Is it truly the case that the Divine would impart techniques for practices like black magic, Vashikaran (subjugation rituals), Panch Mundi Sadhana, the consumption of alcohol, or animal sacrifice (Bali)? These are the practices employed in the Vama Char worship of the Mahavidyas and in Bhairav Sadhana. Who actually originated these practices? Was it the Divine—Lord Shiva—or are these Tantra practitioners merely misinterpreting the scriptures? What, in reality, is Tantra?
India is a land dedicated to all kinds of spiritual explorations and discoveries. It has opened several doors upon the Divine out of which Tantra, including the Vama Marg is one of them.
Tantra is one of the paths among many towards the Divine. Unlike the Vedanta that leans upon Purusha, the Tantra leans upon Shakti. It means that while Vedanta takes up the various faculties and powers of the mind and heart and will to reach the Divine, Tantra takes up the various energies and movements of life to turn them towards God. But the energies and movements of life do not operate only in the upper domains of mind, heart, will but also in the lower and even lowest domains. And since everything ultimately owes its origin to the One Divine Power, Tantra tried to discover the Divine Energies operating even in the most mundane and carnal activities; it tried to explore through these hitherto unexplored and dangerous territories. It is somewhat like a scientist studying the sexual movements to see how best they can be uplifted and sublimated, or food to see how the need can be minimised. Tantra, in its origin is a superscience of life, just as Vedanta can be taken as a superscience of the mind.
True Tantra has little to do with its western interpretations and modern uninformed practices such as is popular under its name. Yes, it has its own dangers and pitfalls. That is why Tantra, unlike the Vedanta, needs a living Guru because you are dealing with tremendous energies and forces of nature. It is not supposed to be undertaken by reading a book or taking any kind of weird practitioner as a guru.
2) What’s your take on bali pratha at Kali temples, Tara temple( Tarapith) and Kamakhya Shaktipeeth? Is it really true that the divine mother wants bali, or is it human greed to acquire power through asuric means? What are the consequences after that?
Bali pratha, sacrifice of animals and, much earlier, even of a human being, was a way of reminding certain primitive layers of humanity that there is a higher Power and life is meant for sacrifice to this Power and, in return, receiving boons of various powers from that one Divine Energy. It was primarily a practice of certain asuric warring sects and demonic cults. They have no role in an evolved humanity, just as sacrificing cows, goats, and other animals to the palate and the belly god has little role in a developed, subtler, refined humanity but persists out of habit and blind beliefs. So too with the Bali pratha.
Affectionately,
Alok Da
