Matsya

(“fish”) In the secret ritually-based religious practice known as tantra, fish is
the second of the “Five Forbidden
Things” (panchamakara), which, in
“left hand” (vamachara) tantric ritual,
are used in their actual forms, but are
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Matsya
represented by symbolic substitutes in
“right hand” (dakshinachara) tantric
ritual. “Respectable” Hindu society
strongly condemns the consumption of
nonvegetarian food, so this ritual use
must be seen in the larger tantric
context. One of the underlying tantric
assumptions is the ultimate unity of
everything that exists. From a tantric
perspective, to affirm that the entire
universe is one principle means that the
adept must reject all concepts based on
dualistic thinking. The “Five Forbidden
Things” provide a ritual means for
breaking down duality. In this ritual the
adept breaks societal norms forbidding
consumption of intoxicants, nonvegetarian food, and illicit sexuality in a conscious effort to sacralize what is
normally forbidden. Tantric adepts cite
such ritual use of forbidden things as
proof that their practice involves a more
exclusive qualification (adhikara), and
is thus superior to common practice. For
further information see Arthur Avalon
(Sir John Woodroffe), Shakti and Shakta,
1978; Swami Agehananda Bharati, The
Tantric Tradition, 1977; and Douglas
Renfrew Brooks, The Secret of the Three
Cities, 1990.