Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm

Home Site Map CDs Kundalini Shakti Yoga/Vedanta/Tantra

Home
Yoga
Icons

About
Connections
Mind

Basics
Interactive
CDs

Kundalini Awakening
Index Kundalini Awakening
6 Schools Indian Philosophy

Meditation
Mantra
Kundalini

Practices
Yoga Sutras
Levels

Philosophy
Karma
Fun/Misc.

Tradition
Lifestyle

Shakti, Kundalini, River

Chakra Meditation - Bhuta Shuddhi
Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra

Schools of Tantra:
Kaula, Mishra, & Samaya
by Swami Jnaneshvara Bharati
SwamiJ.com

Tantra considers the universe to be a manifestation of pure consciousness.

Through this process of manifesting, consciousness divides itself into two parts,
which cannot exist without one another (though appearing to divide, they
actually remain one and the same). One aspect remains as a static, formless
quality (shiva), while the other is a dynamic, creative aspect (shakti). The two
eternally coexist, like ink and the written word, which, though one and the same,
are dierent. The journey of Tantra is to know them both, at once, as one.
Through a process of kundalini awakening, the two are eventually experienced in
their state of union. In the Himalayan tradition, Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra are
companion practices.
Audio Podcast: The Secret of Shiva and Shakti
Contents of this web page:
Introduction
Awareness of the 3 schools
Kaula school of Tantra
Mishra school of Tantra
Samaya school of Tantra
Choosing a path of Tantra
Tantra, Yoga, and Vedanta
Mantra, Yantra, and Tantra
See also the article:
Bindu: Pinnacle of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra

In most modern descriptions of Tantra,

two types are mentioned, Left-Handed
Tantra and Right-Handed Tantra. (Many
are not aware of this division, thinking
that all Tantra is Left-Handed.)

However, this view of Tantra is

incomplete. The Left-Handed and RightHanded Tantras are both aspects of Kaula
Tantra, which is only one of the three
major schools of Tantra. (There are many
within those three)

The higher Tantras are Mishra and

Samaya. The dierences between these
three schools of Tantra are described in

1 of 8

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm
the text below. (Many of the modern
practitioners of Tantra are not aware of
Mishra Tantra and Samaya Tantra, and
unknowingly use the single word Tantra to
describe Kaula Tantra.)

top
Introduction
It is often taught that there are two schools of Tantra, the left-handed path and
the right-handed path, depending on the nature of the practices. However, these
two are actually divisions within one school, that of Kaula Tantra. The other two
are the Mishra and Samaya schools of Tantra. All systems or methods of Tantra
fall into one of these three schools, though there may be many subdivisions
within these three.
The Kaula Tantra school utilizes external practices and rituals, while the Samaya
school is completely an internal process. The Mishra Tantra school mixes the
external practices and rituals, along with internal practices. The three schools are
progressively higher, with Kaula Tantra being the lower, Mishra Tantra going
further inward, and Samaya Tantra for those who are prepared to do the
advanced practices.
By being aware of all three schools of Tantra, one can more wisely see how Tantra
might t into his or her personal spiritual practices, not limiting one's scope to
the choice between the two Kaula Tantra paths.
Each of the three schools of Tantra believe in purifying of the body, breath, mind,
and the latent impressions called samskaras, which are the driving force behind
karma. The purifying process is called bhutashuddhi, which means purifying of
the ve elements of earth, water, re, air, and space in the various ways in which
they manifest.
Each of the schools of Tantra also practice methods for awakening the spiritual
energy of kundalini, though the methods and the height attained in that kundalini
awakening may dier. Some of the methods of Tantra are taught under the
names Kundalini Yoga or Kriya Yoga.

2 of 8

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm

top
Awareness of the 3 schools
To give an idea of how little public awareness there is of these schools of Tantra, a
search was done in the Google search engine for how many web pages contained
these various terms (October, 2002). Here were the results:

3 of 8

Keyword of search:

Number of web pages

with those keywords:

Tantra

429,000 (2,480,000*)

"Kaula Tantra"

38 (284*)

"Mishra Tantra"

2 (84*)

"Samaya Tantra"

4 (24*)

All of the 4 words: Kaula, Mishra,

Samaya, Tantra

8 (31*)

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm
* Updated March, 2005
top

Kaula Tantra
Kaula Tantra is external Tantra that focuses on concrete practices and rituals. The
left-handed Tantrics perform their worships with the use of meat, sh, intoxicants,
mudras (certain gestures), and sexual contact. The right-handed Tantrics perform
these rituals only symbolically.
Kaula Tantra focuses its practice on the Muladhara chakra, the rst chakra, at the
base of the spine. The Kaula Tantra practices are training for having control over
the lower desires and physical needs of the body. The energy of the kundalini
awakening is considered the divine feminine force, and is to be revered rather
than used for mere sensual gratication.
Some right-handed Kaula Tantrics explain that their practice is higher than the
left-handed, by virtue of the right-handed practices being only symbolic. Some of
the practitioners of left-handed Tantrics explain that their practices are higher
than the right-handed by virtue of their secrecy, pointing out that it is harder to
nd a teacher of these processes.
However, both schools of Kaula Tantra will sometimes miss the fact that Mishra
Tantra and Samaya Tantra schools are still more advanced than either of the
Kaula Tantra schools. Possibly this is because of human nature that wants to
justify a current level of attainment as higher than it really is. Swami Rama has
explained that Kaula Tantra is for those who are not very intellectual and have
less awareness, that it is for the third class student, while Mishra Tantra and
Samaya Tantra are for the second and rst class student.
Much has been written about Kaula Tantra practices (though much more is not
written). The Sanskrit scholars have access to many thousands of hand-written
manuscripts about the mantras and rituals that go along with these practices.
Some of these are reportedly useful, while others have been called little more
than gossip.
For the student seeking this path, there appears to be many choices of places to
go, people to learn from, books and manuscripts to read, and rituals to perform. It
is no wonder that Kaula Tantra is the Tantra that has become so well known in
these modern times.
However, the student would do well to be wary when choosing a teacher, as there
seems to be a great deal of less than authentic guidance available. Some of the
modern behaviors that have been labeled Tantra are only hedonism given a
spiritual name, and are taught by people with little knowledge or experience of
authentic Kaula Tantra or the higher schools of Tantra.
top
Mishra Tantra
Higher than the Kaula Tantra school is the Mishra school of Tantra. Mishra Tantra
performs both external and internal rituals, and is thus a mixture. Mishra means
mixed.
Mishra Tantra focuses its practice on the Anahata chakra, the fourth chakra, at
the heart center, where there is devotion practiced to the mother, feminine, or
creative principle of the universe.
The Mishra Tantra practices are inner practices (antaryaga), and direct the
one-pointed mind inward. The pujas, or rituals are done in the eld of mind, and
are thus referred to as manas puja, or mental rituals. These pujas are done with
feelings of devotion and non-attachment, and do not involve any external
objects.
The energy from kundalini awakening is brought upward from the root chakra to
the heart chakra, the space between the breasts, where it is experienced as a
relationship with the divine.
top
Samaya Tantra

4 of 8

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm

Higher than both the Kaula Tantra and Mishra Tantra schools is the Samaya school
of Tantra. It is a purely yogic practice, without any external rituals. Its entire
purpose is Self-Realization, ultimately leading to moksha, nal liberation.
The word Samaya literally means "I am with you," referring to the bestowing of
shakti from within through shaktipat (not that an external person is with you).
Through meditation and this divine inner companionship, the aspirant is guided in
non-attachment to the external pleasures, channeling the energy of kundalini
awakening ever upward to spiritual union.
Samaya Tantra seeks to practice at the Sahasrara chakra, the seventh of the
seven major chakras, at the crown of the head. Along the upward journey (urdhva
retas), each of the other chakras is illumined by the awakened kundalini. The
meditators of the Samaya Tantra school focus on the Ajna chakra, in the space
between the eyebrows, after which the antaryaga, inner practice, is done in the
Sahasrara, crown chakra.
Samaya Tantra and Raja Yoga (Yoga Sutras) are similar,
though the Samaya Tantra practice is subtler, and is a
path practiced by very few people. It is the most
advanced of the schools of Yoga and Yoga meditation.
Samaya Tantra practices Sri Vidya, the mother of all
the vidyas (ways of knowing). Because of its subtler
nature, and the fact that the higher teachings are
imparted in meditation, rather than on meditation,
there is far less written about Samaya Tantra than
Kaula Tantra or Raja Yoga. The aspirant puries the
samskaras through the re of guru chakra, as well as receiving the downward
owing intuitions.
Tripura: In the Himalayan tradition, the aspirant clears the mind through the
practice of Yoga meditation as codied in the Yoga Sutras by Patanjali, does
self-enquiry of Vedanta, and then breaks through the nal barrier with Samaya
Tantra and Sri Vidya (The practices of Sri Vidya are said to have been known to
the more esoteric practitioners of the worlds most known religions, although they
have been lost publicly over time). Central to the practices is Maha Tripura
Sundari, the great, beautiful one, essence, consciousness, or reality that dwells
in the three "cities" (tripura, or three cities including: gross, subtle, causal;
waking, dreaming, sleeping; conscious, unconscious, subconscious).

5 of 8

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm

(More videos by Swami Jnaneshvara)

After the aspirant is fully prepared, the meditation in the eyebrow center, Ajna
chakra, eventually reveals the channel called brahma nadi, which is an extension
of the sushumna channel of the subtle spine. Awareness travels up that nadi, and
encounters and meditates on the point called bindu, which is like a pearl, and is
the point of emergence of the mind itself. Then, when the student is ready, the
pearl is pierced, or exploded through the gift of consciousness or shakti, which is
called shaktipat, and is the grace of the teaching spirit called Guru. Like crashing
through a series of walls, one experiences many layers of consciousness, and
nally emerges into the realization of the Absolute Reality, the union of the static
and dynamic principles.
See also the article:
Bindu: Pinnacle of Yoga, Vedanta and Tantra
Samaya Tantra is ultimately more like a deep communion with the creative force
of the universe, than worship in a ritualistic sense. It brings an intense and
inexplicable joy that is beyond time, space and causation, as one becomes like a
divine child, frolicking in the union of the mother and father principles of the
universe, which is the oneness of all. Not only is there realization in itself, but
there is also an outward owing of the eect of this through each of the koshas.
See also these pages relating to Tripura, the one in the three cities:
Tripura Upanishad
Bavricha Upanishad
Tripura Tapini Upanishad
Saundaryalahari
Gayatri
Mahamrityunjaya
Secret of Shiva and Shakti
Om Mantra
Mahatripurasundari dimahi
Levels articles
See also these links on Sri Vidya (from shivashakti.com):
Philosophy of Tripura Tantra
Sri Vidya Ratna Sutras
Lalita Tripurasundari
Lalita's Paradise Island
top
Choosing a Tantra path
Tantra has to do with the subtle energy that is behind, or is the ground of the
entire physical and mental aspects of our being. On the spiritual journey, the
sincere seeker will ultimately encounter the energy of kundalini awakening,
regardless of what path is chosen. This encounter is unavoidable for the simple
reason that this energy truly is at the root of the grosser realities. Therefore,
many spiritual practitioners choose to consciously work with this powerful force.

6 of 8

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm

For those with a theistic leaning, who enjoy the ritual aspects of practice, Tantra
is there to serve. For those whose inclination is to go directly into the inner
energy, diving to the core of our own being, that too is there, within the teachings
of Tantra, for those who are prepared.
The choice rests with each individual, whether to pursue spirituality to this depth,
or to stay in the shallow waters of mere belief systems. If the seeker decides to
dive deep into the inner being, the dierent schools of Tantra oer the means to
do so, in line with one's individual predispositions.
top
Tantra, Yoga, and Vedanta
In the tradition of the sages of the cave monasteries of the Himalayas, the
kundalini awakening of Tantra does not stand alone as a practice. It is built on a
foundation of purifying the mind through Yoga, as codied by Patanjali in the Yoga
Sutras, and the practices of self-enquiry from Advaita Vedanta.
(See the paper on Yoga, Vedanta, and Tantra.)
top
Mantra, Yantra, and Tantra
In addition, there are three other principles that go together, Mantra, Yantra, and
Tantra:
Mantra has to do with sound vibration, at both its gross and subtle levels.
Yantra has to do with light vibration and its form, both at gross and subtle
levels.
Tantra has to do with the methods of dealing with, and going beyond both
light and sound.

------This site is devoted to presenting the ancient Self-Realization path of the

Tradition of the Himalayan masters in simple, understandable and beneficial
ways, while not compromising quality or depth. The goal of our sadhana or
practices is the highest Joy that comes from the Realization in direct
experience of the center of consciousness, the Self, the Atman or Purusha,
which is one and the same with the Absolute Reality. This Self-Realization
comes through Yoga meditation of the Yoga Sutras, the contemplative insight of
Advaita Vedanta, and the intense devotion of Samaya Sri Vidya Tantra, the
three of which complement one another like fingers on a hand. We employ the
classical approaches of Raja, Jnana, Karma, and Bhakti Yoga, as well as
Hatha, Kriya, Kundalini, Laya, Mantra, Nada, Siddha, and Tantra Yoga.
Meditation, contemplation, mantra and prayer finally converge into a unified
force directed towards the final stage, piercing the pearl of wisdom called bindu,
leading to the Absolute.

7 of 8

13/09/15 18:16

Schools of Tantra: Kaula, Mishra, and Samaya

8 of 8

http://www.swamij.com/tantra.htm

13/09/15 18:16