhya vaidikanamaryanam paricite'pi suryopasane, suryamandale sivadhyanam tu tantrikanameva kevalam paricitam iti avasyam manasi karaniyam | vaidika- vanmaye na kutrapi etadrsi upasanopalabhyate | pratyuta mantrasastre tavat etadrsah upadesah bahutra upalabhyate- yatha - "citradimurti hrdaye suryabimbe 'thava nale | - upacarairyathasakti yaja॑statsiddhimasnute || isana siva gurudevapaddhatau || 1-26-21 || tavata ca ayam sivapuja- anena vacanena tantrasastranusarena ekasya eva devataya dhyanam vividhesu murtyadisu padarthesu kartum sakyata iti suspastameva | prakarah tantrasastranusariniti niscapracam vaktum sakyam | vimsatitame adhyaye tavat guroh sisyasya ca svarupam varnitam bhavati lingapurane | kadacit vedadhyapakasya guroh vedadhyayanapravrttasya ca sisyasya laksanam nirupayitum pravrttah syat lingapuranakara iti bhramah syat kasyapi | param suksmeksikaya paryalocyamane guruvarnane ayamatra prakrto guruh tantrasastroktanam mantranamupadesta evamabhimata iti nirnetum susakam | yato hi gurorvisesanesu 'samayesu krtaspadam ' ityapi eka visesanam bhavati | tatra samayasabdah bahuvacane prayuktah vividhan agaman mantraniva laksayati iti suspastameva | | asyaivadhyayasya cante bhage upanivesitah sarvo'pi visayah tantra- sastrantargata eva | tatasca upakrame nibaddham gurulaksanam madhye kriyamanam sisyalaksanam ca tantrasastranusaryeva bhavati iti nirnetum susakam | tantrasastrasya paricayabhave sampadakasya samanyavyutpattya puranagranthamudranam kartum pravrttasya ka va duhsthitirbhavati katham ca yatra tatra pramadah sambhavanti ityasya nidarsanatvena sardham slokamatra udaharami |

360 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 sadardhasuddhirvihita jnanayogena yoginam || ( linga u . 20, 44 ) 'bhauvanam ca padam caiva varnakhyam matramuttamam || ( linga u . 20, 46 ) kaladhvaram mahabhaga tattvakhyam sarvasammatam || ( linga u . 20, 47 ) udahrtesu trisu padyardhesu asuddhitrayam bhavati | tacca sodhayitum tantra- sastrantargatam sadadhvasuddhivivecanameva drastavyam bhavet sadadhvapratipadanaparasloka ittham vartate | uktam kaladhva tattvadhva bhuvanadhveti ca trayam | varnadhva ca padadhva ca mantradhvetyaparam trayam || - ( saradatilaka 5 - 78 ) sisyasya katimarabhya mastakaparyantam yo dehabhagah sa pancakalatmakah, pancavimsatitattvatmakah dvipancasadvarnatmakah pancamahabhutatmako va bhavati iti parikalpya tasya sarirasya suddhistatra vihita ca mantrasastre tena ca granthagatasya asuddhitrayasya sodhanam evam bhavisyati | 1 . sadardhasuddhih = padadhvasuddhih 2 . matram = mantram 3 . kaladhvaram = kaladhvanam anena tantrasastraduddhrtena vacanena sarvesamapi idam suspastam syat yat lingapuranakarah tantrasastroktam sadadhvasodhanamevatrabhipraiti iti | asyaiva adhyayasya carame tattvadhvavivecanatmake bhage tantrasastrasya aparicayavasat tika- katuh pramadah suspastam pratito bhavati | padam varnakhyakam vipra buddhindriya vikalpanam | (lin u . 20, 49 ) atraha tikakrt 'vipra sanatkumara buddhindriyavikalpanam jnanendriyapancakam varnakhyakam tatsamjnakam bhavati | ' vastutastu atra padam varnakhyakam ityanena amsena padadhvasvarupam vivrtam iti svikartavyam | yatah 'varna samghah padadhva syat ' iti spastikaranam tasyopalabhyate saradatilake ( 5-519 ) | agre tu buddhindriyavikalpanam |

July, 1964] lingapuranam tantrasastram ca karmendriyani matram tu mano buddhiratah param | 361 ahamkaramathavyaktam kaladhvaramiti smrtam | (linga u . 20, 50 ) anena padyena tattvadhvasvarupam vivrtamiti mantavyam | tattvadhvasuddhau vividhani matani tattvasamkhyavisaye bhavanti | tatra samkhyanusarinim tattvasamkhyamudaharati saradatilake yatha-- caturvimsatitattvani maitrani prakrteh punah | panca bhutani tanmatra indriyani manastatha | ( 5-80 ). garyo buddhih pradhanam ca maitraniti vidurbudhah || ( 5-87 ). evam ca lingapurane'pi buddhindriya vikalpanam iti panca buddhindriyani ; panca karmendri- yani ; matra ityanenaiva panca mahabhutani panca tanmatrani ca nirdistani santi | taduttaram manah, buddhih, ahamkarah, prakrtih iti taccatustayam nirdistamityevamahatya samkhyanusarini caturvimsati tattvani atra vartante | tadanusaram catra tattvadhvana- mityeva pathena bhajyam na tu kaladhvaramiti | etavata krtena vivaranena linga- puranasya 20 tamo'dhyayah tantrasastranusari eveti visayah suspastam siddho bhavati | 21 tame adhyaye punah diksavidhih sanga upavarnito bhavati | sa ca diksa na yajnasambandhini apitu tantrasastrokta eva | diksaya angabhuta sivapuja ca avaranadevatasahitasyaiva sivasya tantrasastro ke astadalapadmarupe mandala eva vidhiyate | tathaiva diksayah samaptau diksangabhutam brahmarandhrabhedanadi yaduktam tadapi tantrasastrasyaiva susamgatam bhavati | 22 tame adhyaye nirupito'sti snanavidhih | smrtyadigranthesu acarakandadisu upavarnitah smartah snanavidhih atropadistat tantrikat snanavidheh sutaram bhidyata iti tatratyanam vidhinamavalokanamatrena yasya kasyapi sphutam pratiyate | tathahi lingapurane snanangabhutam suryapujanam pratipadya tatra suryopasane gayatrimantrasyante 'namah suryaya khakholkaya namah ' iti mantrasesah yojaniya ityapi upadistamasti | ayam mantrasesah tantragrantham varjayitva na kutrapi upalabhyate | tathaiva tatra pratipaditah sadangabhyasah tantrika eva tatratyanam mantranam tantrasastroktatvadeva | snanavidhyanantaram upadista samdhyopastirapi

362 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 tantriki eva | yato hi tatropavarnita arghyapatravisuddhih tadartham ca viniyojyah bijamantrah sarve tantresu upalabhyante na smrtyadisu acaragranthesu va | samdhyo- pasanaya anantaramupadisyamana suryapuja avaranadevatanam, angadevatanam ca sannihitatvat mudradinam copanyasat tantrikyeveti niscapracam sthapayitum saknumah | 23 tame adhyaye svatantryena pratipadita sivapujapi tantriki eva | yatah pujagrhapravesottaram pranayame sosanam dahanam plavanam ca tatropadistam | ayamamsah tantrasastroktah eva bhavati | kinca upasanayam avaranadevatanam, angadevatanam ca upadesah tantrikatvasthapanartham suryapujayah paryapta iti avasyam mantavyam | 24 tame adhyaye purvadhyayagatasya sivapunanasyaiva gadyarupena vistarah sampadito'sti | tatratyam vakyamatramapi pathitam granthasyasya tantrikam svarupam bodhayet | "vayavyacaturthena sasthasahitena phadantena vayusuddhih " (lingapu . 24 .9) 25 tame adhyaye homa upadisto bhavati | tatra bhavanti kanicana angani vaidikani | parantu vipulani santi tantrikanyeva | tathahi - agneh saptanam nihnanam namani, pratyekam jihvayah mantrah, agnikunde ca vagisvarya devya avahanam, tasyasca samskaravarnanam, tatraivagnau sivadevataya avahanam tasyapi ca samskaranam ullekha ityadayo visaya vaidike yajnakarmani na bhavanti api tu tantrasastrokta eva home sambhavanti | 26 tame adhyaye upavarnyamana aghoryupasana tu sarvatha tantrasastranu- sarini iti namnaiva yah kopi jnatum saknuyat | uttarardhe 51 tame adhyaye vajravahanikaya vidyayah ( mantrasya ) upadesah bhavati | visistaparimanam khadgam tantrasastroktaih mantraih abhisekadi sampadya rajne samarpaniyam | yavat nrpah tam khadgam haste dharayati tavata tasya yuddhe jaya eva sambhavet na tu parabhava ityadi varnanamasit | ayam mantrah vaidikat mantrat sarvato bhinnah bhavati | yatha gayatrimantrasyante "om phat nahi hum phat

July, 1964] lingapuranam tantrasastram ca 363 chindhi bhindhi, jahi hana hana svaha " (linga u . 51 .18 ) iti yadyojanayam krtayam vajravahanika vidya nispadyate | mantrasya pathamatrena tantrikatvam tasya sphutam bhavati | 52 tame adhyaye asya eva vajravahanikaya vidyayah ( mantrasya ) vividhah santi viniyogah savistaram pratipaditah | te ca sarve viniyogah abhicarika ityeva khyatah santi tantrasastresu | te ca yatha- vasyamakarsanam caiva vidvesanamatah param || ( linga u . 52,2 ) uccatanam stambhanam ca mohanam tadanam tatha | utsadanam tatha chedam maranam pratibandhanam || senastambhanakadini savitrya sarvamacaret | ( linga u . 52,3 ) (linga pu . u. 52, 4 ) adhyayasyorvarite bhage uccatanadikaryesu upayojyani havimsi pratipadyante | tatra kanicana havirdravyani yatha, sarsapah, kharasya asvasya ustrasya ca raktam rohibinamityadini | (linga pu . u. 52, 11-12 ) etavata uccatanadinam karmanam tathopayojyanam havisam ca paryalocanamatrena na kasyapi vipratipattih syadadhyayasyasya tantrapradhanatvavisaye | 53 tame cadhyaye santi catvarah slokah mrtyumjayamantra vidhiparah | purvapara samgatiparyalocanaya tasya mrtyumjayavidhanasyapi tantrikatvangikare na kimapi badhakam pasyamah | etavata lingapuranasya 19 tah - 25 paryantam tathaiva ca 51 tah-- 53 paryantam ahatya dasasu adhyayesu samavesitanam visayanam svarupam tavat tantrasastrapracuram iti suspastam sadhitam | ayam ca dasadhyayatmako bhagah linga- purane tasminsamaye sthanam labdhavan syat yada bharate sarvatra tantrasastrasya mahan prasarah gauravam ca asit | tadrse kale tantrasastrasya gauravaspade sthane prapte pauranikairapi evam cintitam syad yadi nama puranesu tantrikyah upasanah pratipadita na syuh gauravam purananam hiyeta jananam ca adarah

364 puranam - PURANA [Vol. VI., No. 2 puranavisaye nyunatvam gacchediti | vicintya caivam taih pauranikaih vibhago'yam tantrasastrapradhanah samnivesitah purana iti tu niscapracam vadamah | - evam tu dasadhyayatmakasyasya lingapuranabhagasya kalanirdharanamapi nati- kathinam | yato hi, tantrasastrasya udayah khristabdasya trtiye caturthe satake va samjata ityangikriyamane'pi sarvavidvajjanasammate pakse puranagranthesu tantrasastrasya prarambhakale tantrikanam visayanam samavesah sarvatha asakyasambhavah | yathahi- tantrasastram agaman pramanikrtya vedadinam pramanyam nangikaroti nirasyati va ityetadrsyam sthitau varnasramadharman pratipadayitum pravrttesu puranesu katham va tantrasastrasya samavesah sambhavet | prarambhakale kadacit nyasam mudrasca angikrtavantah syuh vaidikah tantrasastrebhyah | gacchata kalena tantrasastrasya na kevalam aihalaukikah upayogah api tu paramarthiko labhah muktirapi tantrikya upasanayah phalam bhavati iti siddhante prasthapite, tantrasastrasya visistaya tattva- pranalya sthairye prapte, tantrasastrena angikrtesu ca vaidikesu mantresu tantro- pasanayam, jananam cittavarjakatam adhigatavati tasmin sastre, prayah khristabdasya astamasatabditah dasamasatabdi yavat ayam tantrapradhanah amsah purane sthanam labdhavan syat |