Tantra: Its Mystic and Scientific Basis

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In quest of identity and destiny man discovered philosophy and religion. In search of realization of philosophical truth and religious summum bunum of life Lord Siva expounded scientific and mystic tradition known as Tantra. Tantra forms the esoteric basis of all religion and provides sound philosophical foundation of spirituality. This book presents an indepth analysis and reflection of the root concepts of Tantra such as Kundalini, Mantra and Yantra. Tantra provides an esoteric and physiological significance of Pañcamakara Sadhana. Tantra believes that poison that kills a man when scientifically cultured by physician it becomes the elixir of life. Sex when sublimated, it opens the door for salvation. Tantra is a happy and harmonious blending of enjoyment (Bhoga) and salvation (Yoga). It is neither a dogma nor lifeless rituals. It is an intuitional science. The Canonical literature of Tantra is written in Twilight language (Sandhya Bhasa). Its apparent meaning is quite different from the real meaning. Only those who get initiated by a proper Guru in Tantra Sadhana understands the mystic significance of different symbols and esoteric practices. This book provides a deeper insight into the scientific and mystic significance of Kundalini, Mantra and Yantra which are the main constituents of Tantra. This book presents a scholarly analysis and evaluation of Tantra and explains both its mystic and scientific basis.

Prof. Lalan Prasad Singh spent about two decades as a mendicant in search of truth and salvation. During this period he went through the rigours of Tantra Sadhana. He came to a conclusion that Tantra is neither a lifeless ritual nor a religious dogma. It is an intuitional science which rids the practitioner from the snares of false subjectivity and takes him to the state of spiritual sublimity and divine effulgence. After going through test and turmoil of life of mendicant he returned back to active academic life. In January 1996 he retired as a Professor of Philosophy from Magadh University, Bodh Gaya and in February of the same year be became Senior Fellow of Indian Council of Philosophical Research, Government of India. In 2000 A.D. Professor Singh was awarded Fellowship of Indian Institute of Advance Studies, Shimla. He bacame a Visiting Research Professor in 2004 at the Catholic University of America, Washington D.C. He was also awarded Indo-French Cultural Fellowship in 1994. During his sojourn at Paris, he delivered series of lectures on Tantra at the Department of Philosophy, Soubourn University IV, Paris (France). He also addressed the students and staff members of Department of Philosophy of Nihon and Toyo University, Tokyo in 2006. He presented many papers at the National and International Seminars and Symposia such as World Philosophical Congress 1975, International Congress of Orientalists, Mexico City 1976, First Sanskrit Symposia, Mexico City, World Sanskrit Congress, Lieden, Holland. Prof. Singh is a distinguished Professor of Philosophy and a Social Activist. Currently he is a Visiting Fellow at Department of Boddhist Studies, University of Delhi.

In quest of identity and destiny man discovered philosophy and religion. In search of realization of philosophical truth and religious summun bunum of life Lord Siva expounded scientific and mystic tradition known as Tantra. Tantra forms the esoteric basis of all religion and provides sound philosophical foundation of spirituality. This book presents an indepth analysis and reflection of the root concepts of Tantra such as Kundalini, Mantra and Yantra. Tantra provides an esoteric and physiological significance of Pañcamakära Sádhand. Tantra believes that poison that kills a man when scientifically cultured by physician it becomes the elixir of life. Sex when sublimated, it opens the door for salvation. Tantra is a happy and harmonious blending of enjoyment (Bhoga) and salvation (Yoga). It is neither a dogma nor lifeless rituals. It is an intuitional science. The Canonical literature of Tantra is written in Twilight language (Sandhya Bhasi). Its apparent meaning is quite different from the real meaning. Only those who get initiated by a proper Guru in Tantra Sadhana understands the mystic significance of different symbols and esoteric practices. This book provides a deeper insight into the scientific and mystic significance of Kundalini, Mantra and Yantra which are the main constituents of Tantra. This book presents a scholarly analysis and evaluation of Tantra and explains both its mystic and scientific basis.

I feel great pleasure in presenting the second edition of my book before the reader in general and world of academia in particular. I would like to express my sincere thanks and deep gratitude to Dr. Karan Singh for writing the foreword of my book. Dr. Karan Singh needs no introduction. He is a larger than life size statesman, thinker and a poet. He has become a legend in his life time. I would like to put on record my love and gratitude to my wife Ahilya without her loving care I would not have achieved anything in my life. She left me alone when I needed her most. My son-in-law Prabhat left a permanent scar on my life by making a sudden and untimely pilgrimage to heavenly abode. My children Manju, Arvind, Amitabh, Ashutosh, Varsa and Anand Vijay have filled my life with their love and affection. My grand-children Janu, Shanu, Kishu and Rakshu are the greatest source of my happiness without their love my life would have become insipid and meaningless My children and grand-children have become whole of my being and existence. I put on record my sincere thanks to my friend, philosopher and guide Mr. U.P Singh. I express my sincere thanks and deep gratitude to my best friends and well wishers Shri K.M. Singh, Member National Disaster Management Authority; Dr. Vidya Nand Singh, Founder and First Chairman, First Liberty Bank, Washington D.C., Philonthropists Shri Adyanand Singh and his wife Mrs. Pratima Singh of U.S.A. for their constant help and co-operation in my life. My thanks are due to Shri S.K. Singh, I.P.S. I.G, C.R.P.F. and Shri Kumar Sanjay, I.R.S. Income Tax Commissioner My thank is due to Mr. Sanjeev Kant Soni, Vice Chairman, Bank of America, and his loving wife Shalu for their constant help and loving care. I express my gratitude and thanks to the authority of National Museum, New Delhi, specially Shri R.R.S. Chauhan, Dr. Sanjib Kumar Singh, Shri J.C. Grover, Shri S.M. Pathak, and Shri J.E. Dawson for their invaluable help by providing some rare photoprints for this book. I want to express my gratitude and homage to Late Naurang Rai, the Founder of Concept Publishing Company and his wife Late Smt. Kamla Devi. Naurang Rai was a man of great commitment and dynamism. He lived his life on his own terms. I am thankful to Shri Ashok Kumar Mittal, the able and the visionary son of Naurang Rai, for undertaking the Publication of Second Edition of this book.

Philosophy in India has never been considered a purely theoretical exercise. The very word Darsana implies seeing or experiencing. Ultimately, all philosophy in India has been judged by the yardstick of spiritual realization rather than in terms of neat intellectual syllogisms or a barren rationalism. The entire thrust of philosophical and mystical literature in India has been towards providing the seeker after truth with a direct, intuitive and definitive contact with the Reality that pervades all existence. As Samkara says, not all the rules of grammar and prosody will help one to cross the dark barrier of death, nor all the fasts and pilgrimages in the world ensure that overwhelming contact with the Divine from which, as the Rgveda has it. words fall back along with the mind, unable to comprehend.

The Indian tradition has a vast treasure of spiritual literature based upon the practice and realization of countless generations of sages and seers stretching back unbroken over many millennia to the very dawn of our civilization. In this great heritage. the Tantra tradition represents a particularly brilliant and evocative strand. Based as it is upon psycho-physical endeavour aimed at expanding human consciousness so that it can comprehend vibrant realms hitherto entirely beyond its ambit, the Tantra represents a powerful and impressive corpus of knowledge to which not sufficient attention has been paid by students of Indian philosophy. Despite the pioneering work done by Sir John Woodroffe, the whole science of Tantra remains a subject of general ignorance or, at best, misconception.

In the present age when theoretical philosophy is rapidly losing such appeal as it had over the minds of men. Tantra represents a vigorous and virile approach to suprarational experience which should evoke widespread interest in India and abroad. Based as it is upon the twin Siva Sakti concept, the union of which alone can bring about spiritual transformation, the Tantra lays special emphasis upon a system of carefully disciplined and deeply meaningful practice directed towards arousing the 'Kundalini'. the mysterious 'serpent power', which represents and symbolizes the dynamic aspect of cosmic becoming. Whether one practices Tantra or not, a knowledge of its principles and application is essential for a full understanding of the rich and varied Indian spiritual tradition.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages