Mudras in Srividya Upasana

Sri̅vidya mantra is very secretive, therefore none of these secrets can be learned by reading books. Srividya mantras are to be understood and attained by the guru himself. Srividya Upasana uses many mudra̅s, some of which are also found in the Kerala Tantra system. Mudra̅s and their applications differ from Tantra according tothe differences in pu̅javidhi. Srividya Upasana is a very great ritual that cannot be written in one article, so this article mostly describes the mudras used in Srividya Upasana and the rituals associated with it only.

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TANTRA AND NATYA

Abstract: Tantra has influenced Natya in many ways. While Tantra arose from the Agamas, Natya arose from the Vedas. Acaryalaksanas are more extensive in Tantra than Natya. Hastas are used in Natya to complete the performance and interact with the audience while in the Tantra mudra is used to interact with the murti. Lord Shiva stands as Guru in Natya and Tantra. Dakshinamurthy swarupa of Lord Shiva in Tantra and Nataraja swarupa in Natya adorns Gurustan. When Puja is performed in temples, dance, song, and musical instruments accompany the pujafrom outside. In Natya, the Ashtadikpalakasare worshiped through pushpanjali (an item), while the Dashadhikpalakas are worshiped in Tantra along with the murtis. Mudras are classified in Tantra based on the puja vidhis. In Natya, there are three categories of Asamyutahasta, Samyutahasta,and Nritahasta

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Ashtadasha Vadyam’s and Temple Arts of Kerala

Abstract: Kerala – The God’s Own Country – is filled with the presence of music, dance, musical instruments, temple arts and temple rituals. The history of various traditional art forms rests in the soil of Kerala. About eighteen musical instruments are known as ‘Kshetra Vadyam’. It includes ‘Deva vadyam’ and ‘Asura Vadyam’ from which the distinct place for‘Chenda’ can be acknowledged by observing where it is present. It might be ‘Chenda’s resonance that make the seventeen ‘Ashtadasha Vadyam’s to below the ‘Chenda’. Some of the musical instruments which are being used forPooja rituals in temples are also being used for some classical dance forms in Kerala.

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