Today the rich heritage of Tantra is presented as the most distorted, tabooed and misinterpreted Indian philosophy, so much so that this dreaded word has become synonymous with fear. The overwhelming majority of websites relating to black-magic, kamasutra voodoo or witchcraft that appear when one does a Google search on tantra substantiates this misrepresentation. This article attempts to eliminate the dubious myths and fallacies one associates with tantra underlining its true magnetism with inputs from living master Yogi Ashwini, the guiding light of Dhyan Foundation. For the unfamiliar reader Dhyan Foundation is a registered NGO dedicated to living and sharing the authentic spiritual path and is completely non-commercial in all its dealings.
Believed to have come straight from Lord Shiva, the word tantra is a conjunction of two words tanoti and traycti which denote expansion (of human consciousness) and liberation (of the primal energy kundalini) respectively. Tantra is an ancient science that prescribes techniques to transcend individual limitations and comprehend higher reality with the combined power of yantras and mantras. Ayantra is a geometrical meditation device that is an important tool of concentration. A mantra is a mystical syllable which produces a vibration on repeated chanting and the reverberations of this sound awaken the spiritual life force and stimulate the chakras. Emphasizing on the accurate pronunciation of a mantra Yogi Ashwini asserts, "The whole creation manifested from the primordial sound "OM" which emerged from the damru of Lord Shiva. A mantra is a codified sound pattern so powerful that it instantaneously manifests the energies they are programmed to appease.
Television and film portrayal of tantrics is bizarre, villainous, as someone
clad in outlandish clothes performing human sacrifice, garlanded with skulls
and bones and bringing evil to others. This is just a dramatized fascination
of a few minds and far from reality. Yogi Ashwini explains, "The science of
tantra is 100 per cent perfect and infallible with no scope of any ambiguity.
An accurate chant invokes a corresponding energy which may either be lower or
higher depending on the sound.
A majority commit the mistake of accessing the lower ones (as they are easier
to access) to achieve lower ends, thereby restricting themselves to the waste
of Tantra. The real nectar of Tantra is pure bliss that is experienced by some
advanced tantrics who are away from the ambit of its negative form." Yogi Ashwini's
book, Sanatan Kriya: Essence of Yoga that individuals following unadulterated
yog and tantric practices (like the Sanatan Kriya) would not be affected from
any negativity targeted towards them as the pure tantric practices shield the
practitioner. Sometimes harmful black magic practices also bounce back on the
person initiating them thereby harming the sender itself! Illustrating this,
a gentleman shares his personal experience, "Tired of being constantly ill I
met Yogi Ashwini. A group of his students performed a haven in my house that
left me absolutely astounded.
The face of my relative was left formed in the havankund whom we had feared
was behind the ill' luck that had fallen upon us!" "One must indulge in tantric
practices only when one clearly understands sadhna, discipline, detachment and
relentless faith in one's Guru. Tantra's highly volatile and intoxicating nature
makes it imperative for it to be practiced under guidance." for the first time
what unselfish love, spiritual freedom, and pure motivation look Eke.