​As we delve deeper into Tantra, it is essential to recognize that this spiritual path is highly adaptable and can be tailored to individual needs and preferences. This adaptability has contributed to its ongoing appeal and relevance in contemporary spiritual circles.

​One of the key principles in Tantra is the cultivation of awareness, both of oneself and of the present moment. This heightened awareness is achieved through practices such as meditation, breathwork, and yoga, which help to quiet the mind and bring our attention to the here and now. By cultivating this mindful presence, we can develop greater insight into our own patterns and habits, allowing us to make more conscious choices in our lives.

Another important aspect of Tantra is the emphasis on personal empowerment and self-discovery. Unlike some spiritual traditions that place authority in the hands of an external figure, Tantra encourages individuals to explore their inner landscape and trust their intuition.

This self-reliance is empowering and allows practitioners to take responsibility for their own spiritual growth and development.

Additionally, Tantra encourages the cultivation of loving-kindness and compassion, both for ourselves and for others. By embracing and accepting all aspects of our being, including our shadows and imperfections, we can develop a more compassionate and non-judgmental approach to life. This, in turn, helps to foster deeper connections with others, as we recognize the shared humanity that unites us all.

Tantra also teaches that the body is a temple, and that physical pleasure and sensuality can be a gateway to the divine. This holistic approach to spirituality, which includes rather than shuns the body, can be a refreshing alternative for those who have felt disconnected or repressed within more ascetic or puritanical spiritual traditions.

​Tantra has been embraced by the modern wellness movement, with its practices and principles being incorporated into various forms of therapy, coaching, and self-help programs. This has led to a proliferation of Tantra-inspired workshops, retreats, and courses, offering individuals the opportunity to explore this ancient wisdom in a contemporary context.

It is important to approach Tantra with an open mind and heart, and to recognize that it is a diverse and multi-dimensional practice that cannot be reduced to any single aspect or stereotype. By doing so, we can appreciate the depth and richness of this ancient tradition and discover how it can help us to transform our lives and awaken to our true potential.

In the Sanskrit language, "Manipura" means "city of jewels" or "lustrous gem," which mirrors the chakra's purpose as a radiant source of inner strength and personal power.

The solar plexus chakra is usually symbolized by a yellow, ten-petaled lotus and is linked to the element of fire. This connection emphasizes its relation to transformation, action, and our drive to move forward.

The Manipura Chakra has connections to our digestive system and the organs involved in transforming food into energy, such as the pancreas, liver, and stomach. This link highlights the chakra's function in maintaining our physical vitality and its relation to personal power and determination.

When our solar plexus chakra is in balance, we tend to feel confident, self-assured, and in control of our lives. It's more likely for us to have a solid sense of self-worth, make decisions with ease, and pursue our goals with determination and courage. A balanced Manipura Chakra also enables us to establish healthy boundaries and assert ourselves respectfully.

On the other hand, an imbalanced solar plexus chakra can result in feelings of insecurity, low self-esteem, and a sense of powerlessness.

​We may find it difficult to make decisions and become either too passive or too aggressive in our interactions with others. Physically, an imbalanced Manipura Chakra might cause digestive issues, fatigue, and problems related to the liver or pancreas.

The Manipura Chakra plays a critical role in shaping our sense of self, personal power, and our ability to take control of our lives. By nurturing and balancing this chakra, we can cultivate a stronger sense of self-esteem, courage, and determination.

Understanding the importance of the solar plexus chakra and engaging in practices to maintain its balance can lead to a more empowered and confident life.

​ In Sanskrit, "Swadhisthana" translates to "one's own abode" or "dwelling place of the self," reflecting the chakra's role in connecting us to our emotional and creative selves.

​The sacral chakra is typically symbolized by a six-petaled lotus and is represented by the color orange. It is also associated with the water element, highlighting its connection to fluidity, adaptability, and the ebb and flow of emotions.

The Swadhisthana Chakra is linked to the reproductive system and the organs in the lower abdomen, such as the kidneys and bladder. This association emphasizes the chakra's role in maintaining physical health and vitality, as well as its connection to pleasure and sensuality.

​When the sacral chakra is balanced, we experience a healthy flow of emotions and are able to express ourselves creatively and authentically. We are more likely to form deep, meaningful relationships and enjoy life's pleasures without guilt or shame. A balanced sacral chakra also allows us to embrace change and adapt to new situations with ease.

On the flip side, an imbalanced Swadhisthana Chakra can lead to emotional instability, difficulty expressing emotions, and a lack of creativity. We may struggle with self-worth, experience feelings of guilt or shame related to our sexuality, or become overly dependent on others for validation.

​Physically, an imbalanced sacral chakra can manifest as issues with the reproductive system, urinary tract, and lower back pain.

The Swadhisthana Chakra is a vital energy center that influences our emotional well-being, creativity, and authentic expression. By nurturing and balancing this chakra, we can foster a greater sense of emotional stability, self-worth, and the ability to form deep connections with ourselves and others.

​Understanding the importance of the sacral chakra and engaging in practices to maintain its balance can lead to a more fulfilling and harmonious life.

​In the Sanskrit language, "Muladhara" can be interpreted as "root support" or "base," which reflects its role as the grounding force that keeps us connected to the physical world. It's often symbolized by a red, four-petaled lotus, and sometimes portrayed with a square—representing the earth element—and a downward-pointing triangle that symbolizes stability and grounding energy.

The root chakra also has a connection to the adrenal glands, which are in charge of producing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. This link highlights the chakra's function in managing stress and maintaining a sense of safety and security when facing life's challenges.

​When the Muladhara Chakra is in balance, we tend to feel grounded, secure, and comfortable in our physical surroundings. It's more likely for us to have a healthy relationship with our bodies, experience stability in our lives, and trust in our ability to tackle and overcome any obstacles. A balanced root chakra also allows us to feel a sense of belonging and connection to our family, community, and the world as a whole.

On the other hand, an imbalanced Muladhara Chakra can lead to feelings of insecurity, anxiety, and fear. We may struggle to fulfill our basic needs, feel disconnected from our bodies or the earth, and have difficulty establishing healthy boundaries. Physically, an imbalanced root chakra might result in issues related to our lower back, legs, feet, and immune system.

In summary, the Muladhara Chakra is an essential energy center that lays the groundwork for personal growth, stability, and security in our lives. By nurturing and balancing this chakra, we can foster a stronger sense of grounding, connection, and trust in ourselves and the world around us, ultimately promoting a greater sense of well-being and harmony.

​Tantra is one of the path towards liberation.  It is believed that the real spirituality started off with Tantra.  The path is not advised for all the levels of people in the society like the other path – karma yoga, bhakti yoga, etc.  

The basic objective of Tantra is to liberate the soul by expanding the consciousness.  Unlike other practices, tantric path can be followed only under the guidance of a spiritual master who has attained self-realization. Guru initiates the disciple to this path through “diksha”. 

​This is for highly evolved spiritual aspirants who are competent enough who can fight with the nether forces of ignorance in the self.  But that doesn’t mean that one who has passion towards tantric path cannot follow this route for the self-realization.

​For any type of aspirant, tantra finds the right starting place for him.  It naturally means, the aspirant has to perform the practices based on his level of understanding about himself.  Controlling the mind through the control of senses are the ways of tantra. 

The way of tantra is to understand the functioning of the mind in various situations, without the help of senses. From the scientific perspective, it is detaching the matter from consciousness.

One has to come out of the body consciousness in order to experience the self.  It is based on the principle of Shiva and Shakti – the consciousness and the energy manifested through the body. Existence is the combination of both the energy and consciousness. To reveal the real nature of the mind, it is necessary to free the mind from the past impressions, the unimportant knowledge, samskaras, etc. 

The entire human existence is based on two forces – prana and mind. These two forces are responsible for action, life and knowledge. Whenever there is a problem with the balancing of these two forces, there arises problems throughout the life. These two forces symbolize the ida and pingala nadis (energy channels). 

All these concepts are described in tantra by the ancient sages. Tantra is basically expansion of the mind and then liberation of the soul. When the mind is expanded towards several other planes of existence, mind starts experiencing the internal consciousness. This process increases the internal awareness by liberating the mind from its unlimited functionality.  

As a result of the intense spiritual practices performed by the spiritual aspirant performed under a guru, he evolves to the higher planes or existence there by expanding the consciousness. 

The serpent power symbolizing the human consciousness called as Kundalini shakti is awakened gradually as the aspirant goes forward in this spiritual practice. Starting with hatha yoga, the practices involves kriyas (physical purification), yoga, meditation practice, japa, etc. Yoga is part of tantra. 

​In English we address the consciousness essence of man as soul. So the question that comes to many is if that be the case, then how come we are all the same and considered to be similar to our creator. I.e. we are all supposed to be similar and at the same time are very different and have our own individual tendencies which we carry thru many lifetimes.

The original Sanskrit word helps us understand this better. Soul or Atma is our consciousness-essence and for a manifested individual it is called as Jivatma (sometimes also written as Jeevatma). Jivatma is made of two words, Jiv (or Jeev) and Atma.

The “Atma” part of the Jivatma, is the microcosmic representation of the macrocosmic divine Consciousness. It is the same in essence and so at this level we are all the same.

Then what makes each one of us unique in our soul journeys is the Jeev part. If you have read the article on our numerous bodies then you understand that we carry all our karmas and samskars (i.e. karmic memory impressions) in our Causal body.

​This causal body makes up the Jeev part of the Jivatma. Since each one of us have had different experiences and our interpretations of life scenarios and resulting actions have been different; we each have our individual Causal body and in this way are an “individual Jeev”. The word Jeev in its most literal sense means a “living form”. Such a living form or Jeev is our basic individual identity.

When we speak of cleansing our karmas and learning our lessons, we are basically working on this part of ourselves. As we progress, we come to the stage of “Enlightenment” which is nothing but true understanding that even this existence of “Jeev or Life-Form” exists because of the delusion of Maya (what maintains the manifestation of separateness and duality).

At this point one is truly aware of the Atma aspect of one’s being. I.e. one is truly aware of our “Atmic Self”- this is nothing but a microcosmic drop of the macrocosmic Consciousness.

But till one is living a physical life, Enlightenment is as high an energetic state one can be in- since without letting the body go, which includes the Causal form and Jeev aspect, one cannot truly and completely merge in the macrocosmic Consciousness. This requires not just the awareness of one’s Atma but also detachment from one’s “Jeev-self”.

​If one has reached that stage of realization, then at the end of that lifetime, their Jeev would drop off! I.e. their Causal body along with its karmas and samskars would get dropped off and their Atma, their very essence will merge with the macrocosmic Consciousness. This is called moksha. It is ONLY after moksha that one will not be entangled with any further cycles of birth and death- since there is no “jeev- karmic causual body” creating the need for further births (and deaths)!

What I have observed is there are several folks who reach Enlightenment in their lifetime and continue on their “Soul Energy (Atmic) journey” for further understanding and awareness of their Cosmic self. Such folks are at higher energy states than of Enlightenment, but since they still have their physical life-form, it is imperative that they continue to lead their lives with non-action, i.e. without incurring any karma or creating any further karmic samskars. If they are able to do so, then at the end of that life-time they can reach Moksha.

In case, they incur karma or get caught in any delusions of the Maya, then their causal body will not drop off at death and will continue with their Atma- leading to further cycles of birth and death.

So, along with understanding one’s true nature of “Consciousness” it is important for us to lead our life in non-action: i.e. action which does not incur karma or create any forms of “attachment”! We will address this concept of Non-Action in another post.

​Categories:
Ancient Wisdom,   Ascension,   Conscious Living,  Karma, Global Vedic Wisdom, Sounds And Mantras, Spiritual Awareness   and   Tantra
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Namah is very commonly seen in many mantras. Particular in the ones where we are seeking a Bhakti- resonance with any particular energy-deity. E.g. Om Namah Shivaya or Om Gam Ganapatey Namah. 

Namah is colloquially said to mean “salutation” or a way of greeting, which is a way of paying obeisance. But then, there are several other words in Sanskrit which mean greetings or salutation such as Pranaam. Why don’t we find those being used in mantras?

​Also, the actual root word for salutation is Nama without the ‘h’ or the visarga- i.e. the two dots at the end. So, what does Namah really mean and when you say them in mantras, what does that really mean?

As we know Sanskrit is a very scientific language and the words are meaningfully created from its constituting root words or root-alphabet-combinations.

In this case- Na means “Not”. It is an alphabet used to indicate negation. Ma indicates “Mine”. So basically- Nama means “Not Mine”. Which makes sense as a form of greeting (acknowledging) “another” who is “not me”! That is why it is the root word in the famous greeting term “Namaste”.

Now comes the key part- visarga or the two dots at the end. It indicates letting go or sending forth. This is why it is key that Namah is used in mantras. Since it indicates, “I am letting go of all that’s not mine”. This reinforces detachment. Nothing in the physical world is mine and so I am letting it go. Then what is left? That which is NOT of this physical world. My very consciousness-essence.

So, when we say Namah in mantras what we are saying is that- I greet/pray/pay obeisance to you with my consciousness-essence (while letting go of all that is not me- this physical manifested world).

Next time you say any mantra which includes “Namah”. Say it while truly understanding this meaning of Namah. It is a very powerful experience. If you are finely tuned to experiencing energy, you will notice an even higher vibration and be able to “palpably” feel the energy of the deity you are praying to.

​This will also help you to more easily achieve “siddhi” of that mantra, which is to experience and maintain resonance with that energy-deity.

Categories:
Ancient Wisdom,   Ascension,   Conscious Living,   Global Vedic Wisdom,   Sounds And Mantras, Spiritual Awareness and      Tantra
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Keywords and Tags:
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Most of the Tantric images show some form of erotic representation, where the yoni (vagina) of the goddess (female energy principle) is touching or interacting with the lingam- phallus of the god (male energy principle).

Such depiction can seem very “blasphemous” to the traditional pundits, but when viewed from the perspective of tantric symbolism, it makes perfect sense. 
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In tantric traditions, yoni represents the primordial female principle of creation and the phallus (lingam) symbolizes the primordial male principle of creation. 

Because of this the union of the male and the female (as indicated in a sexual intercourse) is considered as the true yoga (union) of Shiva and Shakti, the male and the female principle. This is not the crude or casual sex which simply leads to procreation of a progeny.

​The tantric union is meant to be done with proper protocol and guidance and when done correctly, allows both the individuals- the male and the female, to go beyond the limitations of their own individual limited form (of a male or a female) and rise higher to merge into the formless. 

When a male and female unite in a tantric union, they start to rise their individual energies into higher planes of existence… finally merging with the divine!!

In this world of duality- everything is ultimately represented by the male & female principle- the anima and the animus. As these two core principles start to merge into one another, they slowly start to lose their ‘individual- existence’ which is part of the ‘duality’ to become ‘singular’- the Divine.

This rise in energy, ascension, is seen as the rise of the Kundalini energy which rises from its state of lying dormant at the base of the spine, thru the various chakras to ultimately reach the highest chakra- 7th chakra of Sahasrara to take the individual (male or female) beyond the duality of all kinds of this material existence, to merge into the singular presence of the Divine God-head (supreme cosmic energy-form).
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This also explains why in Tantra, the Gods and Goddesses are typically depicted with erotic imagery. They are merely form representations of an energy-union, which will lead them into the formless- singular essence.