When we pursue happiness, it eludes you. However, when you recognise that happiness is the natural state of the soul, all you need is to eliminate all that comes between your happiness and you.
By Bindu Suraj
The Thanthra Vidya Peedhom in Kerala, perhaps India's first tantric
school, strives to revive this ancient science by freeing it from taboos
and misconceptions
Tantra shastra, an ancient and powerful science with its unique
rituals and beliefs, fell victim to the ravages of time and faded out
from most parts of India. More so because it was often looked upon as
an extension of black magic. Tantra worships Shakti (emphasizes
female power and has a history that can link it with ancient fertility
cults) and emphasises the identity of the obsolute and the phenomenal
world, which can be realized through a set of practices.
However, this ancient system survived in Kerala, perhaps the only place
where tantra is practiced and performed in a wider sense with
the aim to develop individual potential. Here, the temples are consercrated
strictly in accordance with tantra and mantra as the temple structure
is considered a replica of the human body.
It was late Sri Madhavan and some eminent tantra practitioners such
as Mangattu Kashi Vishwanath Varma, Mulanavazhi Devan Namboothri and
Chenas Parameshwaran Namboothripad who stood as pivots of this tantric
renaissance. Their urge for a systematic revival of this dying tradition
resulted in Thanthra Vidya Peedhom, the first school teaching
tantra— theory and practice—in the country, which was
founded at Guruvayur in 1972. "This school was initiated by Sri Madhavan
with the kind blessings of Kanchi Shankaracharya, Swami Jayendra Saraswati,
" informs Cheruvakad Narayanan Namboothiri, manager of the school.
Situated near Periyar river, the school follows the traditional gurukul
system of education. Besides tantra, the school provides training
in the Vedas, yantra (pictorial representation of the tantric
science), silpa (temple architecture), Jyotisa(astrology),
yoga and meditation. The students are also exposed to domestic work.
Prasad, a senior student, explains: "First year students have to do
the cleaning, second year students look after the adjacent temple of
Lord Narasimamoorthi and its administration, fourth year students serve
food and fifth year students cook for the entire faculty".
An exclusive library with many valuable and rare books caters to the
research faculties of the school. According to the principal, Brahmasree Kalpuzha
Dvivakaran Nambuthiripad : When we started this school, very few people were interested.
But now, we have to select students out of an increasing number of applicants."
Tantra has a unique tradition of guru-shishya (teacher and
student) relationship. Here, a strong bond and good understanding between
the teacher and the taught is imperative for attaining knowledge. Initiation
into mantra is its principle tool, which is practiced by the acolyte under
his guru's strict surveillance, Girish, scholar, explains: "Based on the
habits, tastes and attitude of a student, the guru gives him some mantras.
These mantras evoke immense power through repeated chanting, sensitizing
the body. Hence, without a guru, the body might react to disturbances."
This process of transmission of spiritual knowledge from teacher to student
is called guru diksha. It culminates in poorna deeksha (attaining
full knowledge) after which a student can perform the rituals. Girish
adds: "Tantra is older than the Vedas as far as the written
texts are concerned. Here everything has to be practiced and performed
to cater to the need of a man, group and society in order to lead them
to salvation, the ultimate aim of tantra shastra."
Tantra is not restricted to the priestly class. The tantra
school welcomes anybody who is interested in the science, irrespective
of class, creed or sex. "Women can also learn tantra, though none
have yet come forward to join the school. In fact, women are given prominence
in tantra since their performance is more powerful than that of
men," says Girish.
Tantra is also practiced in some temples of north India such as
Kamakhya temple in Assam, Jagannath temple in Puri and Vishwanath temple
in Varanasi. Girish says: "These are the centres where real tantric rituals
are performed once in a year for the purification of the temple and its
surroundings. But people are scared to learn tantra due to various
misconception."
However, efforts are being made in various quarters to preserve this ancient
science. The Indian government and some non-governmental institutions
are offering grants to the Vidya Peedhom in Guruvayur. But the expenses
often exceed the grants. Says its principal: "We provide free education
to all students, therefore funds have to be collected from other sources."
The school also receives donations from its devotees and patrons, and
considering the rising interest in tantra shastra, there might
still be some hope for the total revival of this much-maligned system.
