The Concealed Essence of the Hevajra Tantra: With the Commentary Yogaratnamala (A Rare Book)

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The Hevajra Tantra is a non- dual, Yogini tantra of the late Mantrayana tradition of Buddhism which was composed in north-eastern India during the 8th century A.D. It was one of the principal later tantric cycles which were first introduced into Tibet during the late 10th century A.D. in a general reintroduction of the Buddhism there after the persecutions of the previous century. The origin of the tantric Buddhist Wisdom and Means method exposed in the Hevajra Tantra can be traced to the views found in the 1st century A.D. Madhymaka works of Nagarjuna and the works of other Mahayana schools as well as through the text of the later, 6th - 7th century A.D. Yoga tantra tradition. The method of the Hevajra Tantra was especially evolved from the views on the tantric Buddhist method found in the Guhya Samaja Tantra, the Manjusri Mulakalpa, the Tattva Samgraha and other Yoga tantra works.

The Yogaratnamala also known as the Hevajra Panjika (9th cent. A.D.) is a principal commentary of the Hevajra Tantra by the Maha Siddha and Pandit Krishnacarya. This English translation of a principal root Tantra together with a translation of a major commentary by a Maha Siddha offers an authentic insight into the radical biogenetic and psychological views of the Yogi tradition of mantrayana Buddhism. These two translations therefore highlight not only the sophisticated but controversial Buddhist tantric methods, which constitute the very essence of the Tibetan tantric method, but also provide an authoritative historical record of and testament to the unique and uninhibited classic, c. 5th cent. A.D. to c. 13th cent. A.D. tantric period of Indian religious history.

About the Author

I. Menon was born in Kerala, India. He commenced the study of Philosophy at St. Stephan's Collage, New Delhi. He received an M.A. in Philosophy from Delhi University. He has studied and practised Tantra and Astrology under the guidance of tantric master in Kerala, Varanasi, Bengal and Nepal and has extensively researched Hindu and Buddhist Tantras and related tantric material. For nearly 3 decades he has been collaborating with G.W. Farrow in the research and translation of Hindu and Buddhist tantric and yoga texts.

G.W. Farrow was born in U.K. in 1944. He studied at Dulwich Collage, London. Due to fortuitous financial circumstances he has had the opportunity to travel extensively in North Africa, the Middle East, the Indian sub-continent and South-east Asia. He lived in both India and Nepal for extended periods and was introduced to hinduu and Buddhist Yoga sects during these periods of residence. He has been consecrated by Vaishnava, Saiva sects and Vajrayana yogis. For nearly a decade he has been collaborating with I. Menon on a translation and research project involving tantric and yoga texts.

Contents:

Preface  Introduction  Acknowledgement  A Note Regarding the Translation  List of Texts Consulted  A Table of the Textual Contents of the Hevajra Tantra    Hevajra Tantra Part I - The Awakening of the Vajragarbha   1.  Vajra Family  2.  Mantras  3.  Deity  4.  Consecration by the Deity  5.  True Principle  6.  Application of the Vow  7.  Secret Sign Language  8.  Circle of the Yogini  9.  Purification  10. Consecration  11. Various Rites    Hevajra Tantra Part II - The Illusion  1.  Rite of Establishing Sanctity  2.  Definition of the Accomplishment  3.  Fundamentals of all Tantras  4.  Seals  5.  Manifestation of the Mandala of Hevajra  6.  Painting the Portrait of Hevajra  7.  Book and Feast  8.  Discipline  9.  Arrangement of Mantras  10. Recitation of mantras  11. Means of attain the Innate  12. Instruction for the Four Consecrations    A Glossary of Important Terms  Index