Prachi Prajna (Dec 2019)
Audial and Visual Manifestations of Śakti in Kula School of Tantrism
Abstract
Indian thought systems and religious beliefs are closely acquainted with the energy principle called Śakti. It is enormously known as the significant character of Tantrism, the traditional Indian religio-philosophical system originated in the hoary pasts. Kula is considered as the earliest Śakti- centered sub stream of Tantric system originated in Kashmir. Kula represents a family or clan of practitioners- probably females- who used to perform obscurantist rituals to attain supernatural powers. In this particular stream, Śakti can be found in the form of audial and visual manifestations of goddess. The Varṇadevatā-s (alphabet goddesses termed as Mātṛkā and Mālinī) and Trikadevatā-s (triad of goddesses viz., Parā, Parāpaprā and Aparā) exemplify these audial and visual temperaments. Mātṛkā is defined as the matrix or source of all the Mantra-s and texts made of alphabets. Mālinī is the goddess one who possesses a garland made with Sanskrit alphabets rearranged in a specific manner. The visual construct of the goddess as the Trikadevatā-s incorporated these alphabetic conceptions into it well ahead. Later on, (especially in the post scriptural works) these semi-divine and divine ideas were transformed into the principles of internal self- realization. The present paper will try to analyze the nature and different phases of description of these goddesses in the scriptural as well as post scriptural works of Kula Tantrism.
