Tantra and Agama
Agama and Tantra of Hinduism
Agamas and Tantras are a class of literature that come under Sruthi and thus very sacred and to be followed without any deviation. References to the Agama tradition are found in Atharvaveda hence some of these literatures are as old as Vedas but bulk of the literature is from the later period when temple worship became more popular. Like all other Hindu literature this was also transferred from generation to generation by aural tradition. Agamas are called Sadhanasastras or the practical ritualistic part of religion than philosophical when compared to Vedas (Nigamas). Agama and Tantra are closely related with the worship of deities and are classed under major three sects, namely Sakta, Saiva and Vaishnava. Agama literatures is available for other deities like Saura, Ganpathya, Svyambhuva (Brahma), Chandra, Kumara, Yaksha etc, but not much popular. 320 Agamas are considered as most important of which 77 are Shakteya Agamas, 28 are Saiva Agamas, and 215 Vaishnava are Agamas. There are again a countless other agama literature available with many kula (families) and gotras though only very few of them is available in print; the remaining are still in palm leaves or continues with its oral traditions. The word Tantra is used for Sakteya text of Agama, but in general both the words are synonymous. Apart from Sanskrit there are a considerable number of Agama literatures available in Tamil. The Hindu Agama literatures are also available with every language in India and neighboring countries like Indonesia, China, Tibet and Burma. The Buddhists and Jains have their own Agama that developed in parallel with Hindu Agamas.
Agama literatures act as a manual by its Vidhi (injunction) and Niyama(regulation) for the religious practices in temples and houses. The worship in temple widely borrowed Vedic rites but followed the ritualistic practices from tantric tradition. It is with the Agama philosophy that a devotee is seeking grace, mercy and
Agamas and Tantras are a class of literature that come under Sruthi and thus very sacred and to be followed without any deviation. References to the Agama tradition are found in Atharvaveda hence some of these literatures are as old as Vedas but bulk of the literature is from the later period when temple worship became more popular. Like all other Hindu literature this was also transferred from generation to generation by aural tradition. Agamas are called Sadhanasastras or the practical ritualistic part of religion than philosophical when compared to Vedas (Nigamas). Agama and Tantra are closely related with the worship of deities and are classed under major three sects, namely Sakta, Saiva and Vaishnava. Agama literatures is available for other deities like Saura, Ganpathya, Svyambhuva (Brahma), Chandra, Kumara, Yaksha etc, but not much popular. 320 Agamas are considered as most important of which 77 are Shakteya Agamas, 28 are Saiva Agamas, and 215 Vaishnava are Agamas. There are again a countless other agama literature available with many kula (families) and gotras though only very few of them is available in print; the remaining are still in palm leaves or continues with its oral traditions. The word Tantra is used for Sakteya text of Agama, but in general both the words are synonymous. Apart from Sanskrit there are a considerable number of Agama literatures available in Tamil. The Hindu Agama literatures are also available with every language in India and neighboring countries like Indonesia, China, Tibet and Burma. The Buddhists and Jains have their own Agama that developed in parallel with Hindu Agamas.
Agama literatures act as a manual by its Vidhi (injunction) and Niyama(regulation) for the religious practices in temples and houses. The worship in temple widely borrowed Vedic rites but followed the ritualistic practices from tantric tradition. It is with the Agama philosophy that a devotee is seeking grace, mercy and