Sadhguru says the play of Shiva and Shakti is the ultimate truth: they are never apart, only perceived as separate by the veils of duality. The journey through Tantra is not an escape from the world, but the realization that the world itself is a sacred expression of oneness.
Article | June 08, 1992
Sadhguru: In the heart of ancient Bengal, a profound spiritual tradition emerged much earlier than the Vedic era is Tantra. It is known as Nigam Tantra, this path was steeped in the wisdom of the Vedas (Nigama) while being deeply connected to the transformative power of Tantric practices. Nigam Tantra emphasized the eternal unity of existence and sought to dissolve the illusion of separation—an illusion that lies at the root of human suffering and ignorance. The Kashmir Shaivasam is much later. The Ancient Bengal Nigam where Shiva told the Adishakti about the first spirituality. The wisdom from this Nigam Tantra Sadhana later comes as Rik or Rig. This ancient Bengal tradition provides a deeply philosophical and experiential framework to understand the world, human existence, and our relationship with the divine.
Nigam Tantra unveils the Illusion and describes the wisdom of Ichha the Desire, Kriya the Action and Gyan the Wisdom. Its role in spiritual liberation, and the methods used by the practitioners of this tradition to transcend the boundaries of duality.
Separation is the greatest illusion, for in the dance of the cosmos, all is one, and all is Brahman.
Nigam Tantra: An Overview
Before delving into the central theme of the illusion of separation, it is important to understand the foundation of Nigam Tantra itself. Unlike more well-known forms of Tantra that emphasize the worship of deities, Nigam Tantra is more concentrated on Space and Time, Consciousness and Energy, Shava and the Primordial Energy i.e. the Adishakti. The esoteric practices of Tantra, focus on both intellectual knowledge and personal experience of the divine. It sees no division between matter and spirit, form and formless, or individual and universal consciousness.
While the Vedic tradition focuses on the philosophical understanding of Brahman—the ultimate, formless, and absolute reality—Tantra complements this by giving practitioners practical tools to experience this reality directly. Nigam Tantra, therefore, is a synthesis of the intellectual and the experiential, offering a holistic approach to spiritual enlightenment to self-realisation in the 14-step journey.
Maya is not deception but the divine veil through which the infinite manifests as the finite—only to remind us that the boundaries we see are not real.
The Philosophy of Oneness
At the heart of Nigam Tantra lies the teaching of non-duality (Advaita). According to this philosophy, Param Shiva or Parabrahma is the sole reality—eternal, infinite, and indivisible. Everything in the universe, including the physical world, living beings, and celestial entities, is a manifestation of this one reality.
The famous Vedic statement “Aham Brahmasmi”—"I am Brahman"—points to the fundamental truth that our individual sense of self is not separate from the universal consciousness. However, due to the non-realisation or ignorance, we perceive ourselves as separate individuals living in a world of multiplicity. This misperception is what gives rise to the illusion of separation.
The teachings of Nigam Tantra emphasize that this separation is not real; it is a misunderstanding caused by our limited perception. Just as the ocean appears to be made of many waves, the universe appears to consist of separate beings and objects, but in reality, all are made of the same substance: consciousness.
The play of Shiva and Shakti is the ultimate truth: they are never apart, only perceived as separate by the veils of duality.
The Cosmic Play of Shiva and Shakti
A key element in the Nigam Tantric understanding of the illusion of separation is the relationship between Shiva and Shakti—the masculine and feminine principles that represent consciousness and energy, respectively. In the Nigam tradition, these two principles are seen as the fundamental forces behind the creation and sustenance of the universe.
Shiva, the masculine principle, represents the unchanging, formless consciousness that is the foundation of all existence. Shakti, the feminine principle, represents the dynamic, creative energy that brings this consciousness into form. The interaction between Shiva and Shakti gives rise to the entire cosmos, with all its diversity and multiplicity.
In reality, Shiva and Shakti are inseparable. They are two aspects of the same reality, just as a flame and its heat are inseparable. However, due to ignorance, we perceive them as separate, just as we perceive the world as made up of distinct forms and beings. This perception of separation is the source of duality—of subject and object, self and other, spirit and matter.
Nigam Tantra teaches that the union of Shiva and Shakti is the key to overcoming this duality. Through Tantric rituals and meditative practices, the practitioner seeks to experience the oneness of these two forces within themselves. This inner union dissolves the illusion of separation and leads to the realization of the non-dual nature of reality.
The journey through Tantra is not an escape from the world, but the realization that the world itself is a sacred expression of oneness.
The Body as a Sacred Temple
One of the unique aspects of Nigam Tantra is its emphasis on the body as a sacred vessel for spiritual realization. Unlike certain spiritual traditions that view the body as an obstacle to enlightenment, Tantra sees the body as a microcosm of the universe and a tool for transcending the illusion of separation.
In Nigam Tantra, the human body is believed to contain chakras—centres of energy that correspond to different levels of consciousness. The kundalini energy, often described as a coiled serpent, lies dormant at the base of the spine in the Muladhara chakra. Through yogic practices, including breath control (pranayama), visualization, and mantra chanting, the practitioner awakens this kundalini energy and guides it up through the chakras toward the Sahasrara chakra at the crown of the head.
As the kundalini rises through the chakras, it purifies the body and mind, dissolving the egoic attachments that reinforce the illusion of separation. When the kundalini reaches the Sahasrara chakra, the practitioner experiences samadhi—a state of union with Brahman, in which the sense of individual self dissolves into the infinite. This is the ultimate goal of Nigam Tantra: to realize that the individual self is not separate from the universal self and that the body is a sacred temple through which this realization can occur.
True liberation comes not in denying the body but in recognizing the body as a temple, a gateway to the infinite.
The Guru-Shishya Tradition: Transmitting the Knowledge of Oneness
In Nigam Tantra, the guru-shishya parampara—the sacred relationship between teacher and disciple—is of utmost importance. The guru is seen as a living embodiment of the divine, who has realized the truth of non-duality and can guide the disciple toward the same realization. The guru’s role is not just to impart theoretical knowledge, but to transmit the direct experience of oneness through initiation and guidance.
The disciple, or shishya, is expected to approach the guru with humility and devotion, recognizing that the guru represents the divine within. Through the guru’s teachings and the disciple’s own spiritual practice, the disciple gradually overcomes the illusion of separation and realizes their own divine nature.
In ancient Bengal, the guru-shishya tradition was especially strong within the Nigam Tantric lineage. This Nigam Tantric Lineage later came to Nath Tradition. The teachings were often passed down orally, with the guru imparting esoteric knowledge that could not be found in written texts. This personal transmission of knowledge was seen as essential for breaking through the limitations of the mind and experiencing the unity of all existence.
Through the sacred breath of life, we inhale separation and exhale unity, dissolving the illusion that divides us from the divine
Tantric Practices for Oneness
Nigam Tantra offers a variety of practices designed to help the practitioner overcome the feeling of separation and realize the oneness of existence. These practices are not merely intellectual exercises, but experiential methods that engage the body, mind, and spirit. Some of the key practices include:
Mantra Sadhana: Through Shaktipat, Pranapat and Shivapat by the Guru, Mantras create sacred vibrations and generate an electromagnetic field which writes or re-writes in an existing magnetic field called Mind. that resonates with specific vibrations of the divine. In Nigam Tantra, Mantra is used to write the specific programme in the mind and align the practitioner’s consciousness with the universal consciousness. Mantra sadhana helps to dissolve the egoic sense of separation and awaken the practitioner to their true nature.
Yantra and Mandala Meditation: Yantras are geometric diagrams that represent the cosmic forces at work in the universe. Mandalas are symbolic representations of the universe as a whole. By meditating on yantras or mandalas, the practitioner attunes their consciousness to the underlying unity of all things, gradually transcending the perception of duality.
Kundalini Yoga: As mentioned earlier, kundalini yoga is a key practice in Nigam Tantra. Through a combination of postures, breath control, and meditation, the practitioner awakens the dormant kundalini energy and guides it through the chakras. As the kundalini rises, the practitioner experiences deeper levels of consciousness and eventually merges with the universal consciousness at the crown chakra, dissolving the illusion of separation.
Ritual Worship: In Nigam Tantra, the ritual worship of deities, especially Shiva and Shakti, is an important practice. During puja, the practitioner offers flowers, incense, food, and other items to the deity as a way of honouring the divine presence in the world. The act of offering is symbolic, this is mainly the symbolism of Pancha Bhuta Sadhana where the practitioner surrenders of their body and their recognition of the unity between themselves and the divine.
Breathwork (Pranayama): Pranayama, or breath control, is used in Nigam Tantra to calm the mind and balance the flow of energy in the body. By mastering the breath, the practitioner can transcend the dualistic thinking of the mind and enter a state of deep meditative awareness, where the illusion of separation begins to dissolve.
In the mirror of consciousness, the self sees itself as separate, yet the reflection is but a ripple in the ocean of oneness.
The Liberation from the Attachment and Detachment
The ultimate goal of Nigam Tantra is moksha—liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. This liberation is not achieved by escaping the world or renouncing physical existence, but by recognizing the oneness of all things and transcending Attachment and Detachment.
In the Nigam Tantric view, the world is not something to be rejected or escaped, but to be fully embraced as a manifestation of the divine. The physical body, the mind, and even the ego are seen as temporary expressions of the one consciousness. The practitioner seeks to transcend the limitations of these forms, not by rejecting them, but by seeing through them to the underlying unity of all existence.
Liberation, in this sense, is not a state of non-existence or annihilation, but a state of absolute unity and freedom. It is the realization that there is no real separation between the self and the universe, between individual consciousness and universal consciousness. It is the experience of oneness with Brahman, in which all dualities are dissolved and the practitioner abides in the bliss of pure awareness.
Every mantra is a thread in the tapestry of unity, weaving the finite soul back into the infinite fabric of existence.
Conclusion
The teachings of Nigam Tantra from ancient Bengal offer a profound understanding of the illusion of separation and provide practical methods for transcending this illusion. Through the wisdom of Kundalini the cosmic dance of Shiva and Shakti, and the various Tantric practices, the practitioner is guided toward the realization of oneness with the universe. Nigam Tantra reminds us that the perception of duality is not the ultimate reality but a veil created by our limited perception. By lifting this veil, we can experience the truth of non-duality and find liberation in the eternal unity of all things.
This path is not an abstract philosophy but a lived experience, one that engages the body, mind, and spirit. It is a journey from ignorance to wisdom, from separation to unity, and from bondage to liberation. In this way, Nigam Tantra offers a timeless message of hope and transformation—a message that is as relevant today as it was in the ancient world of Bengal.
