Dattatreyam Gurum Devam | Dhyayannisham Sadashivam | Tanmantram Tasya Gitam Ca | Vyakurve Tat Prasadatah
Dattatreya Guru and God,I meditate on Him, auspicious one; His Mantra and His Hymn; I expound by His Divine Grace.

The Golden Thread

Within the sections of this Notebook it is intended to present the great spiritual sciences of Yoga, Shastra, Tantra, Vedanta (Upanishads), the early Vedas, and to deal with initiations, rites, rituals, customs and practices. We will base our Fundamentals on Absolute Wisdom, realized by Saints and Yogis in the heights of Samadhi, and brought down to a worldly level as their teachings. India is a land where the ancient way of life continued for thousands of years and presented a happy contented people who knew the real joy and rhythm of life. These were a people who knew how to be spiritual and when to be resigned, who taught the law of Karma and Rebirth to the world, who knew how to fulfil their duties, attend to their livelihood and enjoy the harmony of sexual pleasures, just as did the Great God Shiva with Parvati the Mother Goddess, to whom all Hindus bow in respect. This way of life goes beyond the sterility of mere theory. It finds fulfilment only in the living fire of practice.

Tantrik Origins

Yet it was from this beginning that there emerged groups of Tantrik Sadhus and Ascetics. It was these Tantrik Sadhus and Yogis who not only kept Tantra alive, but brought it to the real peak of development. Some of these Sadhus combined into separate sects such as the Aghoris and many others now extinct. In a land which had realized most of that which can be realized and taught most of that which could be taught, where the wisdom schools had reached the highest peaks, we cannot expect something new and unique either in teaching or in the outward form. It is therefore easy to understand that Tantra, especially the Tantra of the Yogis, presented a similar pattern in appearance to older and more ancient traditions, but gave it a new meaning.

The Descent of the Absolute

If Sri Dattatreya was an incarnation of the Lord Shiva, who or what is Lord Shiva? Both Vedic and Tantrik paths present and accept a multitude of Gods and Goddesses. Yet, in spite of their numerical strength, Indian Paganism teaches and propounds only one God or Absolute of which all Divine Names and Forms are but a manifestation. Different sects and schools of thought may differ in their acceptance of manifestation, but all accept the Absolute (Paramatman or Brahman) as being Supreme. So the manifestations and personifications become the product of the descent of the Absolute into the worldly plane.

Long before the Aryans came with their castes and Vedic teachings, the Lord Shiva and his Shakti (or consort) were worshipped throughout India and probably in many parts of Europe also. There is considerable evidence that the religion of Europe, before it was suppressed by Christianity, was a form of Phallus and Yoni worship, such as existed and still exists in India.

The Alchemy of the Absolute

The Tantriks continued the non-Aryan tradition of Shiva as the Cosmic Person and his Shakti personified as the Mother Goddess. Tantra eventually developed three harmonious schools based upon this. One gave first prominence to Shiva and another gave first prominence to Shakti. The third gave equal status to both. In the Tantrik scriptures, some present Shiva as the Guru with the Shakti as the Sishya receiving the teachings, while the Shakti schools reversed the position to present Shakti as the teacher giving instruction to Shiva. To discriminate between Gods is very relative and all comparisons have a very bad smell. Yet in spite of this there is something unique, wondrous, miraculous and most fascinating about the very concept of Shiva and his lovely Shakti. Nowadays iconography has degenerated to a very low level, where pictures and paintings of Shiva are more concerned with passing the censor than presenting Him as the scriptures described Him to be.

Guru And Sishya

The Guru-Sishya relationship is an indispensable part of Vedic and Tantrik Practice. Though theory can often be gathered from books, a living Preceptor, who has already trodden the path successfully is essential for all practice. It is based on the obvious recognition that disciples who are without practical experience of real spiritual life must receive competent instruction from a qualified person. There is also the dynamic magic of initiation to be considered. The Diksha rite, in which the Guru transmits something of himself to the Sishya, often increases or manifests his awareness. This Guru-Sishya relationship is a very intimate one and needs to be so for the Sishya's success. Actually it is a two-way process, for the Guru, in turn, is enabled to have a more intimate and deeper understanding of the disciple, and thereby is better able to guide and direct the course of progress. To become a Tantrik Sadhu, or Hindu Sannyasin, one must first receive the Sadhu initiation (Sannyasa Diksha) from one who is already initiated as a Sannyasin. This is the initiation of World Renunciation, where the disciple repeats the Praisha Mantra after the Guru. Once this Mantra has been spoken, the Sadhu must never again return to household life in this birth. A householder, following the path of Tantra, takes Guru Diksha from any Tantrik Guru, whether Sannyasin or householder.

Tantra differs from Vedic Hinduism insomuch as the wife must take Diksha also under the same Guru. Because of the nature of Tantrik initiation they usually take this Diksha at different times. In the Vedic tradition only the man is required to take initiation under a Guru. In Sannyasa sects, even in Tantrik mode, the initiation is sometimes a very complicated procedure subdivided into several stages. A householder can easily be taken on his face value, but for those who think they are prepared to renounce the world permanently, careful consideration and observation is required. When a Guru accepts a disciple, he also accepts a serious responsibility. Even if the Sishya cannot obtain Liberation (Moksha) in the present life, he must live in such a way that he secures a favourable rebirth in the next life, of such a kind that will contribute to his spiritual progress.

Gilt and Gold

Between the two very diverse paths of Pravritti and Nivritti there occurs a very special strata of society called the Mumukshas. It means one who has a great desire for Liberation and the Absolute. Mostly they remain as householders, as certain duties still bind them. On the other hand they may not feel desire or readiness to become Sadhus. It is among the Mumukshas that we find the very religious and devout of India, and their sincerity shines like a lamp in the darkness.

Hindu Paganism has always stressed that there are four legitimate aims in life, for which the householder should strive. Collectively they are called the Purusarthas, and they consist of Dharma, Righteousness and Duty; Artha, the Pursuit of Wealth and Property; Kama, Sensual Pleasures; and Moksha, Liberation. There is nothing akin to Western puritanism here. They are a pattern for a serious yet joyful life and one which will have a blissful spiritual unfoldment in the future. The four Purusarthas, the four "Noble Truths" of Pagan Life, are common to both Vedic and Tantrik patterns. He who finds the balance and harmony between these four is one who finds the real rhythm of life.

Naked Magicians

We are now dealing with an age when the majority of Sadhus and Yogis were always naked and nakedness was regarded as an essential demonstration of renunciation. Even at the time of Gautama the Buddha, Mahavira the Jain, and Gosala the Arjivika, nudity was the accepted pattern among Sadhus. The Tantrik Sadhu could not be an exception and there is little doubt that, from the early developments of Tantra, they became venerated for the display of powers and the blessings that they could bestow.

Naked Sadhus are still plentiful, though foreign visitors claim disappointment because they hardly ever see them. They are not easily found because they do not live in the big cities and tourist centres where the foreign visitors congregate. Also, because of changed conditions in India, naked Sadhus either only travel at night or wear a cloth when in public. In their Ashrams and Hermitages the ancient custom still persists. A real Sadhu or Yogi generally has no desire to draw needless attention to himself.

Tantra was the sect to introduce nudity, even for householders, when taking Diksha from a Guru. The rule was a wise one because Tantra was so firm in its understanding of the importance of the Guru- Sishya relationship. If a man could not accept the nature of a child before his spiritual father, then he was unworthy of initiation. Ancient traditions, related to forms of magic, stress that a Sadhu should be completely naked when invoking the powers and help of deities and spirits. Even householders, who dabbled in this art, followed the injunction.

Tantrik Initiation

He had previously initiated two disciples, but both of them died, and he made a vow not to give the Tantrik Sadhu Diksha to anyone anymore. After a few days, to my good fortune, he relented and gave me the Diksha. It was only after the Diksha that he gave answers to my questions and considerable information beyond my wildest hopes. He only spoke Bengali, but a young householder disciple translated the questions and answers. My own background and previous experience, to say nothing of my harmony with the Guru, made all his information easily understandable, and yet it was all beyond the translator. India has always made her most secret wisdom public, yet so much remains esoteric because it is not understood.

The actual initiation consisted of three stages spread out over three days. The first was similar to the initiation I had already received as a Natha. Of the last I cannot speak here, but the second was an experience. It was, in many respects, similar to that given to a householder. I only wore one garment, a Sadhu's robe, the word for which means a shroud. This I was told to remove and to go and sit in the Kali temple for one hour. The Kali temple was the one suitable and empty.

Naked Among the Gods

First there was the shining naked Parvati, moving with life, and yet standing still. I could hear Her rippling laughter as though something filled Her with delight and not amusement. Suddenly the image began to change and I became aware that the figure was the Lord Shiva, as naked as myself. He too was smiling with some delight, but this was not the same as the laughter of his consort.

I suddenly became aware of two figures standing behind me. Shiva waved his hand, indicating an instruction which the two figures obeyed. They put their hands on my face and peeled off some gauze- like material. As they did so the light and colour became so brilliant that I held my hands over my face. The whole scene changed into a whirling mass of stars and gyrating lights. Then came two simple personal visions relating to my own future. One of them has already matured, but the second can only occur afar I am dead. Suddenly a knock and the doors opened. At first I thought that the translator had returned to give some message. I was sure that he had left only five minutes ago, and certainly not more than ten minutes. But the hour of full sixty minutes had passed. During the vision of Shiva I heard a Mantra dearly and loudly spoken. When I returned to Pagala Baba, after my session in the temple, this was the same Mantra which he gave to me. There was no question of coincidence or chance. The Mantra was not only a very unusual one, but one which I had never heard of before.

The Regeneration of the Nathas

The real story begins with a Sadhu known as Siddha Kakkuti. He had received initiation and instruction from an ex-prince who became known as Lui-pada, well known in Tibetan legends. Siddha Kakkuti later took initiation from Siddha Carpati (a Natha) and was instructed by this Guru to complete his Sadhana (discipline) and live in Smashanas (burning grounds).

A simple fisherman named Mina became his lay disciple, continuing his occupation as a fisherman. One day he threw his baited line into the water and sat on the bank to practice his meditation. Suddenly the line, which was tied to his wrist, pulled taut. He tried to haul the fish in, but instead the fish pulled him into its mouth and he was swallowed. Because of the power of his meditation he did not die. Soon another fisherman caught the fish, while helpless in very shallow water. When the fish was cut open, Mina escaped.

Mina again returned to Siddha Carpati, this time taking his son with him. Both were given initiation as Sannyasins. His father became famous as the Siddha Mina and the son as Siddha Matsyendra. It was this Siddha Matsyendra who became known as the founder of the Natha Sampradaya. His two most important disciples were Caurangi and Gorakshanath. The latter was destined to eclipse his Master.

Gorakshanath the Guru

In India today there are many caves which are claimed to be places where Guru Gorakshanath spent time in meditation. Most have temples built over them. It was Gorakshanath who wrote the first books dealing with Layayoga and the "raising" of the Kundalini-Shakti, a Yoga which has now become much misunderstood and distorted. Matsyendranatha had proved himself be a genius in organization and many large Natha Ashrams were built in his lifetime, to give shelter to Nathas. It is not impossible that Laya Yoga was developed to occupy the time of the many Sadhus living in these establishments and to give them a sound practical basis for their search for Liberation. Around this same period the Buddhists had also been occupied with the problems of large monasteries and Bhikksu residents had devised the Abhidharma as a form of mental gymnastics, in order to occupy and develop their minds. Gorakshanath never became a God, nor was he worshipped by the Hindus as was Dattatreya. The temples where his images are enshrined are actually Natha Ashrams, where he reigns as the sect Guru.

Mad, Mystic and Magic

All these three sects have wilted with time, but the Nathas still remain numerically stronger. None of them were actually celibate sects, but they could not marry as that would have meant the return to household life. Mostly they were naked but one Natha sect adopted the custom of plaiting a dead Guru's hair into ropes and coiling it around the waist. The Nathas and Aghoris were both associated with magic powers, but while the Nathas were regarded as being the distributors of good luck and blessings, the Aghoris were associated with Black Siddhis or Black Magic. Alcohol was forbidden to Nathas and Vairagyis but the Aghoris were often drunkards. One Natha sect became known as the Pagala Naths or Mad Nathas, Nath being the colloquial form of Natha. They became known as such due to their mad and insane behaviour. But it was a mystical madness which flouted the conventions of the world for the mad desire for God.

Both Nathas and Aghoris have been closely associated with Tantra, though it was not so with some Nathas. The Pashupatis seemed to have remained completely outside Tantra, but this is probably because as a sect they did not like learning or scriptures, but practised renunciation in its severest forms.