Tantra The Science & Natya The Art

Contents Dedications Acknowledgements Introduction Chapter - I: Antiquity and Meaning of Natya and Tantra 1-22 1 Tantra Origin and Traditions 1 2 Tantra and the Vedas 2 3 History of Tantra 6 4 Hinduism today 6 5 Tantric Guru Dattatreya 7 6 Natya Origin and Traditions 8 7 The Origian of Drama 11 8 The Uprising 14 9 The Two Traditions of Tantra and Natya with historical parallels. 15 Chapter - 11: Process, Practices, Methods followed. 23-58 1 Tantra Practices 24 2 The Meditational aspects 26 3 The Tantric Chakras 27 4 Guru and Sisya 28 5 Bharatanatyam 30 6 The Technique & style 31 7 Definition of Abhinaya 34 8 What is that entity called Rasa? 41 9 The inter-relation in the branches of both streams 48 Chapter - III 59-128 1 Symbolism and its relevance 59 2 Lalita Tripurasundari, the Red Goddess 62 3 Formation of the Shri Yantra 63 4 The Nine Mandalas of the Shri Yantra 64 5 Mandala of Sixteen Petals 65 6 Mandala of Eight Petals 66 7 Mandala of Fourteen Triangles 66 8 Outer 10 Triangles 66 9 Eight Triangles 66 10 The Four Weapons 67 11 Yantra Mantra Tantra of Lalita 68 12 Lalita as the Whole Universe 70 13 Sixty four Tantras 71 14 Planets 73 15 Yoginis 73 16 The Nadis and the Marmas 73 17 Breath is Time 74 18 Sound 75 19 Chakras and the 64 Y oginis 75 20 Important themes and symbols in Hinduism 76 21 Tantra Mudras 78 22 Tantric Yoga and Mudra 79 23 Tantric Buddism and Mudras 82 Advaita and Visishtadvaita Vedanta philosophies in relation to tantra and Natya 1 Advaita compared to Tantra philosophies - 167 2 Non duality: Advaita Vedanta 169 3 Brahman 170 4 Maya 170 5 Application of the Mahavakyas - lithe great sentences", a parallel stuydy with Natya 171 6 Kashmir Saivism 173 7 Advaita and Science 174 8 Qualified non-dualism: Visishtadvaita 177 9 Brahman, the Ultimate Person 178 10 The traditional favorites in worship who are often the protagonists in performing arts 179 11 Famous Bhakti saints whose contribution to music and dance is immense 180 12 The role of Bhakti Bhava and Prema Bhava in dance - A dancer's Quest 181 13 Brahman in Tantra 184 14 Unitariness with Natya & 15. The Absolute - Vedanta & Tantra /Natya 185 Conclusion 193 Appendix 204 Bibliography 210 Glossary 214 24 Natya Hastabhinaya (Hand Gestures) 90 0 Difference between the two 91 26 Symbolism of Deities represented in dance 91 27 Non-combined and Combined gestures of Natya 93 28 Nritta hastas 119 29 The Supreme dancer Siva 122 30 The Sanskrit theatre form 126 31 The relevance of these Symbolizing art forms 127 Chapter - IV 129-166 Schools and Branches of Tantra and Natya 1 Hindu Tantra 129 2 Features of Saivism 131 The rituals 133 Saktism 134 Sakta worship 135 y ogini Cult 138 Buddhism 140 The Noble Eightfold Path 141 Emergence of the Vajrayana /Tantrayana/Tibetan Buddism 141 Tantric practices in temples of Kerala -Malabar School 143 Tantric connotations in emergence of schools and branches of Natya 146 Elements that broadly classify the schools -The Rationale behind the distinct styles 149 The Tradition followed by the schools 152 Rhythmic Features of Natya and the significant of music 153 Tantric worship of the Chakras 156 Kundalini Sakti 160 Gurus 163 Chapter - V 167-192