Damara Tantra

The Damara Tantra is being presented for the first time with its Text in Devanagari and an English Translation. It was initially published long ago in the Bangala script and that edition has been the sole source for the preparation of the present edition. The Bangala edition contains full Text in Sanskrit but the matter in the Appendix-I is only in Bangala language and no Sanskrit original has either been given or referred to. Therefore in the present edition I have given only a Translation of the Bangala material.

As far as the subject matter of the Tantra is concerned there is a lot of similarity between the earlier portions of this Tantra and the Bhuta-Damara Tantra also published only in Bangala script so far. However as the Tantra proceeds the matter starts differing to the extent sufficient enough to give it its individual identity.

This Tantra is unique from many points of views. It contains elaborate material on the Satkarmas out of which the topic of Subjugation (Vasikarana) has received a specially comprehensive treatment. It also contains numerous other useful subjects, such as making wealth and stock of foodgrains inexhaustible, many prescriptions for the improvement of crops, for driving away many obstacles, such as, parasites, pests and insects from the house and making life prosperous. It specially mentions elaborately the uses of parasite plants growing on certain trees. Such plants have been mentioned as possessing special powers of bestowing prosperity on human beings and curing various diseases. They show their results without any mantra-sadhana and hence deserve special attention for research and validation of the assertions about their such powers. If they really possess the powers ascribed to them they can be of immense benefit for mankind even in the present day world.

In spite of numerous such useful prescriptions it is very unfortunate that majority of modern Indians label the Tantras as full of superficial rituals, which may have no use. However, without practicing any of the Sadhanas it is unscientific to brand them as such by persons who claim to be scientific in their out-look. There are unmerous examples of ascetics and Tantrikas even today who have achieved various Siddhis (supernatural powers) on the basis of their rigorous Sadhana. To brand such Tantrikas as fakes or tricksters just because they many not be in a position to demonstrate the mechanics of powers of performing miracle because their such capabilities have been acquired not on the basis of some scientific experiments or theories but on the basis of Sadhana which can develop the intrinsic powers of the Sadhaka. There may not be a theory about the acquisition of these powers except a gradual attainment by rigorous ritualistic and abstract Sadhana. Therefore what is needed today is to perform various Sadhanas with faith and see whether they yield positive results or not, because no scientific tool can be applied for such validation. Moreover, it is repeatedly mentioned in the Tantras that a sceptic approach to Sadhana makes the Sadhana an exercise in futility. For any success one should approach it only with extreme faith and without reason. Utter surrender is the only way of achieving success in Sadhana. Moreover, there are numerous prescriptions in Tantras, which can succeed even without any Sadhana or Mantra-japa. To start with scientists can take up such topics at the outset for study and validation. The effects of Herbs and Roots can also be easily tested, provided they are obtained according to methods prescribed in the present and other Tantras.

I have undertaken to present this Tantra, hitherto regarded as secret of secrets, with its English translation so that it may become accessible to scientists and they may be able to verify and validate some of its claims, which do not involve elaborate rituals or Mantra-sadhana. The section on the science of serpents, prescriptions for the cure of serpent-poison and the power of parasite plants deserve special attention. Many, prescription under Satkarmas which do not need mantra-japa can also be taken for such studies. Even where mantras are involved they too can he scientifically studied in various stage, such as we can take up the very fact about the nature of the effectiveness of mantras themselves and whether they really bring about any intrinsic change in the human psyche and on activation do they bestow certain powers on the Sadhakas.

I shall feel my labour amply rewarded if the present Tantra in its translated form is able to attract the attention of the inquisitives and they are able to derive some benefits from its prescription. Later on, I propose to bring out some more Tantras regarded as secret with translation so that they may become accessible to the scientific readers.