Anugraha is the grace that confers liberation, a core concept of Tantra. The term anugraha literally means grace of favor or kindness and refers to conferring benefits or promoting a good objective.
All systems of Hindu tradition and philosophy emphasize that
the final aim of human life is liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
Hinduism shows many paths to achieve it and Tantra is system is one of them.
Like all other systems of Hindu religion, it takes its origin from Vedas, more
particularly from the karma kanda or sections of the canonical texts dealing
with religious rituals. According to the Tantra system, ultimate liberation is
achieved through ritual, spiritual exercise, devotion and anugraha (grace) of
the mother Goddess Shakti. This is according to the majority of the followers
of this sect, though worship of other details of Shiva is not ruled out.
Shakti is the primordial spirit of the entire universe and
so, worship offered to her will lead to ultimate liberation, moksha. The
worship may be through mudras (gestures), mantras (liturgy), mandalas
(diagrams), the five makaras (rites), the dakshina marga and vama marga. A tantric
worshiper may also resort to magical practices for acquiring supernatural
powers through the anugraha (blessings) of Shakti. Vedic Hindus believed in the
spells caused by mystic syllables. Mystic incantations like vasat and svaha are
often used in the rituals of Rig Veda. Atharva Veda refers to some of the tantric
practices. Tantra worship might have taken its roots from the Shrauta and
Smarta Sutras which deal with public congregational rituals and domestic
private rituals, respectively.
While granting grace to the devotee, the Mother of the world
may present herself in three forms, sthula (gross), Sukshma (subtle) and para
(transcendental).
The gross form of Goddess Shakti may be represented by
mudras shown through fingers, hands and other limbs by the devotee. The subtle
aspect consists of mantras which are fit for apprehension with the organs of
hearing and speech by those who have the good fortune to receive the mantras
from a worthy preceptor. The third aspect (para) is to be apprehended as all-pervading
consciousness.