TARA

 As a Hindu goddess, Tara is known as the terrific form of Shakti or energy, but in Buddhism, she has been adopted in two forms, Green Tara and White Tara. Green Tara is associated with Amoghsiddhi and white Tara with Vairochana, two of the Buddhas out of the cluster of five Buddhas or Pancha Buddha. With lotuses at her shoulders, her standing image is in a dancing pose. 

TAPLEJUNG

Taplejung is the remote district of the Mechi Zone of eastern Nepal with its territory spread over the high Himalays and the borders of Tibet. Pathivera is the famous religious shrine of this district which is visited by pilgrims from far and wide. Khalanga or Taplejung Bazaris the headquarters of this district.

TANTRISM

The principles of Tantrism or Tantric mysticism are found associated with Buddhism and Hinduism as well. The term Tantrism is mainly connected with Hinduism. In Mahayana Buddhism, the same type of mysticism but with considerable differences in method and connected deities is known as Tantrayan or Bajrayan. Tantrism spread in Nepal in a period between the world and the cosmos can be broken by means of devotion and deep concentration. By uttering magic spells while concentrating as such one can get desired results. This mysterious knowledge is always kept strictly secret from anyone who is not practicing the cult. However, it is believed that the pronouncement of the magic syllable “Beeja” or seed would draw goddess Tara to appear before the worshipper who then offers flowers to her, etc. And makes “mudras” or religion poses. Proper practice of this ritual leads to his identification with the deity concerned who bestows on him supernatural power and pleasure Tantrism is reflected in Hindu and Buddhist legends, paintings, sculptures, and other branches of religious art, architecture, and literature. Also, see Tantrayana

TANTRAYANA

Tantra is a word that originated from the Sanskrit root meaning  “weaving”. Tantrayana is the name of the philosophy of religious schools of thought found in both Buddhism and Hinduism. The earliest texts on Tantrayana may be found starting from the sixth century. This school of thought expounds the mystic philosophy and the principles of action leading to the attainment of “en¬lightenment” i.e. the state of mind of total indepen¬dence from the bonds of material existence. Some elements of the Tantric cult have ancient origins and many of its symbols have historic to prehistoric connections. 

The Nature of Tantra has been known and used during the earliest periods of Indian civilization. Yoga, which has become an important part of the Tantric psycho somatic practice, too, has ancient roots, though it has been systematically articulated in the early Christian period.

Like all heterodox movements within Hindu¬ism, Tantra opposed orthodox Hindu rituals and the Brahmanic social order. It opened its ranks to all castes and to women. It did not reject the fundamental beliefs of Hinduism or Buddhism, but it questioned the orthodox means to achieving Nirvana through a long sequence of incarnations. Setting out from the unorthodox assumption that everything in life should be employed as means towards the achievement of a higher state of consciousness, the Tantra recommends the use and manipulation of both the good and the evil, “the angels and the demons,” and of literally every act of body, speech, and mind towards the aim of the total negation of the ego, and the attainment of the intuitive wisdom. 

The use of all means includes frank acceptance of sex as a powerful motivating factor, which, like other passions and desires can be used rather than suppressed. The most unique aspect of Tantra is that, in contrast to all other known spiritual discip¬lines, it does not call for rejection of “evil” but rather for its deliberate manipulation for one’s own end. This means the gradual liberation of the mind from the bonds imposed on it by the illusionary external world.

The Tahtric road to Nirvana leads through a combination of ritual worship (Puja), psychic control of the body’s physical processes (Yoga), intense concentration (Samadhi) with the help of psycho-cosmic diagrams (Yantra) and magic formulas (Mantra), visualization of symbols represented in magic circles(Mandala) and, in some Tantric schools, enjoyment of sensuous plea~ures (Bhoga), notably sexual intercourse, regulated by ritual and harnessed to a spiritual end.

Various Tantric texts differ in their relative emphasis on such elements as philosophy, magic, physical discipline, ecstatic states, and worship. All of them stress that due to its involved symbolism and secrecy, the Tantric Sadhana (rules of action) can only be learned through direct contact of master and disciple and that Tantra cannot be learned from books or understood in intellectual terms. It can only be grasped intuitively through the disciplined and patient practice of intense meditation and practice-induced ecstatic states, under the guidance of a competent teacher, the Guru.

TANTRA

It is a ritual in which prominence is given to females who are considered the energy of the deities. Manifold forms of Devi, consort or Sakti (energy) of Shiva is normally the object of devotion for Hindus whereas Tara is for Buddhists. The five requisites of Tantric worship are known as five ‘Ma’-kars or five M’s i.e. 1. Madya (wine) 2. Mansa (Meat or flesh) 3. Matsya (fish) 4. Mudra (Mystic poses or gesticulations) and 5. Maithuna (sexual intercourse). The Sakti or female energy is represented in gentle and terrific forms such as Uma or Gauri (gentle forms of Devi) and Kali and Durga (ferocious forms of Devi) etc. Not only the deities but also the actual women are treated as personifications of energy in such tantric rituals. Also, see Tantrism.

In other form or context, Tantra is the name of the text which expounds the mystic philosophy and the principles of actions leading to the attainment of “Enlightenment” i. e. the state of mind of total independence from the bonds of existence in the span of one’s life. 

TANSEN

Tansen is the capital township of the district of Palpa which is situated in the Lumbini Zone. For more information read about Palpa.

TAMOR RIVER

Having its origin in the Kumbhakarna Himal of Pallo Kirat, the Tamor River joins the Arun River at Tribeni, south of Pagnam in the Bhojpur district. When Tamor, one of the seven component rivers of the Kosi river system joins with Arun which, by then, already happens to have been met by five other component rivers namely Indravati, Tama Kosi, Likhu Khola, Dudh Kosi, and Sun Kosi, it becomes Sapta (Seven) Kosi river system. The Sapta Kosi flows for 6 miles through the gorges of the mountain regions before entering the plain. 

TAMANG

Tamangs belong to the Tibeto-Burmese group of races and are settled in the surrounding regions of Kathmandu Valley. They are mainly found in the districts of Rasuwa, Sundhupalchok, Kavrepalanchok, Makwanpur, Nuwakot, Dhading, Ramechhap, Dolkha, and Sindhuli. Poor people among Tamangs normally work as porters and others are in various other professions. A great majority of them engage themselves in cultivation and some kinds of handicraft work. They live in big communities with their fellowmen and act according to the instructions of their chief called Mulmi. They are traditionally Buddhists and their villages have monasteries for worshipping and other religious rites. 

The census of  2001 places their population at  5.6 % of the total national population. The Tamang language, culture, and traditions are rich. They were described as a powerful nation in historic inscriptions going as far back as the 3rd century, attesting to their ancient civilization. Based on Buddhist traditions, their script originates from Tibetan. Their language belongs to the Tibeto-Burman family. The archives of Tamang religious scriptures are also rich, varied, and vast. Their intellectual hierarchy had categorizations of royal priests, raconteurs of history, and other scholastic divisions of labor. They celebrate with equal fervor such diverse religious occasions as Lhosar, Maghe Sankranti, Baisakh Purnima, and Shravan Purnima.

TAMA KOSI RIVER

Having its origin in the eastern slopes of the Kalinchowk mountain and somewhere at the Dolkha district joined by the Bhote Kosi river, Tama Kosi meets Sun Kosi at Benighat in the Ramechhap district. This river is one of the seven component rivers of the Kosi river System. 

TAJPURIAS

Tajpurias are a minority group of the population mainly found in the districts of Jhapa and Morang. Though their language and culture are almost akin to the Rajbanshis, Tajpuria women do not pierce their noses and use ornaments as Rajbanshi women do. No Marriage takes place between these two ethnic groups of communities. Tajpurias have their own religion. Alcohol is a must in all religious rituals. They are engaged in artistic craftsmanship different from those of  Rajbanshis. Farming is the major occupation of Tajpurias. Though Rabanshis and Tajpurias dress similarly, the latter use hand stitching themselves. They have the system of burying their dead bodies instead of cremating them as is the general practice of many other ethnic groups in Nepal.