18.Tara Ma and Vedas

Tara Ma and Vedas


Dear all, with the two major Tara sadhanas being explained let me try to detail on the connection of vedic systems and the tantric systems.

There are two ways in which we can connect the tantra to vedic systems

1) by the deity form

2) by the metric form

let me start with Tara Ma and the deity form.

Tara ma is also known as Neelasaraswathi, the bluish wrathful form of the vedic goddess Saraswathi. I will detail the Neelasaraswathi sadhana as the next ritual in explanation. In Rig veda, she is also known as "Pashyanthi Vak" in the dasha maha vidyas. The specific verse for this representation is the RV 1.164.41.

Before we move into the translations and the details, I would like to add the three forms of communication. They are vaikhari, pashyanthi and para (I am just treating madhyama or the nasalized speech as a form of vaikhari in refined form not as a separate category). In this, humans use the vaikhari form of communication. The communication in which words are made audible by friction and channeling of air. But para is the highest form of communication. Only enlightened souls, luminous ones and rishis usually use this mode of communication. The vedas are heard to the various rishi as para first. :). Here no words are communicated just the intention.
Goddess saraswathi, the goddess of vidya and language exists in all the three forms and is called Tara in the "pashyanthi vak". Pashyanthi is the point where mind simply produce the syllable from no visual or frictional means. So Tara Ma is that form of Saraswathi in which all the syllables merge and dissolves and only the existence of all is on the subtle level. So she is where the word began and where the word ends, the cosmic source. :)

Now let’s move into the RV 1.164.41.

Gaurirmimaya salilani takshatyekapadi dwipadi sa chatushpadi
Ashtapadi navapadi babhuvushi sahasrakshara parame vyoman ||

( The shabda brahma which is in the form of vak rupa, at the divine sky as one, two, four eight and nine word forms in proper unison culminates into the thousand letters or words)

The interpretation is as follows

(In the cosmic sky, the shabda brahma as audible form of word manifested. Now from the one form of ma, the Om –  primordial sound and agna chakra beeja (Akasha tatwa) is manifested. The duality of sound synonym to male and female (the shabda and the bindu) is been formed, the four elemental seeds of 4 remaining elements are formed with the fifth one akasha( kula- Akula- Cakra) and the eight vargas and the nine cakras or the energy centers with the syllables attached to it (six commonly mentioned chakras + 3 secret chakras ( Golatha , Lalatha and Lalana (that can be only understood by raising the kundalini)) are manifested. The various combinations of these syllables form thousands and thousands of words in the physical world).

Dear all as I mentioned earlier, Tara ma is the beginning as the cosmic force, it is manifested form of word in the subtle level, the base for the vaikhari.. If we examine the various syllables in the above context we can find that all the sanskrit alphabets which forms the base for all the communication, both in vaikhari and on pashyanthi.

Dear all, thus the evolution of shakthi is well and completely explained in the Rig vedic hymn. The existence of unity, then the division at the cosmic space into two beejas of pursha and prakriti , then the remaining of pancha bhutas in the beeja form sustained in the cosmic sky.

This pancha bhutas then manifest, collectively with the eight vargas for the Tara Yantra in the cosmic space. The basic Tara Yantra is the pentagram itself with a bindu in the center. The upward triangle and the lower triangle symbolizing man and woman.
This yantra is elemental and it itself is the deity in the first form, a form of recognizable existence. This yantra is replicated in the human body in limited scope and expansiveness to various energy centers. Thus all these are pertaining to the creation of the cosmic sound and individual sounds based on the microcosm and macrocosm case.

Now how these syllables carry the power for such level of creation? This can be explained based on the Bijavriksha Nyaya. The entire tree is being conceptualized as a seed. But beeja in cosmic level are far more complex than our seed and tree analogy. It has the ability to combine and create newer levels of awareness and existence. Just like we make new words out of letters, the bijas can be mixed and pronounced in specific way to attain benefits.

Vedas address this use of cosmic beejas or collection of letters or words in suktas based on this logic. Every tantric or vedic chants have a rishi, a metre and a devata. Now the merger of tantra and vedas can be learned by understanding this connection.

Dear all, for understanding the relevance of meter is more important before further venturing into other complex aspects.

For understanding about this let me explain it on basis of the Aitareya and Kausitaki brahmanas of Rig Veda. Referring to the Adhayaya-1 on consecration sacrifice which is a sub section on Soma Sacrifice basics, the relevance of meters and the benefits are explained.

The verses in Gayatri meter was supposed to be used by those who desires brilliance and splendor, in Usnih by those who desires life, in Anustubh by those who desires heaven, of two Anushtubhs, 64 syllables who three world each 21 fold (not explaining details as this itself is a topic of lengthy discussions which come under design of suktas), Brhati verses for those who desire prosperity and glory, Pankti verses by those who desire for fivefold sacrifices(again large topic in itself, limiting explanation with apologies), Trishtubh verses for those who desire power, force and strength, Jagati verses those who desire cattles etc. I am just closing this list with this limited content as this in itself is a topic of broad scope. :)

Now the deities also have forms which have different effects. The agni suktas in gayatri and agni suktas in trishtubh has different effects. So this means, the nature of the same devata varies with intonations and syllables.

Tantric gods are non descriptive, so no hymns. They are codified as limited manifestations of vedic expansive forces which are descriptive and broad. Still their prayoga also has a rishi, a chandas and the devata. Also to note that the prayogas are less complicated compared to a soma yaga or ashwamedha due to this limited scope.

Take the example of Tara Panchakshari and Tara Trijada. Both are in Brhati metric system. Now please read the benefits I outlined also. This will be dealing with prosperity, gains, glory as benefits in most cases.