Hindu tantric literature explained

Tantras in Hinduism are esoteric scriptures.[1]

Classes

The word tantra is made up by the joining (sandhi in Sanskrit) of two Sanskrit words: tanoti (expansion) and trayati (liberation). Tantra means liberation of energy and expansion of consciousness from its gross form. It is a method to expand the mind and liberate the dormant potential energy, and its principles form the basis of all yogic practices. Hence, the Hindu tantric scriptures refer to techniques for achieving a result.

The Hindu tantras total 92 scriptures; of these, 64[2] are purely Abheda (literally "without differentiation", or monistic), known as the Bhairava Tantras or Kashmir Śaivite Tantras, 18 are Bhedābheda (literally "with differentiation and without differentiation" monistic or dualistic), known as the Rudra Tantras), and 10 are completely Bheda (literally "differentiated" or dualistic), known as the Tantras. The latter two (Rudra Tantras and Tantras) are used by the Śaiva Siddhāntins, and thus are sometimes referred to as Shaiva Siddhanta Tantras, or Śaiva Siddhānta Āgamas.

Tantra are mainly two types: Agama and Nigama. Agamas are those texts in which Goddess asked questions and the God replied. In Nigama texts, God asked questions and Goddess replied. This dialogue between God and Goddess is special feature of Hindu Tantra.

Origin

In the Nāth Tradition, legend ascribes the origin of tantra to Dattatreya, a semi-mythological yogi and the assumed author of the Jivanmukta Gita ("Song of the liberated soul"). Matsyendranath is credited with authorship of the Kaulajñāna-nirnāya, a voluminous ninth-century tantra dealing with a host of mystical and magical subjects. This work occupies an important position in the Hindu tantric lineage, as well as in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.

Function

In distinction to Vedic ritual, which is traditionally performed out-of-doors without idols or emblems, the Tantric ritual is largely a matter of temples and idols. The tantras are largely descriptions and specifications for the construction and maintenance of temple structures with their resident idols and lingas, for example is the Ajita Māhātantra.[3]

Another function was the conservation of esoteric texts for the exclusive use of rulers in rituals directed to deities controlling political affairs, for example the Śārada-tilaka Tantra.[4]

Texts

Tantric texts are usually associated with a particular tradition and deity. The different types of Tantric literature are tantra, Āgama, saṃhitā, sūtra, upaniṣad, purāṇa, tīkā (commentaries), prakaraṇa, paddhati texts, stotram, kavaca, nighaṇṭu, koṣa and hagiographical literature. They are written in Sanskrit and in regional languages. The major textual tantra traditions with some key exemplary texts is as follows:[5]

Translations

Most Hindu Tantras remain untranslated. One widely translated exception is the Vijñāna Bhairava Tantra, which according to Christopher Wallis, is atypical of most Tantric scriptures.

Sir John Woodroffe translated the Tantra of the Great Liberation (Mahānirvāna Tantra) (1913) into English along with other Tantric texts. Other tantras which have been translated into a Western language include the Malini-vijayottara tantra, the Kirana tantra, and the Parakhya Tantra.

Some translation of Tantra texts

  1. The Kulachudamani Tantra and Vamkehwar Tantra, Louise M. Finn
  2. Kularnava Tantra, Paramhansa Mishra
  3. Kularnava Tantra, Ram Rahim Rai
  4. Yogini Hridaya, Vraj Vallabh Dwivedi
  5. Yogini Tantra by GangaVishnu ShriKrishnadas
  6. Maheshwar Tantra Sarala Hindi Vyakhya Sudhakar Malaviya Chowkambha (Narada Pancrata)
  7. Kamratna Tantra, Hemchandra Goswami

Tantric Texts Series Arthur Avalon (John Woodroffe)

  1. Tantrabhidhanam with Bijanighantu & Mudranighantu - A Tantric Dictionary
  2. Shatchakranirupanam (Serpant Power) with 2 commentaries - Taranatha Vaidyaratna
  3. Prapachasaratantram (reprinted as volumes 18 & 19)
  4. Kulachudamani Tantra - Girish Chandra Vedantatirtha
  5. Kularnavatantram edited by Taranatha Vaidyaratna
  6. Kalivilasatantram edited by Parvati Charana Tarkatirtha
  7. Shrichakrasambhara edited by Kazi Dawa samdup (Buddhist Tantra)
  8. Tantraraja Part 1 commentary by Subhagananda Natha
  9. Karpuradistotra with intro & commentary by Vimalananda Swami
  10. Kamakalavilasa of Punyananda, commentary by Natananadanatha
  11. Kaula & Other Upanishads with commentaries by Bhaskararaya & others
  12. Tantraraja Part 2 commentary by Subhagananda Natha
  13. Mahanirvanatantram with commentary of Hariharananda Bharati
  14. Kaulavalinirnayah of Jnanananda Paramahamsa
  15. Brahmasamhita with commentary of Jiva Gosvami & Vishnusahasranama
  16. Sharadatilakatantram of Lakshmana Desikendra with commentary Part 1
  17. Sharadatilakatantram of Lakshmana Desikendra with commentary Part 2
  18. Prapachasaratantram Part 1
  19. Prapachasaratantram Part 2
  20. Chidgaganachandrika - Swami Trivikrama Tirtha
  21. Tarabhakti Sudharnava - Panchanana Bhattacharya Tarkaratna
  22. Sataratna samgraha, with Sataratnollekhani - Edited by Panchanan Sastri

See also

References

Works cited

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. Encyclopedia: Smith. Travis. Tantra. Brill's Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Brill. 978-90-04-17893-9. 168–181.
  2. Web site: 64Tantras . 2015-08-26 . 2015-08-11 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150811055400/http://64tantras.com/64thantra.php . dead .
  3. http://texts.00.gs/Ajita_Mahatantra,_1-18.htm Ajita_Mahatantra 1–18
  4. http://texts.00.gs/S%60arada-tilaka_Tantra,_1.htm S%60arada-tilaka_Tantra,_1
  5. Web site: Subhodeep . Mukhopadhyay . August 26, 2016 . Demystifying Tantra-III: Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava Tantras . Indiafacts.org .

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