Tantrikam

Priest Eswaran Nampoothiri

(Translated from Malayalam by Smt. Rugminy Mami)

rakriti is the elemental nature of anything and Vikriti

is the imbalance that results when it grows out of harmony with that nature. Soma Yagam is the origin of
all Yagas and hence the Prakriti of Yagas. Similarly, Tantrika
Shastra is considered to be the Prakriti of all Pooja Vidhanams (procedures).
The fundamental basis of Dharma Shaastras asserts that
mankinds destiny is determined by his/her own past
and present desires and actions. The samskaras, or the
performance of purificatory rites, such as oblations, homas
and yagas are dependent on the virtues acquired by his/her
dharmic actions and desires during his relationship with
mankind.
Men who performed severe penance (tapas) in the Krita
Yuga, gained abundant knowledge in the Treta Yuga and
started yagna samskaras in the Dvapara Yuga. The reason
for this was that these men foresaw the upcoming dangers
due to the destruction of nature that started in the Dvapara
Yuga, and started the yagna samskaras as a counter measure
to overcome the ill effects of the destruction of nature. It was
around 9 lakh (nine hundred thousand) years ago that the
first Yagnas were started by mankind, based on the principles
of Tantrikam.
Tantrika tradition is based on the Pancha Maha Yagna (Five
Great Yagnas). If you examine the Tantrika puja in a top rated
temple, you can find the combination of these five yagnas
being performed: Brahma Yagna, Deva Yagna, Pithru Yagna,
Bhoota Yagna, and Manushya Yagna.
Temples are a replicate image of the Yaaga Saalas. The units
of length used for sizing the Yaagasaala are related to the

height of the Yajamaanan (Owner), and hence vary for each

Yaagam. Most of the measurements are made using a kol or
stick, one prakramam (P) long (roughly 55 cm for a 175 cm
tall yajamaanan. When using kols of prakramam or arani to
build the Yaagasaala, the deity inside the Temples Sanctum
Sanctorum is conceptualized to be the fire ball in the
Yaagasaala and the size of the temple will be proportionate
to the size of the deity.
Conducting Yaagam is not a routine matter. It is very involved
and requires elaborate preparation and detailed planning,
and management. Over time when the population started
increasing, conducting Yaagams became difficult to manage.
So the concept of temples for daily worship became popular.
Temples were built according to the Tantrik Paddathy for
this purpose with deities consecrated for the purpose of daily
puja rituals. So, the installation of deities, daily puja practices
originated from Tantrika traditions based on the Pancha
Maha Yagnas. The Tantrika Kriyas performed at the five
praakaaras follows the Yagna principle. The Pragwaamsam
area of the Yaagasaala is the temples sanctum sanctorum. If
you examine the Tantrika Kriyas performed in the sanctum,
you will observe that they have a one to one relationship
with the Pancha Maha Yagnam. The majority of the temples
consecrated as per Tantrik tradition will be those consecrated
using the shadaadhara prathishta.
When incidents like natures fury, or vandalism, or sinful acts
happen in the temple, the temples sanctity declines. Daily
pujas can bring back peace to the temple environment. The
Tantrik rituals can preserve and increase the sanctity of the
temple.

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