Meaning:
Tantra means a technique, doctrine or process for expanding our consciousness so it can unite with the all-permeating Universal Consciousness. Thus, Tantra’s goal is the same as that of Yoga, namely uniting the Individual Consciousness with the Universal thus achieving liberation or Moksha. But the big difference is in the approach or techniques. Tantric technique appeal to individuals with a lot of Rajas or passion. Yoga appeals to people with a balanced mix of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas. Similarly, the Vedantic path appeals to individuals with the high degree of Sattva. So, if Vedantics are scientists, the Yogis the engineers and the Tantrics the hackers, seeking shortcuts on their high-risk path of spiritual liberation. The word ‘Svatantra’ meaning freedom also implies Tantra of the self for ultimate freedom or liberation.
Rationale:
The Tantra techniques are designed to indulge our senses, rather overwhelm them with sensation. That way individual can become immune to worldly sensation and attachments, a key step towards final liberation. Thus, use of intoxicants, sex and subjecting the body to extreme conditions is part of Tantric ritualism. While the Westerners see these exotic acts as hedonism but for a true Tantric there is a reason for this madness and abnormal behaviours. Given this background, the pictures of famous Tantric Aghori Babas with their nearly naked ash-smeared bodies in sub-zero temperatures, chillum smoking, residing and indulging in group sex on cremation ground starts making sense.
They are just breaking all bonds to social norms, attachments, and prohibitions to hasten their spiritual growth. While some may use Tantra as a cover to indulge in hedonism but that is their cowardice. Tantra to a large extent is transmuting the primal force of sexuality upward towards spiritual growth, literally. As the experience of Kundalini is an uplifting orgasm with self(Atman) uniting with Brahman(Universe). Further, the Shiva-Shakta(Consciousness-Energy) fusion further validate this well-worn path.
History
Tantra and Tantrics are mentioned starting from Vedas years back about Shiva, Rudra, and lone ascetic. So Tantric asceticism has been parallel to the traditional Vedantic path from time immemorial. But Tantrics are secretive, hence the tradition and lineages are not always well known. But starting from Rudra(Shiva) aka Adinath is the supreme guru who personifies a Tantric. There is a reference to female Nirriti, Yami a reference to Shakti/Kali in the Rigveda, Atherveda. The rituals include mantras, animal sacrifices, and yantras to please the Gods. Later texts refereed as Agamas of Tantra Literature further codified, refined and expounded these techniques. The common used left-handed and right-handed path of Tantras display the dichotomy of the traditional and Tantric path to liberation. The five Ms of the left-hand path Madya, Mamsa, Matsya, Mudra, and Maithuna have spiritual reference to the body, pranayama, mudras, asanas, samadhi when examined in depth.
Sects & Gurus:
Over the years around 500 AD to 900 AD Kashmir valley was a great centre of Tantra where it became mainstream. A path for householders to purse spirituality while living in the material world. This is what is known as the Trika school of Tantra. Abhivangupta a great philosopher codified this knowledge in his seminal text called Tantraloka. Kashmir tantra was the original influence on Buddhism and shaping the Vajrayana school of Buddhism and later Jainism too. The influence of Kashmir extended far to Kandahar(Afghanistan), Nepal and Tibet. Later great schools of Tantra were in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Nepal based on the Natha tradition. The current Tantric sects are the Aghoris, Nath Siddhas, Kashmiri Pandits. Aghoris Babas Guru was Baba Keenan about 300 years ago and before him Dattreya as an avatar of Shiva. Nath Siddhas trace their lineage to Goraknath and are also the forebears of Tamil Siddhars in India’s South, Tantrics in Bengal and in Nepal too. For Kashmiri Pandits the last surviving Siddha guru was Swami Lakshman Joo in 1990s.
Kundalini, Chakras & Nadis:
Once a Tantric or any spiritual seeker has overcome attachment, strengthened his body with Yoga and cleansed his bodily channels they become ready for Liberation by the rise of Kundalini shakti. Kundalini lies at the base of the spine as the coiled primordial link to the universal consciousness. An adept Yogi uses a proper combination of Pranayam, Bandh, and Asana to force it to rise via the Sushumna Nadi. The rise of this primordial fluid also causes subsequent Chakras to move in unison like gears, one after another and push the energy further up, crossing each Chakra till it comes out of the Sahara chakra. At that moment one feels an orgasmic bliss while having their sense melded in surrounding space as an extension of their body. Kind of like skydiving, where there is joy, elation while simultaneously feeling the complete loss of control.
End Goal, Siddhas & Liberation
If the Yogi can maintain this state for a long period and can also achieve it at will then they are a true master - Siddha. They achieve eight special powers or Ashta Siddhis and can abandon their body at will. Unfortunately, while a quite a few aspiring Yogis may experience the Kundalini rise few times in their lives but they can’t sustain it for more than a minute or two. This implies attachment, missing knowledge or an unprepared body/mind hence the liberation of the soul can’t occur. Becoming a Siddha is rare cosmic gift reserved for the very few. The few special ones who can muster tremendous Will, Knowledge, and Action to overcome Attachment, Ignorance and their Karmic faults to become a Siddha – an immortal master. While there are no barriers of race, colour, class, nationality or sex but cosmic barriers based on one's ability, sacrifice and grit exist to identify the one special Siddha amongst a million Moksha seeking Yogis.
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