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as he serves to fulfill and liberate her within a single lifetime. As the embodiment of all the senses in their exalted form, the Mudra-woman is the greatest symbol or Seal of Liberation.

"There are five different kinds of Karma Mudras or female consorts and they are categorized according to physical and psychological characteristics. They are said to have emanated from the original Five Great Families or root races. The five Karma Mudras or Yoginis are thought of as having five different colors: dark blue, white, red, green, and yellow. All have the ability to empower the Tantric Yogi through their special sexual qualities. They are both the cause of the recurring cycle of birth and death and the means of becoming liberated from them. In the Kali Age, when everything is mixed up and truth is turned on its head, the Karma Mudras are not recognizable by their outer appearance but instead must be invoked through the power of visualization.

"Symbolic language takes many different forms in the Tantric tradition. For example, the word Mudra may be used exclusively to refer to a mystic hand gesture. On another level it refers to the female sexual partner, and on another level still it indicates a certain type of cereal grain, the seeds of which bear a resemblance to the Yoni and are used symbolically in Tantric ritual.

"The word Mudra can be extended by understanding the subtle play of symbolic language. For example, Mudra is very similar to the words Shudra and Rudra, both of which extend its meaning. Shudra means low-caste, unsophisticated, direct. The Tantras do not recognize the validity of caste systems or any other limiting orthodoxies. Yogis are advised to cut through caste conditioning and seek consorts from among the so-called lower castes. One reason for this is that Karma Mudras from the low castes are free of social conditioning and are spontaneous, unpretentious, and filled with natural Shakti; furthermore, service comes easily to such a person. The low-caste Karma Mudra is a love partner who is shameless, guilt-free, sexually active, psychologically open, and Karmically uncomplex. In choosing such a woman, the Yogi steps aside from the limitations of convention and rapidly attains liberation from dualities. For her part, the Karma Mudra has everything to gain; within a single lifetime she has the opportunity to advance from the lowest to the highest, just by doing what comes naturally.

"Rudra means the bestowing of strength or occult power. It also means ruddy, shining, praiseworthy, transcendental anger, and the driving away of evil; it is one of my own names, and it refers to those who take after me. In ancient times my mystic Rudra-form sprang from Brahma's forehead and separated into a half-male and half-female being. The Yogi and Yogini in physical union are no different from Rudra, which goes beyond this world. When Mudra, the name of the ritual consort, is extended symbolically to encompass concepts of Shudra and Rudra, the multi-leveled view of Tantric sexuality is revealed. Ideally the sexual partner embodies lustful spontaneity through her caste and bestows strength and occult power through her desire for repeated union with the force of evolution. As such she is known as Rudrani, the Queen of Rudras, and is the Seal of Liberation, my beloved and playful consort. Her names and her delights are many.

"Your question about the lost fifth Veda brings to mind an ancient incident long forgotten by both gods and men. Originally, Brahma had five heads. When he had completed his task of creating the universe, he placed his seed deep within his consort. After a hundred celestial years of pregnancy, she gave birth to the five Vedas, the different branches of knowledge, one from each of his heads. The teachings of the fifth Veda were kept very secret, whereas the other four Vedas were distributed among the Brahmins. Deciding that the secret teachings should be kept safe from the reach of demons, Brahma memorized the fifth Veda, thinking that he would release it to humanity when the time was ripe.

"Brahma the Creator became over-proud with his creation. He became arrogant, possessive, and filled with a sense of 'doership.' He forgot to acknowledge the Transcendental and did not bother to invite either you, Parvati, in your form of Sati, or myself to his greatest celebration. In a rage I cut off his fifth head, wherein the fifth Veda was temporarily stored.

"The head reached Mahachina, the Great Country of China, northeast of the Himalaya Mountains. There it was well received; thus began the spreading of the unorthodox teachings, which had been reserved for a time when beings had perfected the other four Vedas. As a result, China became the home of unconventional spiritual practices, especially those with a

A Tantric Guru shows the Mahayoni Mudra, the mystic gesture of the Mothergoddess. From a contemporary photograph.

MUDRA, SHUDRA, AND RUDRA

Playful love-making on a swing.

A Bundi Indian miniature of the late eighteenth century.

Shiva and Shakti in ecstatic union. From a central Indian stone sculpture of the eleventh century.

CHINESE RITES

The three-headed Shiva seated in dalliance with his consort. From an East Indian stone sculpture of the eleventh century.

strong basis in occultism. To this day the secret teachings of the fifth Veda are to be

found mixed in with the Chinese mystery schools of Buddhism and Taoism.

"The Sage Vasistha, Brahmin though he was, traveled to China to perfect his spiritual practices, having been advised to do so by the Mother-goddess herself. Reaching China by way of Assam in northeastern India, he was astounded to find Vishnu there in the form of Buddha, his ninth incarnation. To his amazement, the Buddha's eyes were red from the use of wine and other intoxicants. Plates laden with meat and fish were in front of him and he was enjoying a number of beautiful women. Vasistha saw other adepts also erotically engaged with exquisite damsels freed

from any prudishness.

"Thinking that he was witnessing a mirage, Vasistha said to himself: 'These things are opposed to the teachings of the Vedas. I don't approve of them and will have nothing to do with such despicable practices, which must anyway be the product of illusion.' However, just at that moment the goddess of his devotions revealed herself to him in the form of Tata, a dark-blue emanation of Saraswati. She told him not to lapse into duality or rest his case on bigotry. 'Look,' she said. 'View the total Bliss-

experience. A tree should be judged by the taste of its fruit, not by its external appearance. This method of achieving realization is direct and pleasing to me. Take instruction from the Buddha and the other beings and follow their

example. This secret method will rapidly bring you to completion.'

"Vasistha stayed in China and participated in the practices of the fifth Veda. He achieved everything there is to achieve and eventually became immortal. Though some people misunderstand them, these practices are dear to my heart and lead to transcendence. The Mahachina practices are an all-or-nothing commitment; everything rests on the acceptance of responsibility and the resolution of dualisms. Only heroes should attempt to ascend the high-

est peaks.

"But, Goddess, I feel somehow reluctant to discuss this topic. Knowledge of the Great

Chinese Rites is dangerous and liable to abuse. W h o knows what beings or entities might hear my explanations and take advantage of these secret teachings? Are there no other questions that require answers? Why don't you ask me to expound the fine details of subjects already discussed? Or why don't we just make love and leave this topic until some other time? Too much talk breeds confusion; too many questions lead to too many answers . . . "

Pulling Shiva to her, lowering her eyes, and moving her body seductively against him, Parvati entreats her lover:

"O Lord of the Three Worlds, do not refuse me this. Only by your grace can knowledge of this subject be revealed! If you won't speak of it here, for fear of being overheard, let us depart at once for Mahachina, and there, seated at ease in a luxurious pleasure garden, we can freely discuss these matters. O Beloved, please grant me this boon. I wish to know more of these Chinese methods of worship!"

Amused by the prospect of erotic play and travel, and moved by her entreaties, Lord Shiva

replies:

"Very well, we had best transport ourselves. But not to China yet! First I shall become the Buddha and reveal the way these secret teachings became known to him. You should divide yourself after the method of Kameshwari and become the five colored Dakinis of the Directions, Families, and Elements. Then we'll go to China and share other intimacies. Only when you are fully satisfied will I bring you back to Mount Meru! Come, before I change my mind!"

So saying, the Master Yogi takes his beautiful consort upon his lap, unites with her, and,

rising, they move through time and space.

the Buddha

The Buddha sits beneath a large tree, on a hill close to the banks of a river, with a forest in the distance. He is absorbed in meditation and has obviously been without food for a long

yellow-colored woman appears out of the forest, bearing a small bowl of milk curds. She is

radiance. He then proceeds to make four other mystic gestures with his hands. As each gesture is completed, a young woman appears, each of a different color, and cosmic sounds reverberate throughout the universe.

"My name is Mamaki, the essence of the Earth-element," says the beautiful yellow-colored milkmaid. "I come from the south, but my real home is India. I am but an orphan. Save me with your passionate love! O Great Being, make hard love to me now, that I may live and you may achieve your goal!"

"My name is Locana, the essence of the Water-element," says a lovely blue-colored damsel. "I come from the east, but my real home is Africa. I am but an orphan. Save me with your passionate love! O Embodiment of Spiritual Law, come, make fluid love with me now, that I may live and you may achieve your goal!"

"My name is Pandara, the essence of the Fire-element," says an exquisite red-colored lady. "I come from the west, but my real home is in the land of the midnight sun. I am but an orphan. Save me with your passionate love. O Completely Good One, make expansive, fiery love with me now, that I may live and you may achieve your goal!"

"My name is Tara, the essence of the Air-element," says a gorgeous greenish-colored girl. "I come from the north, but my real home is China. I am but an orphan. Save me with your passionate love. O Compassionate One, make all-encompassing love with me now, that I may live and you may achieve your goal!"

M A M A KI

LOCANA

PANDARA

TARA

The Fasting Buddha, at the time when he had reduced his food intake to just a single grain of rice a day. Stone sculpture from Gandhara, West Pakistan, circa second or third century.

The Buddha in the earth-touching position. This incident is associated with his receiving mystic insights from the Earth Mother. Stone sculpture recovered from the site of Ratnagiri monastery, Cuttack, Orissa, circa eleventh century.

ISHVARI

"My name is Ishvari, the essence of the Space-element," says a delightful white-colored woman. "I come from the Original Center, the Origin of Reality, but my real home is at the peak of Mount Meru. I am but an orphan. Save me with your passionate love. O Heroic One, make expansive, all-pervading love with me now, that I may live and you may achieve your goal!"

Realizing that all these mystic forms of the Mother-goddess have come to aid him in his search for Liberation from the endless cycle of births and deaths, the Buddha enters the Samadhi state known as "Diamond Glory Partaking of All Desires" and makes love with all of them simultaneously. Practicing the arts of love he had perfected during his youthful years in his father's palace, the Buddha fulfills the desires of each of the Dakinis and they bring him to completion. Ascending in a five-colored rainbow of effulgent light, they are transported to another realm.

a winding path leads from it through peach and plum trees, past moss-covered rocks, past a

goldfish pond, an arbor of roses, beds of peonies, and other flowers, to a delightful pavilion strategically located looking down over the lake. In the moonlight the trees and flowers cast strange shadows, some long, some short.

Red lanterns hang from the eaves of the pavilion, which seems to be carved from some

kind of precious marble, or perhaps a white jade. The roof is covered with golden tiles and

the exquisitely made doors and windows are open, revealing a scene of rare luxury.

able beauty.

"Though we are three, in truth we are one," says the damsel with a slightly darker skin than the others. "Just as you are the Son of Heaven, we are the Daughters of Earth. We are called the Plain Girl, the Elected Girl, and the Dark Girl; our function is to initiate you into the Supreme Truths concerning sexuality. I am Hsuan-nu, the Dark Girl, the Peach of Immortality, and these are my loving sisters."

"My name is Ts'ai-nu, the Elected Girl," says the one wearing purple silk robes. "I am also called Goddess of Many Colors. Just as the Emperor must familiarize himself with everything in his empire in order to rule it well, so should he know the secrets of sexual love, to enable him to harmonize himself with his Queen and concubines."

"My name is Su-nu, the Plain Girl," says the third young woman, who is completely naked and whose Yoni looks just like a conch shell. "I am also called Queen of the White River. To be quite frank, woman is the only real initiator; man's role is that of a willing student. Just as on the sixteenth day of the fifth month of every year the roles of Heaven and Earth are reversed, so within this Love Pavilion it is my sisters and I who determine the order of events and the Yellow Emperor who complies!"

Pulling the Plain Girl close to him and then placing his head close to her lap, as if in

obeisance, the Yellow Emperor says:

"Sensuous One, explain to me the roles of Heaven and Earth! Initiate me into the secret sexual methods pertaining to rulership. Tell me why it is that husbands are but one, whereas wives are many. Reveal to me the inner meaning of polygamy and when, if ever, polyandry is permissible. Tell me also when your precious Conch Shell will be ready and willing to receive my Jade Scepter!"

"Heaven expands, Earth contracts," says the Plain Girl as she delicately plucks the strings of her instrument. "Expansion and contraction are the roles of Heaven and Earth! Just as Heaven is solitary, whereas Earths are legion, so it is that husbands are one and wives are many. It is truly said that the husband is Heaven and Heaven cannot be shirked!

"As Emperor, you are authorized to enjoy one wife of the first rank, three precious consorts, nine wives of the second rank, twenty-seven wives of the third rank, and eightyone concubines. The wife of the first rank is the Queen of Heaven and the three precious consorts are the Daughters of Earth. The nine wives of the second rank symbolize the nine planets and the twenty-seven wives of the third rank echo the twenty-seven constellations in the sky. As for the eighty-one concubines, they lighten the load of years and are for the playful dalliance of Emperors!

"The Emperor's duty is to rule by maintaining harmony between Heaven and Earth;

Secret dalliance, the multiple love-making of emperors. Woodblock illustration from Kamigata Koishusyo, attributed to Kunisada, circa 1840.

DAUGHTERS OF EARTH

THE DARK GIRL

THE ELECTED GIRL

THE PLAIN GIRL

The three sex initiatresses: the Plain Girl, the Elected Girl, and the Dark Girl. From a contemporary photograph.