64 Tantras or Agamas: Tantra literature is taught by Lord Shiva to Devi. It has three divisions called Agama, Yamala and Tantra. It is also divided according to the worshipable deity and there are three division called saiva, vaisnava and sakta.
Maha-sidhi-sarasvata-tantra lists the following 64 tantras:
1) Siddhisvara, 2) Mahatantra, 3) Kalitantra, 4) Kularnava, 5) Jnanarnava, 6) Nila, 7) Fetakare, 8) Devi-agama, 9) Uttara, 10) Sri-krama, 11) Siddhi-yamala, 12) Matsya-sukta, 13) Siddha-sara, 14) Siddhi-sarasvata, 15) Varahi, 16) Yogini, 17) Ganesa-vimarsini, 18) Nitya, 19) Sivagama, 20) Camunda, 21) Mundamata, 22) Hamsamahesvara, 23) Niruttara, 24) Kula-prakasaka, 25) Kalpa, 26) Gandharvaka, 27) Kriyasara, 28) Nibandha, 29) Svatantra, 30) Sammohana, 31) Lalita, 32) Radha, 33) Malini, 34) Rudra-yamala, 35) Brhat-srikrama, 36) Gavaksa, 37) Sukumudini, 38) Visuddhesvara, 39) Malinivijaya, 40) Samayacara, 41) Bhairavi, 42) Yogini-hrdaya, 43) Bhairava, 44) Sanat Kumara, 45) Yoni, 46) Tantrantra 47) Nava-ratnesvara, 48) Kula-cudamani, 49) Kamadhenu, 50) Kumari, 51) Bhuta-damara, 52) Malini-vijaya, 53) Brahma-yamala, 54) Bhava-cudamani, 55) Visva-sara, 56) Mahatantra, 57) Mahakata, 58) Kulamrta, 59) Kuloddisa, 60) Kunjika, 61) Cintamani, 62) Yamala, 63) Tantra-devaprakasa, 64) Kama
Tantras are similar to the Vedic smrti sastras in so far as mantra, yantra and tantra are concerned (mantra = the sounds used in executing the duties; yantra = the paraphernalia needed for the duties; tantra = the method of executing the duties. These comprise the essence of duties, so in this the vaidika and tantrika systems are the same. The main difference between vaidika and tantrika sastras is in structure; vaidika sastras deal with gotra (family) whereas the tantrika sastras are open for one initiated into them by a guru.
Pancaratragamas
There are three main Aagamic schools Viz the Shaiva, Shakta and Vaishnava and each had their own Pancratras. Among the Vaishnavas the following of Sri-Sampradaya popularly known as Sri-Vaishnavas, draw a lot from the agamas. All of these Agamas comprise four topics in general.
Gnana or knowledge; kriya (service such as construction of temples, installation of deities); Karya or conduct such as the observance of daily rites, festivals; and Yoga or devotion or attention.
The common feature of all Aagamas is :-
(a) They accept the existence of a supreme being with a predominant male or female aspect.
(b) The existence of undivided souls.
(c) The reality of the objective universe.
(d) Devotion is to only means of emancipation.
Lord Shiva created 64 tantras to protect and safeguard all living things. These tantras when expanded form the Agamas. Goddess Parashakthi requested Shiva to create a simple form of worship and based on her request, the Lord compressed the essence of all the 64 tantras into one simple form and preached it to the Goddess. This is known as Sri Vidhya.
The Amnayas
contain different varieties of mantras which are being carried from one man to
another preaching about Bhakti and Gnana to achieve Moksha.
The ParamaShiva has got five heads, with their names as Sadyojatam,
Vamadevam, Aghoram, Tatpurusham and Ishanam. The five powers (Shaktis) of
Parameswara, namely, chit, ananda, itcha, gnana, and kriya, were mentioned as
the five heads. Seven crores of mantras were manifested out by these five
Shaktis/heads.
The chief of all these five Shaktis is chitshakti is situated at the top in the
name of Ishana. This Isana head in other words called "Sambhava pitha". This is
the Turiiyatiita avastha in an individual. One crore of mantras are in the control of this
pitha only., Its form is Shunya and it belongs to Akasha tatwa. This is spread
right from the Mooladhara to the BrahmarandHra and it is the Pranaswarupini.
"Paratpara linga" is situated here only.
The second one 'Anandashakti' is generally called "Para vak". This
is situated in the eastern face "Tatpurusham", This face is also called
"kamagiripiitham" . It controls two crores of mantras. This is yellow coloured, square and Bhutatwa.
Here only swayambhu linga is situated. This is mano rupa (mental plane)
The third one Gnana Sakti is called the Aghora vaktram, the
southern face of Parameswara. This is the prakriti rupini of all the fourteen
worlds. This is the sum unit (samasti) of the four antahkaranas the manas,
buddhi, chitta and ahamkara. It is the result of the acquired or accrued results
of the deeds of the previous births. This is also called the purnagiri pitham. It controls one crore of mantras. This is buddhi rupa (intellect), dhumra varna, in the form of a circle with six points
in it.and vayu tatwa. The name of the linga here is "Bana lingam". In fact this is the Parashakti's form, which can convey us to the Shiva's abode.
The fourth one kriya shakti is "Vishwa agnana vyapara baddhodyama". This is vasana swaroopm. This is the northern face "Vamadevam".
Here is situated the "Oddhyanapiitham". This belongs to "turiya avastha". It controls two crores of mantras. This is blood coloured and belongs to the 'Tejas tattwam'.This is chitta rUpini.
The name of the linga is "Para lingam".
The last one Icchha shakti, which gives experiences of pleasure
and sorrow to the mind is called "sadyojatam" which is another form of
'ahamkara',the western face. This face is called as "jalandhara pitham". This is having control over one crore of mantras. This is white in colour, half moon phase and jala tatwam.
The name of the linga here is "Itara lingam".
In this way, the five faces of Parama Shiva, being the lords of five
pithas are propagating seven crores of mantras through the five Amnayas and
doing good services to the universe. The essence of these. Amnays have resulted
in the formation of sixty four tantras.
All these five Amnayas belong to the five elements
(pancha Bhutatmakas) only; and in the same way all the sixty four Tantras also
belong to the five elements only.
curtesy various sites
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