200 Hours Yoga Teacher Training School in Rishikesh: Tattwa Shuddhi: Process of purification in Tantric Sadhana

Tattwa Shuddhi: Process of purification in Tantric Sadhana:

Tattwa Shuddhi is an ancient tantric practice of inner purification. Every person is composed of five basic elements or tattwas which can be purified and transformed through the process of Tattwa Shuddhi. Tattwa Shuddhi is an advanced practice, which can be performed as a sadhana in itself or as a practice with Kundalini kriyas and other higher tantric sadhana.The word Tattwa is made of two words: tat meaning ‘that’ and twa meaning ‘ness’. Hence Tattwa signifies ‘thatness’,. Tattwa is also known as ‘bhuta’ in the scriptures. Bhuta is another Sanskrit term which has a wide range of meaning, but as its meaning coincides in part with Tattwa, the two words are used synonymously.

The five elements are commonly referred to pancha mahabhuta or pancha Tattwa.

Second, Shuddhi is the act of purifying and sadhana is the act of perfecting. Therefore, Tattwa Shuddhi or bhuta Shuddhi sadhana is known as “perfecting purification of the essence which gives rise to the feeling of existence.” So that Tattwa Shuddhi is a process of purification by which we purify the subtle essence of tattwas of which our body is composed, as well as the underlying
consciousness related to those elements.

In order to achieve this aim of purification, there are several methods in tantra for gross to subtle and casual levels of purification. Tattwa Shuddhi is one of the practices amongst these practices which stands out for not just one but for all levels of purification because of its effectiveness of purification. Tattwa Shuddhi is one of the most important sadhana between other spiritual and tantric sadhanas in which every individual has to undergo on his journey from the outer to the inner world. It is very clear that without this purificatory process through Tattwa Shuddhi, the higher esoteric practices lead to darkness and disappear. On the way to tantric practices, few of them like Vama marga, Kaula marga, Smashan sadhana, shyama sadhana or Kundalini yoga require a very deep level of concentration which is only possible to attain when the mind has transcended matter and vibrates at the subtle frequency of pure energy. You have to be so proficient at attaining this state that it should happen as easily as at the press of the button. Only then you can hope to overpower the inner explosions that arise as a consequence of the practices. Otherwise, you will just remain at the level of material awareness, or else, if you transcend matter while still operating through the gross mind, the resulting experiences are likely to create a severe error in the personality.

Essentially, tattwa Shuddhi is a system designed to purify the whole of man’s being. It begins with the gross form of purification and goes on to the subtle and psychic purification, culminating in the subtle awareness which prepares the aspirant for the experience of the energy and consciousness from which he has evolved. When one practices yoga over an extended period of time, it creates a mild awakening of shakti is called energy, which can be felt in the psychic levels of the body and mind. However, Tattwa Shuddhi concentrates this awakening of energy and channels it by giving it a form, thus altering the basic awareness. Tattwa Shuddhi plays a primary role, not just in the context of practices related to mental, psychic and spiritual development, but even in those practices where the healing and curative processes are concerned. If Tattwa Shuddhi were practiced before Hatha yoga and the practices of yoga therapy, the result would be quicker and more enduring. Hatha yoga practitioners must understand that the body with which they are dealing is an aggregate and composite of five tattwas or elements, and hence Tattwa Shuddhi has a direct influence on the effects of the Shatkarma. Shatkarma is also processes of purification of the body, but their influence is limited to the body’s triple humors. Their effects do not stretch to the remoteness of the subtler layers, which can be achieved through Tattwa Shuddhi.

Tattwa Shuddhi is the basis of all sadhana because it accomplishes the major spade work. Just as a farmer tills the land, fertilizes it properly and then sows the seeds, similarly an aspirant first prepares the mind and body through Tattwa Shuddhi, then develops the richness of his inner experience.

Tattwa Shuddhi is sukshma sadhana (subtle sadhana), so that it provides the necessary link for the development of higher sadhana practices. This practice is recommended for those who have sincerely practiced yoga for a few years. When one’s body and mind are sufficiently prepared in the stages of pratyahara and the mind is easily introverted, then Tattwa Shuddhi develops concentration or Dharana. By doing this practice of inner purification aspirants can experience a dhyana or meditation in greater level, which leads the aspirant to Tattwa Janna or realization of the subtle essence behind the form.

We all know science today has explored the nucleus of an atom, thus transforming matter into energy. In vedic time ( many thousands of years ago), the yogis in India has exploded the nucleus of their being within the laboratory of the body and mind, which explains that human beings are composed of energy or prana which is known as the life energy, vital energy. Prana exists in all beings either animate or inanimate. This energy vibrates at varying frequencies and later condenses to form the physical body. However, energy is not the final stage of manifestation. Beyond energy, there is consciousness, which is responsible for everything that takes place in the universe. The yogis through their continuous inner quest, they have discovered the relation and interchangeability between matter, energy, and consciousness long ago. They have said that consciousness manifests as energy, which deepens into the matter. Hence if we wish to experience this consciousness free from matter, we will have to reverse the process of evolution back to its original cause. This is achieved through purification only by removing the extra factors from the mind and body. It is here that Tattwa Shuddhi becomes effective as a sadhana.

Outline of the practice:

Practice of tattwa Shuddhi influences the practice of meditation. Purification and transformation of the subtle elements composing the body and mind take place through self-reflection and meditation. Tattwa Shuddhi is a dynamic form of meditation and self-reflection. It is not a passive practice of meditation in which you have to concentrate for hours and hours on one symbol. Neither does it serve for the mind to become accustomed to images arising during the practice. On the contrary, it demands abstract mental creativity to encourage spontaneous concentration by absorption of the mind in the vast potential of rich imagery.

Through the practice of Tattwa Shuddhi, the inner awareness is readily immersed in creating tattwa yantras (geometrical diagrams of the elements), papa purusha (the sinful man) and the mandala of prana shakti (the form of creative energy). Although one has certain basic guidelines to follow, there is a sufficient scope to create and utilize the enormous supple of inherent primordial imagery.

In the practice of tattwa Shuddhi, you first create a mental and psychic awareness of the elements and their respective yantra in the body. You witness the process of one tattwa emerging from another and thus delve deeper and deeper into the subtler layers of existence. After discovering the universal or cosmic energy within, that force is used to dispel internal imbalances. Approaching the problem of imbalance within yourself from a higher level of awareness makes it easier to harmonize those forces, as you are doing it through a mind that has become strong and powerful. After this transformation, you recreate the elements in the physical body in reverse order. The practice then culminates in a vision of prana shakti herself. It is prana acting through the tattwas, karmendriyas and jnanendriyas which allows knowledge and action to take place, and, therefore, obeisance is paid to prana.

The practice of tattwa Shuddhi utilizes the basic tools of tantra: yantra, mandala, and mantra, which are present in each and every facet of the tantra, from ‘black magic’ to vama marga to tantric music, art and architecture, or simply the practices of yoga. These instruments develop one-pointed concentration and are an essential part of tattwa Shuddhi. Tattwa Shuddhi can be used as an aid to meditation and advanced esoteric practices or as a complete sadhana by itself. Although the purpose of the practice is purely spiritual, one can surely experience the benefits in all realms of existence.

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