Shri Vidya

Devipuram SriMeru
The Shri Yantra (shown here in the three-dimensional projection known as Shri Meru Chakra or Maha Meru) is central to most Tantric forms of Shaktism.

Shri Vidya (ISO: Śrī Vidyā; lit. ''knowledge', 'learning', 'lore', or 'science''; sometimes also spelled Sri Vidya or Shree Vidya) is a Hindu Tantric religious system devoted to the Goddess Tripurasundarī, also known as Lalitā and Lalitā Mahātripurasundarī.

In the principally Shakta theology of Śrī Vidyā "the goddess is supreme, transcending the cosmos which is yet a manifestation of her." She is worshiped in the form of a mystical diagram (Sanskrit: yantra), a central focus and ritual object composed of nine intersecting triangles, called the Shri Yantra or Śrī Cakra.

The south Indian tradition of Sri Vidya generally focuses on Lalitā Tripurasundarī (Beautiful Goddess of the Three Worlds) as the main form of Mahadevi. Apart from Mahātripurasundarī, other important deities in this tradition include Gaṇapati, Bālā, Rājamātaṅgī, Mahāvārāhī, and Parā. The most important source for this branch of Sri Vidya is the Paraśurāma Kalpasūtra. A thousand names for this form of Devī are recited in the Lalitā Sahasranāma, which expounds critical Śrī Vidyā concepts. The tradition accepts and aims to provide both material prosperity and self-realisation. It has an extensive literature.

Shri Vidya teachings are traditionally transmitted through an unbroken lineage of gurus. This ensures the authenticity and integrity of the practices. Without initiation from a qualified guru, it is believed that the full spiritual potential of the practice cannot be realized.

Some legendary sages and teachers of Shri Vidya are Sage Agastya, Sage Vasishtha, Dattatreya, Sage Parashurama, Sage Angiras and Sage Shaunaka.

One of the most important scholars of Sri Vidya is undoubtedly Bhāskararāya (1690–1785), who wrote over 40 works explaining and defending Sri Vidya from multiple perspectives. Bhāskararāya is the author of key Sri Vidya texts like the Saubhāgyabhāskara (a commentary to the Lalitā Sahasranāma), Varivasyārahasya (a work on the inner meaning of the Sri Vidya mantra and worship) and a commentary, entitled Setubandha, on the Nityāṣōḍaśikārṇava Tantra. Bhāskararāya builds on the commentaries and interpretations of the earlier and foundational Sri Vidya gurus and commentators such as Śivānandamuni, Vidyānanda, and Amṛtānandayogin.

Major texts

References

Notes

  1. ↑ For goddess as supreme and beyond the manifest cosmos, see: Flood 1996, p. 188.
  2. ↑ For influence on the Lalitā Sahasranāma and a brief summary of some Śrī Vidyā practices see: Sastry 1986, pp. vii–ix.

Citations

  1. ↑ Apte 1965, p. 857.
  2. ↑ Flood 1996, pp. 187–188.
  3. ↑ Bhattacharyya 1999, p. 329.
  4. ↑ Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (1996). Auspicious wisdom: the texts and traditions of Srīvidyā Sākta Tantrism in South India. Suny series in tantric studies (1. publ. in India ed.). New Delhi: Manohar. p. 73. ISBN 978-81-7304-170-9.
  5. ↑ Brooks 1990, pp. x–xiv.
  6. ↑ Brooks 1992, p. 23.
  7. 1 2 Sanderson, Alexis (2013). "The Śaiva Literature". Journal of Indological Studies. 24&25: 72.

Works cited

  • Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965), The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (Fourth revised and enlarged ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, ISBN 81-208-0567-4.
  • Bhattacharyya, N. N. (1999), History of the Tantric Religion (Second revised ed.), New Delhi: Manohar, ISBN 81-7304-025-7.
  • Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (1990), Secret of the Three Cities, University of Chicago Press, ISBN 978-0-226-07570-9.
  • Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (1992), Auspicious Wisdom: The Texts and Traditions of Srividya Sakta Tantrism in South India, State University of New York Press, ISBN 978-0-7914-1145-2.
  • Flood, Gavin (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, ISBN 0-521-43878-0.
  • Sastry, R. Ananthakrishna (1986), Lalitāsahasranāma, Delhi: Gian Publishing House.

Further reading