Thanks Atanu, for clarifying that one !
Some people from west feel that exceptions make the rule ! The tantrik paths involving sex for religious aspirations is almost dead in Hinduism and nowhere in the past too it was ever popular. It was a practice which never got approval of the general populace among Hindus.
Can MahaHrada say he has seen such acts being realy performed in front of his eyes ? I can't say of the west but if it happens in India ... people involved in such acts whether Kashmir Shaivites or otherwise would find their place in Jail where they truly belong.
Use of wine for worshipping goddess Kaali ... I have not seen wine being freely distributed for consumption for the devotees as Prasaadam in Kaali Puja. In our homes too we worship Kaali but we never offer alcohol to mother goddess. I have not been in Bengal during Puja but I have stayed and lived in Assam for a long time & I have not seen people offering wine to mother goddess and then distributing it freely. It might be symbolic though in some places. Nowhere in North India or in South India one can see use of Alcohol during Puja except in some less popular Bhairava temple in the western part of India ... but that is a rare example.
The animal sacrifice was prevalent in Shakti Puja but slowly it is also being replaced with sacrifices of some fruits or offering the animals without being killed. The reality is that great saints of these paths have not favoured such indulging in such acts ... like killing of innocent animal or use of wine or sex (which is a clear no-no). For those who are new to Hinduism, let me tell them that the tantrik practice that MahaHrada mentions has very few followers today ... very few Hindus would like to associate with such practices ... may be MahaHrada is a rare one of those who practises it. But it is more of an exception & not a rule.
Getting some news from some places ... getting a few pictures from some places ... posting it and portryaing it that it is a regular practice within the society is not correct. You can get pornographic picture of child abuse by some Hindus too ... so shall we post the picture and say that Hindus favour child sexual abuse ? Hinduism had many practices which were actually exceptions in all times (never got the approval of general masses .... many such self-styled tantriks have been prosecuted & also lynched by public in India from time to time for their ignorant and illigal practices & I would advise people to remain careful while dealing with them) and most of these have slowly died out. These practices never represented mainstream Hinduism. This is not what real Hinduism is ... this is not what the Hindus are proud of ... Kashmir Shaivism, even in moderated form, without alcohol & sex, has very few followers.
OM
Bookmarks