Shaiva Tantra

Agamas and Tantrasare a vast collection of knowledge and form a major portion of spiritual literature and practices. Like the Veda, they have come down through Guru-Sishya parampara, in oral traditions. Agamas form the base for many of the popular as well as specialist aspects of Hinduism.


The wordAgamameans'that which has come to (us)'. Tantrameans'that which protects with detail'.Sruti,the eternal word, is said to be of two forms –Nigama (Veda) and Agama.Two kinds of texts, Agama and Tantra are in general grouped under the same class of literature.


There arethree main classes of Agamic/Tantric texts Vaishnava Agamas, Shaiva Agamas and Sakta Tantras, though not limited to these. TheVaishnava and Shaiva texts are generally called Agamas,while the wordTantra in general applies to Sakta texts.However, technically Tantra is a part of Agama and owing to the centrality of Tantra the two words are used often interchangeably.


The five face of Shiva represents the five branches of Shaiva Tantra and the 5 faces of Lord Shiva defines the 5 different Shaiva Agamas.


Five Faces of Lord Shiva:


1. Sadyojata - West Face:

2.Vaama Deva – North Face:

3. Aghora - South Face:

4. Tatpurasha - East Face:

5. Eeshana - Skyward Face:



1. Sadyojata - West Face:


1)Brahmma

2)Kashyapa

3)Shivagocharaadi (born out of shiva and 25 Aagamas)

4)Bhoota

5)Chandaasidhara

6)Laukika

7)Guhya


West is called as “Paschima or Pratyak”.The soul is called as“Pratyagaatma”. “Sadyahawhich means just now and Jataha means now born. Shiva makes his presence felt through the countless souls being born. Hence the apt name'Sadyosata'.This shows the creative aspect of Parameshvara. Since the very existence of any being starts from its birth, the Sadyosata aspect of Lord Shiva is prayed first.


The essence of the Sadyosata Mantra is: "O! Lord ! Sadyojaata, never give me desires which are the reason for this countless births and deaths. Please Bless me with the passion for liberation. My prayers to Sadyosata”.


This Sadyosata aspect is correlated with the following;


To “Shi” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra

To “Mano Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas

To “Agni” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”.

To “Manipuraka” among Six Chakras

To “Panchama (Pa)” Swara among the Seven Swaras

To “Ma” in 'Omkara'


In this face, there are 28 Aagamas and 207 sub Aagamas(upaagamas)

Kamikaagama with 3 upaagamas

yogajaagama with 100000 grandhas and 5 upaagamas

chinthyaagama- 200000 grandhas and 6 upaagamas

Karanaagama with 1ooooooo grandhas and 7 upaagamas

Ajithaagama with 1000000 grandhaas and 4 upagamas


Let us pray that Sadyosata face of Lord Shiva.


शिवंशान्तंजगन्नाथंलोकनुग्रहकारकम्।

शिवमेकपदंनित्यंशिकारायनमोनम:।।


Shivam Shaantam Jagannatham Loka Anugraha Kaaranam |

ShivamEkamPadam Nityam Shikaaraaya Namo Namaha ||


2.Vaama Deva – North Face:


1)Vishnu

2)Kausika

3)Sikha Gocharaadi(originated from his Shakthi and 25 in number)

4)Vaama

5)Sammohana

6)Vaidika

7)Uma


Shaivic division-


The term Vama means Left or innocent. If we stand facing east, North direction is to our left. Hence the north facing Shiva is worshipped as“Vaama Deva”.The left of a person is representative of the Shakti aspect. It represents“Maya and the feminine strength and beauty”, Hence in Ardha Nareeshwara aspect, we find the goddess on the left side.


The beautiful Vaama Deva is more ancient that the world’s creation. Hence he is the eldest. Since he is more worthy than others, he is the best. In catastrophic times, he is Rudra. He is Kaala in creation and causes the erosion of one’s age.



This Vaama Deva aspect is correlated with the following;


To “Vaa” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra

To “Vijnaana Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas

To “Vaayu” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”

To “Aanhata Chakra” among Six Chakras

To “Daivata (Dha) ” Swara among the Seven Swaras

To “Bindu” in 'Omkara'.


1)Dipitaagama with 1000000 grandhaas and 9 upaagamas

2)Sukshmaagama with 1 padma(1000000000) grandhaas and 1 upaagama

3)Sahasrakaagama with 500000 grandhaas and 10 upaagamas

4)Amsumathaagama with 500000 grandhaas and 12 upaagamas

5) Suprabhedaagama with 30000000 grandhaas and 1 upaagama


Let us offer prayers to such Vama Deva:


वाहनंवृषभोयस्यवासुकिःकंठभूषणं।

वामंशक्तिधरंदेवंवकारायनमोनमः॥


Vaahanam Vrushabho Yasya Vasukihi Kantha Bhushanam |

Vaame ShatiDharam Devam VaKaaraaya Namo Namaha ||


3. Aghora - South Face:


1) Rudra

2)Bharadwaja

3)Jyothir gocharaadi(born from the Bindu, 20 aagamas)

4)Bhairava

5)Asitaadi

6)Aadhyaatma

7)Aghora


If we stand facing east, south is our right. Hence right side is called as“Bala”.As important as right hand is for humans, The South face is important to Lord Shiva. This is also famously known as“Dakshina Murthy”.


To know about the essence of the Adhora principle of Lord Shiva, one has to understand the meaning of the Aghora Mantra among the Pancha Brahma Mantra.


Those who worshipped the Aghora form of Shiva were called as “Aghoris”.Their main belief is that there is no such thing called“inauspicious”in this world because all that exists if Shiva himself. They generally live in graveyards and are naked. They use those things which the world has branded as“inauspicious”.They perform harsh penance. Those who worship Aghora form of Shiva are saved from natural catastrophe, water hardships and life threats.


This Aghora aspect is correlated with the following;


To “Ma” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra

To “Prana Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas

To “Jala” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”

To “Svadhishthana Chakra” among Six Chakras

To “Madyama (Ma)” Swara among the Seven Swaras

To “U” in 'Omkara'.


Our prayers to such Aghora form of Shiva:


महादेवंमहात्मानंमहाध्यानंपरायणम्।

महापापहरंदेवंमकारायनमोनम:।


Mahadevam Mahatmanam MahaDhyanam Parayanam |

MahaPaapHaram Devam Makaaraaya Namo Namaha ||

 

4. Tatpurasha - East Face:


1) Easwara

2)Gautama

3)Saavitri-Gocharam (born from 30 Naadam)

4) Garuda

5)Trotalaadi

6)Ati-Maarga

7)Baahuroopa



The word“Tat”representsParamatma.Tatpurusha means Saguna filled Para Brahma form. This is a important face of Parama Shiva. The form of Shiva that is in meditation and Blessing the world – is this face. Hence this eastern face is considered as the first face. The word “Tatpurusha”means“his person”. One who is always behind a person to protect is Tatpurusha.


This Tatpurusha aspect is correlated with the following;


To “Na” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra

To “Anna Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas

To “Earth” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”

To “Muladhara” among six Chakras

To “Shadja (sa), Rushabha (ri) And Gandhara (ga)” Swaras among the Seven Swaras

To “A” in 'Omkara'.


Our prayers to this Tatpurusha form of Lord Shiva:


Namaste Deva Devesha Namaste Parameshvara |

Namaste Vrushabharuudha Na Kaaraaya Namo Namaha ||


5. Eeshana - Skyward Face:


The word Ishvara is form the root“Aisha – Aishwarye”.Total wealth means the total control and ownership of all the fourteen worlds. Such form of Shiva, who is thetotal owner of the fourteen worlds, is called asEeshna.


This face is skywards. Which means it is on top of the other four faces which face the four directions. This fifth face of Shiva represents the creation – balance – annihilation energies and control and chaos energies. Eeshna face of Shiva which is skywards indicates the total encompassing energy of Lord Shiva.


This Eeshna aspect is correlated with the following;


To “Ya” Beekakshara in Panchakshara Mantra

To “Ananda Maya Kosha” amongst the five Koshas

To “Aakasha (ether)” principle among five principles “Pancha Bhuta”

To “Vishuddha, Ajna & Sahasra Chakra ” among Six Chakras

To “Nishada (ni)” Swara among the Seven Swaras

To Nada aspect in 'Omkara'.


Let us pray such Eeshna form of Lord Shiva:


Yatra Kutra Sthitam Devam Sarva Vyaapi Namishvaram |

Yallingam Puujayeennithyam Ya Kaaraaya Namo Namaha ||



B) Pancha-Brahma mantras, Krishna Yajur veda, Taittiriya Aranyaka (X.17-21):


1. Sadyojāta Mantra:


सद्योजातंप्रपद्यामिसद्योजातायवैनमोनमः।

भवेभवेनातिभवेभवस्वमांभवोद्भवायनमः॥


sadyojātam prapadyāmi sadyojātāya vai namo namah |

bhave bhave nāti bhave bhavasva mām bhavodbhavāya namah ||


I take refuge in the First Born, verily I bow to the First Born

Do not consign me to birth after birth;

Guide me beyond birth, I bow to the Causer of birth.


2. Vāmadeva Mantra:


वामदेवायनमोज्येष्ठायनमःश्रेष्ठाय

नमोरुद्रायनमःकालायनमः।

कलविकरणायनमोबलायनमो

बलविकरणायनमोबलप्रमथनायनमः।

सर्वभूतदमनायनमोमनोन्मनायनमः॥


vāmadevāya namh jyesthāya namah śresthāya

namo rudrāya namah kālāya namah|

kalavikaranāya namo balāya namo

balavikaranāya namo balapramathanāya namah|

sarvabhūtadamanāya namo manonmanāya namah||


I bow to the Noble One, the Eldest; to the Best, to Rudra and to Time,

I bow to the Incomprehensible, to Strength,

To the Causer of various forces, and to the Extender of Strength.

I bow to the Subduer of all beings, and to the One who kindles the Light.


3. Aghora Mantra:


अघोरेभ्योऽथघोरेभ्योअघोरघोरेतरेभ्यः।

सर्वतःशर्वःसर्वेभ्योनमस्तेरुद्ररूपेभ्यः॥


aghorebhyo'tha ghorebhyo aghoraghoretarebhyah|

sarvatah śarvah sarvebhyo namaste rudra rūpebhyah||


I bow to those not terrible and those who are terrible,

And to those who are both terrible and not terrible.

Everywhere and always, Śarva, I bow to all Thy Rudra forms.


4. Tatpurusa Mantra:


तत्पुरुषायविद्महेमहादेवायधीमहि।

तन्नोरुद्रःप्रचोदयात्॥


tatpurushāya vidmahe mahādevāya dhīmahi

tanno rudrah pracodayāt||


May we know that Supreme Person

And mediate on that Great God,

May Rudra impel us!



5. Īśāna Mantra:


ईशानसर्वविद्यानामीश्वरःसर्वभूतानांब्रह्मादिपतिब्रह्मणोऽधिपतिर्।

ब्रह्माशिवोमेअस्तुसएवसदाशिवओम्॥


īśāna sarvavidyānāmīśvarah sarvabhūtānām brahmādipati brahmano'dhipatir

brahmā śivo me astu sa eva sadāśiva om||


Ruler of all knowledge, Master of all beings,

Commander of all study and devotion,

That God Auspicious to me,

Be He just so, the Ever-Auspicious Om.



~ Om Namah Shivaya ~