Concept of Creation in Tantra: The Dance of Consciousness and Energy

In the Yogic understanding of Tantra, the universe did not arise from nothing or begin at a single point in time. It is a continuous and living expression of one limitless reality called Consciousness (Chaitanya).

This Consciousness reveals itself through the natural movement of Energy (Shakti), which gives rise to everything we experience.

Consciousness is not a distant or inactive force. It is alive, aware, and creative. Every part of existence- from the smallest particle to the vast cosmos- is the unfolding of this Consciousness in countless forms.

Consciousness: the dynamic reality

In Tantric philosophy, Consciousness is not static or unmoving. It is a living, dynamic principle that carries within itself the power to move, to transform, and to manifest as the universe.

This inherent movement or creative force is called Shakti– the energy or potential of Consciousness itself. Shakti is not separate from Shiva; she is Shiva’s own power of expression.

Just as heat cannot be separated from fire, or light from the sun, Shiva and Shakti are two aspects of one reality.

• Shiva represents stillness and pure awareness – the silent, unchanging ground of existence.
• Shakti represents pulsation (Spanda)- the natural rhythm and creative movement of that awareness.

Their inseparable union forms the essence of all existence, from the subtlest vibration to the densest matter.

In Tantra, wherever there is energy, there is vibration, and wherever there is vibration, there is Consciousness. This is the living truth at the heart of all creation.

Also Read: Tantra: The Ancient Indian Path of Liberation and Consciousness

The five divine acts of consciousness

This living Consciousness does not remain idle; it expresses itself continuously through its own five eternal functions, known in Tantra as the Pancha Krityas the Five Divine Acts. These describe the natural rhythm through which Consciousness manifests, sustains, conceals, and ultimately returns to itself.

1. Srishti (Creation) – The expression of infinite potential into the realm of form and diversity.
2. Sthiti (Sustenance) – The preservation and continuous support of all created forms.
3. Samhara (Dissolution) – The return of all forms into their original source.
4. Tirobhava (Self-Concealment) – The act through which Consciousness hides its limitless nature to experience limitation.
5. Anugraha (Grace or Revelation) – The revealing of that hidden truth, leading to spiritual awakening and liberation.

The first three functions describe the visible movement of the cosmos, creation, maintenance, and dissolution. The last two, self-concealment and grace, point to the inner journey of Consciousness itself- the process of forgetting and remembering its own divine essence.

The veiling power: the function of self-concealment (tirobhava)

If the Absolute Consciousness were to remain fully aware of its unity, manifestation would not be possible. For the One to appear as the many, it must momentarily veil its infinite nature.

This act of self-concealment allows the boundless Consciousness to express itself as individual beings, objects, and worlds. Through this veiling, the infinite appears as the finite – not by losing its essence, but by expressing itself through layers of limitation and form.

To make this idea clearer, the teacher gives a simple example:

Imagine a princess who wishes to perform in a play. The only role available is that of a beggar. To play it convincingly, she puts on rags, changes her appearance, and adopts a new voice. For the time she is on stage, she forgets her royal identity and lives as the beggar. Yet in truth, she never ceases to be the princess.

In the same way, Consciousness disguises its infinity to experience itself in countless forms. This cosmic act of concealment and expression is called Lila – the divine play of becoming.

Another example often used in Tantra is the transformation of milk into curd. When milk turns into curd, the original “milkiness” is hidden, yet its essence remains unchanged. The curd is not separate from milk; it is milk in a new form.

Similarly, the entire universe is a transformation of Consciousness. Its true nature is concealed beneath endless appearances, yet within every form, the same infinite essence quietly remains.

The human condition: forgetting our true nature

This veiling is not only cosmic but also personal. Every human being is an expression of the same Consciousness, yet like the princess in the story, we have become deeply absorbed in our roles.

We identify with the body, the mind, and the emotions, forgetting the Self that exists beyond them. This forgetfulness is called Avidya, meaning ignorance of our true nature. It creates the sense of separation, fear, and limitation that gives rise to suffering.

When we mistake ourselves for the role- the body, the name, the personality- we live within the boundaries of illusion. We begin to fear change and loss, to seek happiness in fleeting things, and to overlook the truth that we are already whole, already divine.

This is the essence of the human condition- the play of Consciousness that has forgotten its own divinity.

The revelation: the function of grace (anugraha)

The same Consciousness that hides itself also holds the power to reveal itself. This revelation is called Anugraha, or Grace – the natural movement of return to one’s source.

Through inner stillness, meditation, devotion, or even a moment of deep silence, the veil of forgetfulness begins to lift. In these moments, the Divine remembers itself through the human form. The experiences of peace, clarity, or awakening are not accidents; they are the Self recognising itself.

In the Tantric view, this continuous rhythm of concealment and revelation is known as Spanda– the subtle pulsation through which Consciousness experiences and rediscovers its infinity.

The endless cycle of becoming

From the Tantric perspective, creation is not an event but a continuous process of manifestation, sustenance, and withdrawal. There is no beginning and no end; only the ceaseless rhythm of projection and return.

Tantra describes this process as manifestation (Abhasa) rather than creation, because nothing arises from outside the Absolute. The universe is simply Consciousness expressing itself in countless forms.

The 36 Tattvas, described in Kashmir Shaivism, represent the stages of this manifestation. They outline how the infinite contracts step by step into the finite – from pure awareness to subtle energy, and finally into matter. Each tattva marks a stage in this cosmic condensation of Consciousness.

The purpose of the journey

The aim of Tantric practice is to see through the disguise– to recognise that the actor and the role are one. You are not a limited being striving for freedom; you are Shiva–Shakti, the very source of creation, momentarily experiencing limitation through play.

Through self-awareness, devotion, and steady Yogic discipline, the layers of forgetfulness begin to dissolve. What remains is the direct recognition of your original nature- pure, boundless, and luminous.

To realise this truth is Moksha; not an escape from the world, but an awakening within it, seeing all of life as the divine movement of Consciousness itself.

Conclusion

The entire cosmos is the dance of Shiva and Shakti– the meeting of stillness and motion, awareness and energy.

When this truth is recognised, life itself becomes sacred. The ordinary dissolves into the extraordinary rhythm of Consciousness. Every breath, sound, and experience becomes part of the Divine play (Lila) unfolding through us.

We are not here to become something new or different. We are here to remember what we have always been; pure Consciousness in motion, energy aware of itself.

In this remembrance, the ordinary becomes sacred, and every moment reveals the timeless dance of the One expressing itself as all.