Maithuna
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Maithuna is a Sanskrit term used in Tantra most often translated as sexual union in a ritual context. It is the most important of the five makara and constitutes the main part of the Grand Ritual of Tantra variously known as Panchamakara, Panchatattva, and Tattva Chakra.
Although some writers, sects and schools[who?] consider this to be a purely mental and symbolical act, a look at different variations (and translations) of the word maithuna clearly shows that it refers to male-female couples and their union in the physical, sexual sense and is synonymous with kriya nishpatti (mature cleansing).[citations needed]
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[edit] Main significations for maithuna
- paired polarity
- couple
- loving couple
- the amorously entwined couples that feature on Indian high-relief's and statues found in temples such as Khajuraho and Konarak.
- The zodiacal sign of Gemini which in India is no figure of twins as in the West, but that of a man and woman representing meithoun, which is derived from the Sanskrit mithuna, a couple.
[edit] Other spellings
- Mithuna, mithunam: Sexual union, copulation, intercourse (Sanskrit)
- Maithunam dravyam: the unrefined fluid from intercourse (D.G. White, p. 84)
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Bajracharya, Ramesh. Adi Buddha & Principal Buddhist deities: Concept & Practice in Vajrayana Buddhism in Nepal
