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The 36 TattvasHe who is deluded by your maya sees not while he sees, understands notwhile he hears, and knows not the truth while he reads - KularnavaTantra

Because of the large number of possible blendings and re-blendings, the36th tattva - Shiva Shakti - may seem to become identified, conditionedand confused.

The five-foldness (prapancha) of the universe, according to this tantrikview, is shown in the table above. The three members of the tantrik"trinity", Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva-Rudra, represent the gunas, orqualities of rajas, sattva and tamas, which may be represented by theprinciples of active, reconciling and negative. From this triangle come allforms, including the five elements, through different blendings.

The individual (jiva) forgets her or his unlimited nature, which is actuallyone with Shiva-Shakti, considering herself or himself to be a limitedindividual (Purusha) with a certain nature (Prakriti).

This is a reflection or shadow of the 36th tattva with a mental apparatuswhich is itself also a reflection of Iccha, Jnana and Kriya Shaktis. Forinstance, the "I", the ahamkar, is the reflection of Iccha. This limitedindividual has powers of action and powers of knowledge and focuses onthe tanmatras, or impression objects, considering herself or himself to bedifferent from the five verities.

In this form, she or he plays in the world until realising the 36th tattvawhich is Shiva-Shakti itself, immanent in the universe and vibrating withthe power of sound. From another point of view, the 36 consonants areShiva and the 15 vowels are Shakti - the whole being the universe assound. The five verities are also sometimes described as the five Shivacorpses.

Artwork is © Jan Bailey, 1996-2006. Translations are © Mike Magee 1996-2006. Questions orcomments to mike.magee@btinternet.com

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