Kashmira, Kerala and Gauda Sampradaya

By admin on Aug 24, 2015 | In Srividya

There are three specific sampradāyas of Srīvidyā: Kāśmīra, Kerala and Gauḍa.

Shaktisangama Tantra divides the entire Indian sub-continent into 56 regions based on either Kādi or
Hādi classification. The land between Tibet and Neplāla encompassing the entire Himalayan region is
said to belong to Kāśmīra Sampradāya. In this school, Tripurā is worshiped based on Hādimata and
Ugratārā based on Kādimata. The chief characteristic of this school is the Dīkṣā into ūrdhvāmnāya
accomplished mainly through Shaktipāta. There seem to be two schemes of sub-categorization within
this school, each with a specific set of Tantras:

The first categorization is quasi-Vedic:

1. Rk-kāśmīra
2. YajuHkāśmīra
3. Sāmakāśmīra
4. Atharvakāśmīra

The worship of Tripurā is specific to the first two, while Tārā and to an extent Kālī are important to the
latter two schools.

There is yet another categorization:

1. Shaiva kāśmīra or Shuddha-mata

2. Shākta kāśmīra or Ugra-mata
3. Shiva-Shakti kāśmīra or Gupta-mata

I have my own theory about mapping these to Spanda, Krama, Kula etc., but that is a different topic.

Kerala Sampradāya is valid from Angadeśa all the way till Mālava. Here, Tripurā is worshiped based
on Kādimata and Kālikā based on Hādimata. The peculiarity of this Sampradāya is Shaṭśāmbhava
paddhati, and the sādhaka goes through various levels of dīkṣā up to Medhā. tThere are various sub-
schools, more or so heterogeneous, such as: Bhavasiddha, Harasiddha, Kalhāṭa, Gomukha, Vijnānī,
Pūrvakerala, Uttarakerala, Divya, Satya, Chaitanya, Chidghana, Sarvajña, Isha, Māheśvara,
Vishvarūpa, Venkaṭeśākhya etc. Obviously, this classification is not based on one single criterion.
Some are based on specific teachers, some others on region, and yet others are centered around deities
such as Venkaṭeśvara. It is stressed that though Divya, Mishra and Kaula are all followed in this
school, the core method is that of Dakṣiṇācāra and Vedic sanction is critical to this school in terms of
rituals, owing to a strong Smārta influence.

Gauḍa Sampradāya is prevalent between Silahaṭṭā to Sindhudeśa. Here, Tārā is worshiped based on
Hādimata and Kālikā based on Kādimata. Pūrṇābhiṣeka is of highest significance to this school. This
school is also categorized into Shuddha, Ugra and Gupta. While both Dakṣiṇācāra and Vāmācāra are
taught in this school, importance is greatly laid upon Vāma. While the other schools are quasi-Vedic,
this particular school proudly declares itself as purely Tāntric in nature.