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The northern Indian orthodox Aryans, full of Aryan chauvinism (actually they too were Tantrics, but outwardly displayed an enamel coating of Aryanism), were reluctant to accept the highly Tantric areas such as Aunga [Monghyr and its adjacent areas], Vaunga [Bengal]),* Kaliunga [Orissa], Mithila and Magadha [Bihar] as part of their A'ryavarrta. For them Ka'shii [Benares] served as the eastern border of the A'ryavarrta.
These orthodox, but internally Tantric, people could not avoid being influenced by the Tantric civilization of eastern India even in their external life. The predominance of the Bengali script of east India (Shrii Hars'a Lipi) extended up to Praya'ga in the far west. Most Sanskrit books on Hindu and Buddhist Tantra were written in this Bengali script. After the Muslim invasion, the influence of east India upon north India began to wane gradually. At about that time some Nagar Brahmans from Vedic Gujrat went to northern India to propagate the Vedas and the Sanskrit language. They used Na'grii script for writing Sanskrit, and under the Brahman's influence the Na'grii script too gradually became popular in northern India. The use of Bengali script became confined to eastern India only. It is worth noting that many of the Na'gar Brahmans of Gujrat were followers of Tantra, particularly Vaes'n'ava Tantra.
The greatest difference between the Aryans and the non-Aryans was in their outlook. The Aryans wanted to establish their dominance on the basis of their racial superiority, whereas the non-Aryans, following the precepts of Tantra, did not recognize any distinction among people. the identity of everyone was the same: all belonged to the same family, the family of Shiva. In the first stage of sa'dhana', everyone is an animal. To merge in Brahmatva [Cosmic Consciousness], after first elevating themselves to devatva [god-hood], was their sa'dhana'. But in the first stage, while still rising above crude animality, their adorable Shiva was known as "Pashupati", "Lord of Animality".
Here it is necessary to remember that Tantra is not a religion, but a way of life, a system of sa'dhana'.
* Editor's note: The va sound was later changed to ba under the influence of Muslim pronunciation, so the letter was changed as well. In modern Bengali there is no difference in pronunciation between ba and va, but the difference in spelling persists.
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Possible Pashupati Shiva on a seal found in the Mohenjo-daro excavations, dated at about 2350-2000 BCE.
Shiva_Pashupati.jpg
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The northern Indian orthodox Aryans, full of Aryan chauvinism (actually they too were Tantrics, but outwardly displayed an enamel coating of Aryanism), were reluctant to accept the highly Tantric areas such as Aunga [Monghyr and its adjacent areas], Vaunga [Bengal]),* Kaliunga [Orissa], Mithila and Magadha [Bihar] as part of their A'ryavarrta. For them Ka'shii [Benares] served as the eastern border of the A'ryavarrta.
These orthodox, but internally Tantric, people could not avoid being influenced by the Tantric civilization of eastern India even in their external life. The predominance of the Bengali script of east India (Shrii Hars'a Lipi) extended up to Praya'ga in the far west. Most Sanskrit books on Hindu and Buddhist Tantra were written in this Bengali script. After the Muslim invasion, the influence of east India upon north India began to wane gradually. At about that time some Nagar Brahmans from Vedic Gujrat went to northern India to propagate the Vedas and the Sanskrit language. They used Na'grii script for writing Sanskrit, and under the Brahman's influence the Na'grii script too gradually became popular in northern India. The use of Bengali script became confined to eastern India only. It is worth noting that many of the Na'gar Brahmans of Gujrat were followers of Tantra, particularly Vaes'n'ava Tantra.
The greatest difference between the Aryans and the non-Aryans was in their outlook. The Aryans wanted to establish their dominance on the basis of their racial superiority, whereas the non-Aryans, following the precepts of Tantra, did not recognize any distinction among people. the identity of everyone was the same: all belonged to the same family, the family of Shiva. In the first stage of sa'dhana', everyone is an animal. To merge in Brahmatva [Cosmic Consciousness], after first elevating themselves to devatva [god-hood], was their sa'dhana'. But in the first stage, while still rising above crude animality, their adorable Shiva was known as "Pashupati", "Lord of Animality".
Here it is necessary to remember that Tantra is not a religion, but a way of life, a system of sa'dhana'.
* Editor's note: The va sound was later changed to ba under the influence of Muslim pronunciation, so the letter was changed as well. In modern Bengali there is no difference in pronunciation between ba and va, but the difference in spelling persists.
====
Possible Pashupati Shiva on a seal found in the Mohenjo-daro excavations, dated at about 2350-2000 BCE.
Shiva_Pashupati.jpg
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