Tantra describes five elements, known as panchamakara, for sadhana.
The five elements have symbolic meaning in Tantism. The five elements are:
- madya, wine;
- mamsa, meat;
- matsya, fish;
- mudra, silver coin; and
- maithuna, sexual union.
These five categories have different meanings for different classes
of worshippers —
but in all cases it is important to understand that what one is required to
offer is the principle or essence, not the article itself.
It is impossible to think that Shiva would have advised
people to have all five experiences and assured them illumination. Many people enjoy
these things. Are they illumined? People don’t need to practice tantric rituals
to have sex and enjoy wine. Some people with animal nature want to spiritualize
their self-indulgence, and Westerners sometimes portray tantric rituals in this
way.
The panchamakara should be understood from a spiritual
perspective.
Symbolic Meaning of Wine – Meat – Fish – Coin – Sex in Tantric Worship
Madya (Wine) — When we meditate, sweet nectar flows from the brahmarandhra
chakra. This is called ‘Madya’ (wine). A spiritual seeker thinks of that nectar
and is intoxicated.
Mamsa (meat) — That means great taste on your tongue. A true
tantric aspirant should have full control over her or his tongue; a real
tantric is passive and practices silence.
Matsya (fish) — The tantras refer to the jiva, the
individual self. The ida and pingala — the two nerve channels on either side of
the spinal cord —
are like the rivers Ganga and Yamuna, and the jiva, like a fish, plays in these
channels as the tantric practitioner breathes in and out. The control of this
breath and focusing on that power and putting that power through the sushumna channel,
is called matsya.
Mudra (silver coin) — refers to meditation on the guru in the
sahasrara —
the place of Shiva in the seventh chakra —, which is compared to, melted silver.
Maithuna (sexual union) — it can be understood in this way:
Air represents the male and space represents the female. When air enters into space
— meaning
that when we breathe, air enters into the space of our hearts and a yogi
attains kumbhaka —
the mind stops and one attains illumination. This is maithuna or union.
Source – article titled What Is Tantra? Swami Chetanananda (
Head of the Vedanta Society of St Louis.)