Mantra marga

History

Mantramarga, the tantric branch of initiatory Shaivism, emerged around the mid-first-millennium CE, several centuries after the Atimarga, according to Alexis Sanderson's dating.

It differed from the Atimarga branch, concerned exclusively with liberation, in that it mainly offered practitioners the choice to pursue siddhis, or powers, and the ability to enjoy pleasures (bhoga) in various cosmic realms. Ascetics were the principal seekers of powers, while liberation remained largely the concern of householders.

Its distinct focus on the pursuit of powers can be traced to the earliest compositional strata of the Mantramarga texts. While the developed Mantramarga placed distinctively tantric deities in the supreme position, in these earlier layers an older form of Rudra was instead at the foreground. The distinction between the two branches persists even at this early stage, however. The Atimarga's Rudra is "solitary and celibate," while the Rudra in early Mantramarga is associated with predominantly female spirits. Sanderson argues that these female spirits represent an early instance of a wider engagement with feminine power (sakti) in the Mantramarga that is absent from the "sakti-less Atimarga."

South Indian Agamas are believed to be composed no later than 5th century CE. "Nisvasa" series of Agamas has been composed initially in the Mantra margic treatise between 450 - 500 CE.

Mantra margic texts describe the construction of temples, ruling of the countries in Shaivite supervising, and social and spiritual responsibility in Shaivite perspectives. They swear reciting mantras can be used to control the thread of enemies and natural catastrophes. Mantra marga spread vigorously until the 11th century CE and cause the establishment of great empires even in south-east Asia such as Angkor Khmer Empire and Majapahit.