Laksmi Tantra

Visnuism is one of the chief religions of the Hindus and the Pancaratra is the oldest surviving Visnuite sect. The influence of its tenets on later Visnuism has undoubtedly been great but has never been thoroughly explored. Despite change and corruption the ritual worship described in the old Pancaratra texts is still performed today in many of the famous temples in southern India and in some in the north. A deeper insight into the historical development of the Visnuite sects, their ritual, occultism and building of temples and images can only be obtained from the scientific study of these ancient Pancaratra texts which formulate the relevant basic concepts. The theological and ritualistic aspects of the Pancaratra system have attracted scholars for some time past and a number of texts have been edited. Some of these publications are of a high standard and include illuminating introductions. The reason why the author has chosen to translate the text of the Laksmi Tantra is that its philosophical pronouncements incorporate many of the sectís earlier traditions. A second reason is because of its occultism, which throws light on an aspect of the Pancaratra system that is not dealt with in any other known text. However, keeping the size of this book she has refrained from discussing the interesting topic of ritualistic esoterism. Among the vast number of Pancaratra Agamic texts, the Laksmi Tantra stands out because it deals almost exclusively with Laksmi. The divine creative impulse, intelligence, potency, potentiality, power, majesty and speech. The focus of the text is on Pancaratra philosophy (including cosmogony) and the practice of yoga based on it, with its attendant Mantra Sastra. By dealing with the role of Sakti in the creation and maintenance of the world, totally relying on God`s mercy and benevolence, the Laksmi Tantra succeeds in overcoming sectarian boundaries.

About The Author

Dr. Sanjukta Gupta is an authority on the early Pancaratra (Vaisnava) cult and sectarian system. She taught for almost twenty years at the University of Utrecht (Netherlands) and is now teaching in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, University of Oxford.

Visnuism is one of the chief religions of the Hindus and the Pancaratra is the oldest surviving Visnuite sect. The influence of its tenets on later Visnuism has undoubtedly been great but has never been thoroughly explored. Despite change and corruption the ritual worship described in the old Pancaratra texts is still performed today in many of the famous temples in southern India and in some in the North. A deeper insight into the historical development of the Visnuite sects, into their ritual, occultism and building of temples and images can only be obtained from the scientific study of these ancient Pancaratra texts which formulate the relevant basic concepts.

The theological and ritualistic aspects of the Pancaratra system have attracted scholars from some time past 1 and a number of texts have been edited. Some of these publications are of a high standard and include illuminating introductions. Amongst these, Professor F. O. Schrader's Introduction to the Pancaratra still ranks as the most comprehensive. So far only one Pancaratra text has been translated into English, 3 but the omission of Explanatory notes on the meaning of special terms detracts from its usefulness to the layman. In recent years valuable work in this field is being done by H. Daniel Smith.

The reason why I have chosen to translate the text of the Laksmi tantra is that its philosophical pronouncements incorporate many of the sect's earlier traditions. I shall elaborate on this point later on. A second reason is because of its occultism, which throws light on an aspect of the Pancaratra system that is not dealt with in any other known text. Since however the size of this book has grown to be quite alarming, I have here been obliged to refrain from discussing the interesting topic of ritualistic esoterism.

Before starting on my apologetics, certain preliminary explanations about my method of work are briefly called for. My translation is based entirely on the Sanskrit text edited by Pandit V. Krishnamacharya and published in the Adyar Library Series, No. 87. I have not used any manuscript of the Laksmi Tantra. Therefore, whenever I mention the text or the editor's commentary on it, I refer to Krishnamacharya's edition. Although I have studied the only other publication of this text, printed in Telugu and published at Mysore in 1988, I have not based my translation upon it since Krishnamacharya has utilized it in his edition.

I have aimed at accuracy in my translation – often unfortunately at the expense of style and when the explanation is needed, it is supplied in a footnote or inserted in parenthesis in the of my translation. I have used parenthesis also to distinguish English words I have used in my translation to make a sentence complete. However, the reader must not expect to find that every Sanskrit word has been translated consistently by the same English term. As words are affected by the context in which they are used, I have used alternative meanings when and as the sense required. Despite care, some irregularities may still persist in the transcription of Sanskrit words. These are unintentional.

From chapter XXXIII onwards I have not translated the clues given for constructing the mantras, but have confined myself to supplying the constructed mantras only. My translation of the first ten verses of chapter XXXII should, I think, suffice to demonstrate how the mantras are construed.

Amongst the vast number of Pancaratra Agamas, the Laksmi Tantra stand out because of its almost exclusive treatment of the Visnuite mother-goddess Laksmi, the Sakti of Visnu-Narayana. The text not only glorifies Laksmi, but also women in general as beings created in the cherished form of Laksmi, and it advocates their worship. Moreover, it alludes to the particular sadhana of the left-handed Tantras that requires a female partner 1. Our text is somewhat reticent about the details of that practice, perhaps because it was apprehensive about how the majority of Pancaratra followers would react. It even launches into a lengthy discourse on its ethics and the cautionary measures to be taken. Nevertheless, at the end of this discussion, it asserts that, though not free from the moral danger involved in disregarding strict conventions, the practice is not sinful since the participants are lifted to a supra-mundane level 2. Undoubtedly this reveals the text's sympathy with left-handed Tantric practices, which is not at all surprising considering how prevalent the worship of Sakti was in India. Later scholars of Saktism, such as Bhaskararaya, the commentator of the Lalitasahasranamam, Nagesa Bhatta, the commentator of the Durgasaptasati and Appaya Diksita, the commentator of the Candrakalastuti, not only mention the Laksmi Tantra but cite it 3. Obviously by that time, i.e. the sixteenth century, the text had gained firm recognition as a standard Sakta Agama. In spite of its predominantly Pancaratra Character, its undivided concentration on the worship of Sakti and its assertion that Durga, Bhadrakali and Yogamaya are merely other names for Mahalaksmi, who is Visnu's dynamic power, 4 enabled our text to overcome sectarian boundaries.

The Laksmi Tantra deals mainly with Pancaratra philosophy and cosmogony (which are inseparable in texts of this kind), and with the mantra-sastra ('linguistic occultism'). A minimum is said about the ritualistic side of worship, and iconography is discussed only in the form of the dhyanas of the most important deities, such as Laksmi-Narayana, the Vyuhas, the main emanations of Laksmi, her retinue etc. Temple architecture and temple worship are totally omitted. The text also ignores public festivals, sraddha  dharma (death rites) and expiratory rites. This silence about rites connected with society and its conventions indicates that the Laksmi Tantra concern itself with the individual adept, who desires to be released from the miseries of worldly existence. This can be achieved by practising yogic sadhana (worship of God and meditation visualizing Him as the personification of a mantra accompanied by the repetition of that mantra), which enables the initiate to receive divine grace, without which salvation is not possible.

In form, the Laksmi Tantra follows the tradition of both the Sattvata and Jayakhya Samhitas. It deals exhaustively with the Vyuha theory. In that connection, it not only mentions the Sattvata Samhita but proceeds to elaborate on its philosophy. Thus the concept of Visakhayupa – only briefly referred to in the Sattvata – is explained in detail in the Laksmi Tantra. The metaphysical implications of the Vyuha theory and their bearing on the mantra – sastra are put very clearly 1. The basic need supplied by these concepts of divine manifestations is to provide the devotee with an object he can worship in accordance with his spiritual capacity and meditate upon whilst repeating the relevant mantra. This is the most important topic in the Sattvata Samhita, which is classified amongst the texts known as Agama-Siddhanta. But in regard to the ritualistic aspect of worship, the Laksmi Tantra follows the tradition of the Jayakhya Samhita, which accords a central position to the worship of Visnu and His consort Laksmi. Texts of this nature, advocating the worship of a single deity, are called Tantra-Siddhanta. Indeed the Laksmi Tantra depends so largely on the Jayakhya Samhita that it frequently quotes lengthy passages of it. And moreover, one is often obliged to consult the Jayakhya Samhita in order to clarify many of the actual procedures of worship described in the Laksmi Tantra. For example, the description of the mystic diagram called 'nava-padma-mandala' is so terse and obscure that, without recourse to the Jayakhya Samhita, it is incomprehensible. But the Laksmi Tantra's point of departure from the Jayakhya Samhita is the emphasis it lays on the worship of Laksmi, rather than on that of Visnu. It is her retinue that is described and only the Tara-mantra is prescribed for almost all the various rites included in the full programme of worship. The text admits no ambiguity on this point. For instance, in chapter XVI it is said that the way to obtain liberation from the bondage of the material of the world is to worship Laksmi, the Visnu-sakti. One should abandon all other activities and concentrate solely on propitiating the goddess either directly, or indirectly through Visnu, in order to obtain spiritual release. Out of compassion she then comes to the devotee and liberates him by removing all his impurities.

The most striking feature of the Laksmi Tantra is its treatment of Pancaratra Philosophy. Like most texts of this nature, ours is also basically eclectic. This point is accentuated by its preoccupation with establishing Sakti as the supreme metaphysical principle. At the same time, it attempts to make a synthesis out of all the various concept current in the Pancaratra and Tantric milieu. It does not always succeed in blending all these notions smoothly. Sometimes contradictory ideas, such as Samkhya realism and radical monism (Advaitavedanta), are presented side by side. Nevertheless, at least some degree of harmonization has been achieved, particularly in the delineation of the cosmogony. This has given the Laksmi Tantra a revered position amongst the Pancaratra Agamas.