This Book is a glossary of all such complex, technical and cryptic terminologies which are used in the tantric texts, and a serious effort has been made by the publishing team to compile an authentic glossary. Correct rendition of these words in English language was a huge challenge, and therefore the text has been reviewed and edited to ensure the authenticity of the Glossary.
The first edition of the book was highly appreciated and accepted by the scholars and the aspirants. This is the Second edition which has been revised and enlarged, and several Yantras have been added. It is very useful book for studies of Tantra,Mantra and Yantra Literature.
Book's Contents and Sample Pages
From the Jacket
The present work, though non-technical in nature, is comprehensive, and apart from dealing with the Tantric terms and concepts pertaining to various forms of religious system, also contains entries on extra-religious contents of Tantrism such as chemical and medical sciences, philosophical speculations especially on metaphysics and epistemology, yoga and physical exercises. Tantric deities are also dealt with- the hundreds of gods and goddesses who have no independent and real existence apart from the mind of the worshipper and the manner of worship. Tantric texts, with brief details of their contents and publication, are recorded. All the important entries contain textual references which will prove useful to scholars and researchers. The volume also contains a large and updated bibliography and a comprehensive introduction.
About the Author
Late N. N. Bhattacharyya does not require any introduction in the field of Indological studies. Through religious history was his forte he worked at ease in diverse branches of ancient Indian history and civilization.
His important publications in English include Indian Puberty Rites, Indian Mother Goddess, History of Indian Cosmogonical Ideas, Ancient Indian Rituals their Social Contents, History of Indian Erotic Literature, Jain Philosophy: Historical Outline, History of Researches on Indian Buddhism, History of Tantric Religion, A Glossary of Indian Religious Terms and Concepts, Geographical Dictionary of Ancient and Early Medieval India, Ancient Indian History and Civilization: Trends and Perspectives, Buddhism in the History of Indian Ideas, History of the Sakta Religion, Indian Religious Historiography and Indian Demonology.
He edited R. P. Chanda's Indo-Aryan Races and N. C. Bandyopadhyaya's Development of Hindu Polity and Political Theories. His edited volumes include Medieval Bhakti Movement in India, Jainism and Prakrit in Ancient and Medieval India, Tantric Buddhism and Encyclopaedia of Ancient Indian Culture.
He presided over the Ancient India section of the Indian History Congress in 1992.
Contents:
Preface
Introduction
THE LEXICON
Bibliography
From The Jacket
Tantra is a distinct philosophical system. Many feel eager to know about it, but few love the time and energy to understand. The intricacies of Tantra. So, a short-cut is necessary.
In the present work, an attempt has been made to set forth the highlights of the Tantra works and their authors. A bibliography, intended to help further reading, has been added.
The author, a lifelong researcher in Sanskrit, has been a teacher of the subject. He has some 60 works to his credit. His only aim is to propogate Sanskrit learning.
The elements of Tantra are found in the Atharvaveda and, in a lesser degree, in the Rgveda. These relate to the mundane life of the people, and reflect their aspirations for material well-being. We see, in them, how people wanted to have long life, keep off diseases and thwart the activities of ghosts, supposed to cause harm to them. Magic, both beneficial to themselves and harmful to their enemies, figures prominently.
In course of time, side by side with the elitist works, Tantras having a populist appeal came to be composed. It seems that Tantras arose as a protest against the traditional scriptures which insisted on self-mortification and austerities, etc. as means to the attainment of emancipation of the soul from the bondage of rebirths. In doing so, they prescribed rituals which were denied to women and the Sudras who were in the lowest rung of the social ladder.
Tantra had a different approach to life and salvation. It sought to show the way to liberation here in life not by denial of worldly pleasures. For the followers of Tantra, the body was the microcosm and was to be kept fit for Tantric devotion. Women and Sudras were given by Tantra many facilities for religious practices. The rigours of caste-system were considerably relaxed. The acquisition of virtues was considered more important than the accident of birth.
In the modern society of India, the traditional scriptural injunctions are yielding place to rational thinking. Those, who do not know much of Tantra, are vociferously decrying ancient Indian values categorically. For reforming the society in keeping with modern ideas, the Tantra-sastra should be cultivated. But, in the busy life of today, with tension and turmoil, it is not possible for one to delve deep into Tantra.
The present work is designed to give, in a succinct form, the reader an idea about the highlights of Tantra. In the introduction, we have briefly dealt with the important matters relating to this literature. It is followed by short accounts of the important authors and works on Tantra. In a glossary, the difficult words and technical terms have been explained. A separate glossary of scientific terms has also been added. The bibliography is fairly exhaustive.
The labours of the author will be rewarded if the work goes some way in familiarizing the readers with the contents of Tantra, both Hindu and Buddhist.
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Abhinavagupta (31)
Buddhist (76)
Chakra (42)
Goddess (127)
History (36)
Kundalini (146)
Mantra (58)
Original Tantric Texts (17)
Philosophy (111)
Shaivism (66)
Yantra (40)
हिन्दी (92)
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