In this book, the author presents in historical outline, the genesis, development and structural analysis of the Tantric tradition in India and its place in the Indian religious and philosophical systems. It studies the different aspects of Tantrism, its vastness and intricacies, its heterogeneous and contradictory element and gives a historical perspective to the conglomeration of ideas and practices through space and time.
After an introduction to the meaning of Tantra, the work outlines the various texts which comprise Tantric literature. The development of Tantrism is traced from pre-Vedic times through the Vedic, post-Vedic, early Buddhist and Jain periods down to the evolution of the concept of Sakti in Indian religious thinking. The sequence is carried forward by a study of the development of Tantric Buddhism in India and Tantric Ideas and practices in medieval religious systems. The 'Lokayata' tradition and its connection with Tantrism and finally the emergence of sophisticated Tantras with Sakta orientation completes this historical study of Tantrism through the ages.
This important work also incorporates a review on Tantric art and a glossary of Tantric technical terms with reference to text, and intermeniaries.
About the Author
As an Indologist, Dr. N. N. Bhattacharyya requires no introduction. He is the author of such well-known works as The Indian Puberty Rites (1968, 1980), Indian Mother Goddess (1970, 1977), History of Cosmogonical Ideas (1971), History of the Sakta Religion (1978, 1996), History of Indian Erotic Literature (1975), Ancient Ritual Indian and their Social Contents (1975, 1996), Jaina Philosophy (1976, 1998), History of Researches of Indian Buddhism (1981), Buddhism in the History of Indian Ideas (1993), Indian Religious Historiography (1996), A Glossary of Indian Religious Terms and concepts (1990), The Geographical Dictionary: Ancient and Early Medieval India (1991) etc.
He has edited R. P. Chanda's Indo Aryan Races and N. C. Bandyopadhyay's Development of Indian Polity. He has also edited Medieval Bhakti Movements in India (1989), Jainism and Prakrit in Ancient and Medieval India (1994), and Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Culture (1998).
A retired professor of Calcutta University Dr. Bhattacharyya presided over the Ancient India section of the Indian History Congress in 1992.
Contents:
Preface to the Second Edition Preface to the First Edition Chapter 1. Introduction What is Tantra? Veda and Tantra The Parallel Tradition 'Pure knowledge' versus Empirical knowledge Tantra and Science Tantric Texts on Chemical Science Tantric Alchemy and the Concept of Revitalizing the Body The Apathy towards Tantra The Other Side Tantrism and Hindu Religion Chapter 2. Tantric Literature The Traditional Classification, Nature, Date, etc The Pancaratra Samhitas The Ahirbudhnya Samhita The Laksmitantra The Saiva Agamas The Nisvasatattva Samhita Saiva Tantras in the Far East Some Saiva Tantras of the Nepal Collection The Buddhist Tantras The Guhyasamaja Tantra The Manjusrimulakalpa The Sadhanamala and the Nispannayogavali The Prajnopaya and the Hevajratantra The Sakta Tantras The Paranandasutra The Kularnavatantra The Saradatilaka The Mahanirvanatantra A Few Other Sakta Tantras Tantras of Other Religious Sects Chapter 3. External Influences and Interactions Tantrism and the Universal Mother Goddess Cult Scholars on Foreign Elements in Tantrism Buddhism, Confucianism and Taoism: Background of Chinese Influence Taoism and Tantra Vasistha and Cinacara The Tara Cults: Its Renovation, Migration and Influence Chapter 4. The Primitive Substratum Vamacara and the Primitive Female-dominated Societies Role of Women in Tantric Cults Maithuna: Social Significance of the Sex Rites Kha-puspa or Menstural Blood Savasadhana: Concept of Death and Resurrection: Fertility Beliefs Madya: The Efficacy of Wine Diksa or Initiation The So-called Black Acts and Miraculous Powers Chapter 5. Tantrism and the Earlier Forms of Indian Religious system Tantrism in Pre-Vedic Religion Tantrict Elements in the Vedic Religion Tantra in Post-Vedic Though Tantric Influence on Early Buddhism and Jainism Tantra and Early Vaisnavism Tantra and the Pasupata Saivism Evolution of the Concept of Sakti Chapter 6. Development of Tantric Buddhism Tantric Background of the Buddhist Doctrine of Elements The Mahayana: Its Tantric Association Tenets of Tantric Buddhism Bodhicitta, Prajna and Upaya Buddhist and Hindu Tantras: Similarities in Modus Operandi The Vajrayana Pantheon Kalacakrayana Sahajayana Chapter 7. Tantric Ideas and Practices in Medieval Religious Systems Tantrism and Medieval Vaisnavism Tantrism and Southern Saivism Tantrism and Virasaivism Tantrism and Kasmira Saivism Tantrism and Saktism The Atimargika Sects: Kapalikas, Kalamukhas, Mattamayuras Tantrism and the Ganapatyas Tantrism and the Smarta Pancopasana Chapter 8. Tantrism and the Religion of the Masses: The Lokayata Tradition The siddhacaryas: Buddhist Tantric Influence Tantrism and the Natha Siddha Tradition Sahajayana in the Carya Poems Sahajayana and the Female Principle The Sahajiya Spirit in Jain Dohas The Vaisnava Sahajiyas Tantric and Sahajiya Ideals in Medievel Religious Reform Movements and in the Teachings of the Saints Sufism and Tantric- Sahajiya Tradition Chapter 9. The Sophisticated Tantras with Sakta Orientation Tantric Substratum of Saktism The Functional Aspect of the Sakta Tantras The Satcakra: Conceptual Transformation Deities, Mantras and Letters: Their Position in the Cakras Employment of the Mantras and Allied Methods Yogic Exercises: Awakening of Kundalini Use of Chemical Drugs: Rasesvara Darsana Vamacara: Its Professed Anti Brahmanism The Sakta-Tantric Deities Philosophy of the Sakta Tantras Chapter 10. Tantric Art: A Review The Problem Tantric Architecture: Some Aspects Sexual Depictions: Their Tantric Probabilities Tantric Icons Chapter 11. A Glossary of Tantric Technical Terms Bibliography Index
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Abhinavagupta (29)
Buddhist (71)
Chakra (40)
Goddess (124)
History (36)
Kundalini (145)
Mantra (54)
Original Tantric Texts (18)
Philosophy (107)
Shaivism (63)
Yantra (38)
हिन्दी (92)
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