Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism

13 Mar Tantra and Kashmir Shaivism

Tantra began in northern India around the same time as the introduction of Buddhism in 500-600 AD. Countless numbers of texts, or tantras, many of which have not yet been translated, were written expounding on the theory and practice of tantra, so it is not surprising that many of them present conflicting worldviews. Eliade (1990), for example, defines tantra as anti-ascetic and cites the Kulāvarna-tantra as stating that “union with God can be obtained only through sexual union” (p. 205). However, this is referring to only of one of the two different sects of Kashmiri Shaivism, the Kaula.

Tantra was split during this time into two main branches: Saiva and Kaula. Saiva, as outlined by Wallis (2012), resembles Buddhism more than it does the goddess religions. The Saiva sect involved a long and difficult practice of techniques intended to transform the adherent’s body into a “being of diamond.” These practices were closely guarded secrets kept in the hands of powerful men at the top of the hierarchy who decided who would be initiated. There were practices of breath, thought, kundalini activation, and retention of semen and included systems of the chakras, mantras, rituals, yantras, and mandalas. It is notable that Shakti has disappeared and the male principle, Shiva, became paramount.

At the higher, secret levels, socially deviant behavior and sexually transgressive acts were performed in the quest for freedom from societal constraint. There were rituals of consuming the five substances: meat, fish, alcohol, and grain, and participating in ritual sex referred to as maithuna. This performance of transgressive acts went so far in some texts as to suggest that men sleep with the lowest caste or the “ugliest” woman to be found. Several sects allowed monks to enjoy “any unguarded woman,” which can be taken as condoning rape. In any case, “an obedient woman” was required. The higher, more secretive stages had to do with using women in transgressive acts of sex in order to achieve rapid enlightenment.

© 2024 Catherine Auman

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