wgm4u wrote: > > Just wondering if the 'tradition' starts with MMY. :-) > Billy - The TM tradition probably originated with the Nath alchemists of medieval India, the so-called "Eighty-four Mahasiddhas" and with Matsyendranath, the inventor of Hatha Yoga. This tradition was taken to Kashmir where it became the Trika system and then later to South Asia to become the Sri Vidya tradition of Shankara.
According to what I've read, Guru Dev's teacher was Swami Krishanand Saraswati of Sringeri. If so, that means that Guru Dev was, like his teacher, a student of the Sri Vidya, which was established by Shankara at Sringeri. Apparently there are three TM bija mantras inscribed on the Sri Chakra, which is ensconced at the Sringeri temple. It is a fact that all the Saraswati Dasanamis worship the Sri Vidya. It is also a fact that the Sri Chakra is ensconced on the mandir at Dwarka and at the Kanchi Mathas. It is also a fact that all the Adwaita Sannyasins claim that Adi Shankara established four mathas as seats of learning and for the worship of Sri Vidya. In addition, all the Shankaracharyas agree that Shankara composed the Soundaryalahari, with the TM bija mantras included among the thirteeen other bija mantras. According to the Shankaracharya of Sringeri, the Adi Shankara placed the Sri Chakra, symbol of Tripurasundari, with the TM mantras inscribed thereon, at each of the seats of learning - Dwarka, Puri, Sringeri, Kanchi and at Jyotirmath. The mantras of TM are DIRECTLY related to Sri Vidya. At least three TM bija mantras appear inscribed on the Sri Chakra. According to Swami Rama, Guru Dev was fond of the Sri Chakra and used one in his puja. So, if the Sri Chakra has the TM mantras written on it, and Shankara wrote the Soundaryalahari, with the thirteen bija mantras, three of which are used in the practice of TM, we can assume that the TM bija mantras used by MMY are derived from the Tantric Tradition of Shankara as practiced in Kerala State.
