This post is a summary of the class series “Essence of Tantra” conducted by Sri Shakthi Sumanan, offering profound insights into the foundational principles of Tantra. These notes serve as a reference for participants and are not self-explanatory; their true depth and meaning can only be understood through active participation in the class discussions and experiential learning sessions.
This discussion explores the profound transformation of Niṣkala-Brahman (the formless, absolute reality) into the manifested universe through Śakti (creative energy), as explained in Tantra and Vedanta philosophy. It outlines the process by which the unmanifest Brahman, desiring to create, expresses itself through Śakti, leading to the emergence of Nāda (primordial sound) and Bindu (the concentrated seed of creation). These key concepts illuminate the intricate relationship between Śiva (pure consciousness) and Śakti (dynamic energy), whose union forms the foundation of all existence. By grounding these abstract metaphysical ideas in symbolic representations, the narrative reveals the interconnectedness of the formless and the manifest, providing a deeper understanding of the universe’s divine origins.
1. In the Beginning:
- In the very beginning, only the Niṣkala-Brahman (the formless, absolute reality) existed.
- This Brahman was the One without a second, existing in its pure, undifferentiated state.
2. The Will to Manifest:
- Brahman willed, “Let me become many” (Ahaṁ bahu syām – “May I be many”).
- This will to create is the first manifestation of Śakti—the creative power of Brahman.
- Through this manifestation, the Niṣkala-Brahman became the Sakala-Brahman (the manifested Brahman) and is now perceived with attributes and forms.
3. Brahman as the Subject of Worship:
- In its manifested form, Brahman becomes the object of worship.
- To the human mind and senses, Brahman takes on form and attributes, embodying itself in:
- All the Devas and Devīs (gods and goddesses),
- The worshipper, and
- The entire universe and its beings.
- Essentially, everything—whether divine, human, or material—is a form of Brahman expressed through Śakti.
4. The Śruti’s Revelation:
- The Śruti (sacred text) describes this process with the phrase “Sa aikṣata” (“He saw”). Brahman, through its will to manifest, contemplated, “May I be many” (Ahaṁ bahu syām prajāyeya).
- This act of “seeing” or contemplation is itself a manifestation of Śakti, referred to as Paramāpūrva-nirvāṇa-śakti—the primal and supreme creative energy of Brahman.
5. The Process of Manifestation:
- From Brahman with Śakti (Parahaktimaya):
- The first manifestation is Nāda: the subtle vibration or primordial sound (often identified as the source of all creation, akin to the concept of the “Word” in some other traditions).
- From Nāda arises Bindu: the concentrated point or seed of creation, representing the unity of Śiva (pure consciousness) and Śakti (creative energy).
6. Śiva, Śakti, and the Param Bindu:
- Kālicharana’s commentary on the Ṣaṭcakra-nirūpaṇa explains that:
- Śiva (consciousness) and Nirvāṇa-Śakti (creative power) are bound together by a subtle māyik bond (illusion or the covering that enables manifestation).
- In this state, they exist together in the form of the Param Bindu—the supreme point or seed of creation from which the universe emerges.
7. Summary in Simple Terms:
- Initially, Brahman existed as pure, formless reality (Niṣkala-Brahman).
- Brahman desired to create and manifested Śakti, its creative energy.
- Through this energy, the universe, with all its forms and beings, came into existence.
- The process of creation involved:
- Nāda (primordial sound),
- Bindu (the concentrated seed of creation), and
- The interplay of Śiva (consciousness) and Śakti (energy), united in the Param Bindu.
- Everything in the universe, including gods, humans, and nature, is a form of Brahman expressed through Śakti.
This explanation emphasizes the non-duality of Śiva and Śakti and how the universe is a manifestation of their union. It also connects the abstract concepts of sound (Nāda) and point (Bindu) as the subtle beginnings of all creation, grounding complex metaphysical ideas in symbolic forms.