Tantra Tantra Rituals and Ceremonies 2

Question 1

What is 'avahana' in Tantric puja ceremony?

Accepted Answer

The ritual invocation that invites the deity's living presence into the image or yantra

Answer

Avahana is the formal invitation recited with specific mudras and mantras to summon the deity from its transcendent realm into the ritual image or yantra.

Question 2

What are 'shodashopachara' in Tantric puja?

Accepted Answer

The sixteen traditional services offered to the deity during worship

Answer

The sixteen upacharas include services like welcoming, seating, bathing, clothing, adorning, incense, light, and food offerings that treat the deity as an honored guest.

Question 3

What is 'prasad' in the context of Tantric ritual?

Accepted Answer

The sanctified food or offering returned as divine grace after being consecrated by the deity

Answer

Prasad is the blessed remnant of offerings (food, flowers, etc.) that has been energized by the deity's contact and is consumed or distributed as divine grace.

Question 4

What is 'visarjana' in Tantric puja?

Accepted Answer

The ritual dismissal of the deity's presence at the close of worship, returning the image to its symbolic state

Answer

Visarjana respectfully releases the invoked deity at the ritual's end, acknowledging that the image returns to being a symbolic object until the next invocation.

Question 5

What is the purpose of 'tarpana' in Tantric ritual?

Accepted Answer

Water libations offered to satisfy and honor deities, ancestors, and sages

Answer

Tarpana involves pouring water with mantras as an offering to satisfy three classes of beings: gods, ancestors (pitrs), and enlightened sages (rishis).

Tantra Practice Test

Tantra Practice Test

Tantra Tantra Rituals and Ceremonies 2