Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
The whole of India was once bathed and illumined by the Tantric Cult.
I hi
Tantric Cults all-pervading nature, immense popularity and ritualistic approach promptei
Tantrics to preserve and promote this Cult and transmit it to generations. Ultimateh thi
led to the birth of the vast and encyclopaedic Tantric Literature in the forms of 1antr
texts, commentaries and digests.
During the peak period o f Tantra, innumerable Tantra works emerged. A grea
scholar o f Tantra writes.1
We hear from Tantric teachers that the number o f treatises on Tantra is one lak
and some say that it is even more. Moreover, a particularly trustworthy community hold
that even now there is no cessation in the creation of Tantras, and that there will also be n
such cessation in all the ages to c o m e ................. There can be nothing to wonder at
new Tantras daily appear in the world.
Tantric treatises are still very numerous, though the greater part has been k>
destroyed or missing.2 A vast number o f Tantras have disappeared forever. Of
tho-v
which survive, a large number is unknown. Most o f those which are available are
fragmentary character.3
Moreover each one of the Tantra schools has its own Tantras of which the <
were at one time probably one thousands. Besides, original treatises, there is a lar i
1. POT, p.535.
2. SAS, p.439.
3. Ibid, p. 134.
18-
number o f digests and commentaries. Moreover, the number of Tantras existing in thmanuscripts is far larger.45
So divergence views on the exact number of Tantra are natural. Sa"nkaracary;t
says in his Saundarya laharfThe Lord of creatures having created the entire universe with the sixty four (6
Tantras, the chief sources of occult powers remained satisfied.
Mahesvara Tantra says,6
tvaya proktani tantrani catuhsastimitani bhoh
Oh Lord! Sixty four (64) Tantras were revealed by you.
Tantra also says that the number o f Tantra is fourteen thousands (14,000) .789
sapta sapta sahasrani samkhyatani manisibhih
There are three Tantric Zones. Each Tantric Zone has 64Tantras, So. according
some, the number o f Tantra is 64 x 3 = 192.
Sadamnaya Tantra8 mentions that one hundred ninety two (192) Tantras
cm .si
4. H1L, i, p.564.
5. SL, 31 SI.
6. MAH, 1/15.
7. TMV,p. 116.
8. SAM, 1/128; PBS, p. 183; PAB, p. 198;VK, IV, p.392.
9. TMV, p.117.
are referred to in the Tantra texts and commentaries. But many of them are not available
So it is very difficult for us to give a complete list of Tantra texts in this chapter ( >u
attempt is to mention the names of Tantra collected from different sources.These name
show that when compared with the mass of other treatises on Shastra (The principle
Mantras), they form such an insignificant mass that they are lost in the vast womb of th
untraversable sea o f Tantra so full o f deep truths.10
It is already stated in the First Chapter that Tantra,in its wider sense, includs
Sarhhita, Yamala, Damara, and Agama literatures. Our lists include these forms of I anti
Literature and only Hindu Tantras.
/
Some scholars have listed Tantra works under different heads like Sakta Tantras
Saiva Tantras12, Yamalas13 and Brahman icalTantras.14
Let us mention those Tantras at first.
(a) Sakta Tantras
Varahi Tantra refers to twenty Sakta Tantric texts. They are
1. Nilapataka, 2. Vamakesvara, 3. Mrtyunjaya, 4. Yogarnava, 5. Mava or Maid
6. Daksinamiurti, 7. Kalika, 8. KamesvaiT, 9. Haragaun, 10. KubjikaJ l.Katyavani.
Pratyangira, D.Mahalaksmi, 14. Tripurarnava, 15.Sarasvati, 16.Yogin1. 17. Varahi.
Gavaksi, 19.Natiyaniya, 20. Mrdani.
8.1ndra.
Two other old texts belong to the Yamala group. They are19I. Pingalamata 2. Jayadratha Yamala.
Sfikanthasamhit320 mentions the following names (a) BHAIRAVA TANTRA
16.STUT, p. II.
17. Ibid, p. II.
18. Ibid, p. 12.
19. Ibid, p. 12.
20. As mentioned in TANS, p. 19.
9. Brahma Yamala 10. Visnu Yamala 11. Svacchanda Yamala 12.Ruru Yamal,
13(?) 14. Atharvana 15. Rudra 16.VetaIa.
(c) MATA TANTRA
20.Mata
21. Calika
22.Pingala 2
Utphulla 24.Visvadya.
(d) MANGALA TANTRA
25. Picu Bhairavl 26. Tantra Bhairavi 27. Tata 28. Brahmi Kala 29.Vijaya
Candra 31 Mangala 32. Sarvamafigala.
(e) CAKRASTAKA
33. Mantra cakra 34. Varna cakra 35.Sakti cakra 36. Kala cakra 37. Bindu cakr
38. Nada cakra 39.Guhya cakra 40. Kha cakra.
(!) BAHURU PASTA KA
41. Andhaka 42. Rurubheda 43. Aja 44. Mula 45.Varnamanta or Varna Kanth
46. Vidanga 47. Matradana 48.Jvalina.
(g) VAGISA
49. Bhairavi
50. Citrika
53. Hrllekha
57. Bhairavi 58. Vina 59.Vinamani 60. Sammoha61. Damara 62. Atharvaka 6
Kabandha 64. Sirascheda.
According to Vamakesvara Tantra21and approved by Laksmidhara ^
/
y
1. Mahamaya 2. Sambara 3.Yogini-jala-sambara 4. Tattva-sambara 5. Siddha bhaira' i
6. Batukabhairava
7. Kahgkala bhairava
8. Kala bhairava
9. Kalagni bhaira' a
10. Yoginl bhairava 11. Maha bhairava 12. Sakti bhairava 13. Brahmi 14. Mahcsv;.
IX>
15. Kauniari 16. Vaisnavi 17. Varahi 18. Mahendn 19. Camupda
20. Sivaduti
Rudra Yamala 22. Skanda 23. Brahma 24. Visnu 25. Yama 26. Vayu 27. Kuher.
28.1ndra 29. Candrajnana 30. Malini Vidya 31.Mahasammohana 32. Vamajusta
Mahadeva Tantra
3X
Tantrabheda
35. Vatulottara
39.Guhya Tantra
43.Matottaramata
Rupabheda
34. Vatula
40.
44. Vinakhya
49. Bhuto^damara
36. Kamika
Kalavada
45. Trotala
50. Kulasara
37. Hrdbheda
41. Kalasara
46. Trotalottara
42. Kundikamat
47. Pancamrta 4S
2. Sambara
3. Yogini
4. Jalasambara
5. Tattvasambara
9. Kaumari 10.Vaisnavi
15.Yamalastaka-Brahmayamala
Gaijesa
yamala
Mahasammohana
30.Tantrabheda
22.
Jayadratha
yamala
32. Kamika
23.Candrajnana
28.Vatulottara
24.Vasuki
29.
Hrdbhec.i
Kubjikamata 36. Tantrottara 37. Cinakhya 38. Trotala 39. Trotalottara 40. Pancamr i
41. Rupabheda 42. Bhutoddamara 43. Kulasara 44. Kukxjdisa 45.Kulacudamani 4<
Sarvojnanottara 47. Mahakalimata 48. Mahalakjmimata 49. Siddhayogesvarimata 5*
Kurupikamata 5 1. Rupikamata 52. Sarvaviramata 53. Vimalamata 54. Purvamriaya f
Pascimamnaya 56. Dak;inamnaya 57.Uttaramnaya 58.Urdhamnaya 59. Vaisesika l am a
18'
15. Siddhesvara
16. Matrbheda
13. Bhaira\
22. Aksayii
!>
2
33.Malini 34. Kukkuta 35. Sri Ganesa 36. Bhuta Tantra 37. Uddisa 38.Kamadhenu v
Yoni, 40. Virabhadra 41. Vamakesvara 42. Kulacudaimani Tantra 43. Bhavacudamani 4
Jnanarnava 45. Varada 46. Cintamani 47. Kalivilasa 48. Hamsa 49. Cidambaratata 5(
Vijnapana
51. Phetkarini
52. Nitya
53. Uttara
5'
3. Kuiarnava 4. Kulaprakasa
10. Kumari
14. Ganesa-vimarsini
12. Kamakhya I
17. Camunda I
21.Devyagama
6. Kubjika
ll.K am adhenu
Brahmayamala
5. Kriyasara
22.Devi
23. Devapraka-
! 9<-
42 Yamala
46. Yoni 47. Radha Tantra 48. Rudrayamala 49. Lalita Tantra 50.Visvasara 51. Varah<
52. Visuddhesvara 53. Sri Krama 54. Sivagama 55. Sukumudini 56.Siddhesvara 57
Siddhasara 58. Siddhasarasvata 59. Siddhiyamala 60.Sanatkumara 6 1. Samayacara 62
Sammohana 63. Svatantra 64. Hamsa Mahesvara.
(b) ASVAKRANTS 25
1. Uddama-mahesvara
2.Kriyasara
3.Kala
4. Kamini
5. Kamukesvara
Tantra
!7.Cudamani
20. Tattva-cinta-mani
18.Cina Tantra
i;
2
DhumavatT 24. Brhatsara 25. Brhat-cina 26. Brhat-todala 27. Brhannirvana 28. Brhai
Kafigkalini 29. Brhat-yogini
32, Brhanmaiin
33.Bindu 34. Brahmanda 35. Bhutalipi 36. Bhuta-suddhi 37. Bhutesvari 38. Bherund
39. Bhuvanesvari 40. Mahavira 41. Mantra-cinta-mani 42. Mahaniruttara 43. Mohana 4-*
Mohini 45. Madguli
Mahayogini
Sl.Yogarpava
48. Moksa
49. Mahamaya
5(
54. Lilavati
!V
13. Kalottama
14. Garuda
15.Cinmaya
l6.C'inacar;>
31
15
Tripura
2(
16.Vamakesvara
17.Kukkutesvara
18. Matrka
19. Sanatkumara
VisiiddheSvara 21. Sammohana 22. Gautaniiya 23. Brhat GautamTya 24. BhutaBhairav
25. Camunda 26. Pihgala 27. Virahi 28. Mupdamala 29. Yogirii 30. MalinT Vijaya 5
Svacchanda Bhairava 32. Maha Tantra 33. Sakti Tantra 34. Cintamani 35. Unmatta
bhairava
36. Trailokyasara
40. Vayavlya
41.Todala
37. Visvasara
42. MalinT
38. Tantramrta
43. Lalita
39. Maha-phetkariy
44. Trisakti
46. Mohasvarottara 47. Gavaksa 48, Gandharva 49. Trailokyamohana 50. Hafrisa
mahesvara 51. Hamsa paramesvara 52. Kamadhenu 53. Varnavilasa 54. Maya 5
Tantraraja 56. Uttama Kubjika 57. Vijnanalatika 58. Lihgagama 59. Kalottara 60. Isan.i
samhita 61. Snvinayaka-samhita 62. Nandikesvara-samhita 63. Vasistha-samhita
Daksa-samhita 65. Brahma-samhita 66. Divya-sanatkumiara-samhita 67. Kulanand;samhita
68. Vaisampayana-sarhhita
69. NrsimhatapanTya
70. Daksinamurti
Brahmayamala 72. Adiyamala 73. Rudrayamala 74. Brhadyamala 75. Siddhayamai <
76. Kalpasukta 77. Matsyasukta 78. Kalpasutraka 79. Kamaraja 80. Sivagama 8
llddiSa 82. Kuloddisa 83. Addisa 84. Virabhadraka 85. Bhutadamara 86. Damara 8
Yaksadamara
88. Kalikakula-sarvasva
89. Kulasarvasva
90. Kulacudamani
Kali-Kulamava
9
9<
102. YoginT-jala-kuraka
103. LaksmT-kularnava
104. Taramava
10
CandrapTtha 106. Meru Tantra 107. Catuhsati 108. Tattvabodha 109. Mahogra lh
Svacchandasara 111. Tarapradipa 112. Sanketacandrodaya 113. a|-tri'ngsat-tattva
11
Laksa-nirnaya
115. Tripuranava
117. Mantradarpana
IIS'
VaisnavSmrta
119. Manasoliasa
121. Bhaktimanjari
12
116. Visnudharmottara
120. Puja Pradipa
Bhuvanesvan Parijata 123. Prayogasara 124. Kama ratna 125. Kriyasara 126. Again;'
dipika 127. Bhavacudamani 128. Tantra-cudSmani 129. BrhacchrTkrama 130. Srfkran t
131. Navaratnesvara
134. Ganes.
137.Tantra KaumudT ! ?
153. Shyama-Rahasya
155. Tantrapradfpa 156. Taravilcfsa 157. Visvamatrka 158. Prapancaslira 159. Tantrasar;
160. Ratnavair
In Hara-tatlva-dldhili29 the following list is given 1. Annadakalpa Tantra
Agama-tattva-vilasa
13. Kamala
II. Umajamala
I.
18.. KalikSrccanacandrika
19. Kallkalpa
20. KalTkulasadbhava 2
Kaflkulasarvasva 22. Kalikulamrta 23. Kalikularnava 24. Klllkrama 25. Kali t antra 2<Kallvilasa 27.Kalihrdaya 28. Kubjika 29. KumarT 30. Kulacudamani 31. Kulaprakas;
32. Kulacara
33.Kularnava
42.Guptadiksa 43. Guptasadhana 44. Guptamava 45. Guru Tantra 46. Gudharthadipik
47. Gautamlya 48. Gauffyamala 49. Gherandasamhita 50. Ciria Tantra 51. V'arnaia 5 '
JnSna Tantra 53. JKSnarnava 54. Damara Tantra 55.Tantra Kaumudf 56.Tantra-cudaman
57.Tantradipika 58. Tantra pramode 59. Tantra ratna 60. Tantra raja 61. Tantra-sagant
samhita 62. Tantrasara 63. Tantra-darsa 64. Tantrikadarpana 65. Taragama 66.
1211
83. Devyagama
84. Navaratnesvara
82. Durg
85. Nandikesvara-samhit
Tantra 95.NilaTantra 96. Nrsimha Kalpa 97. Paramahamsa patala 98. ParadevTrahasy
99. Picchila
Tantra
101. PurascaranabodhinT*
10.
I0<
IK
Brhat-Tantrasara
II
Brhatgautamlya Tantra
12
158. Varna-bhairava
15t
161. Vara!
16'
169. VaihayasTv;
mantra-kosa 170. Vyomakesa samhita 171. Vyomaratna Tantra 172. Sakti Yamala
17
17
184. Siva-tandava
18
Siva-dharma 186. Siva-rahasya 187. Siva samgraha 188. Saiva-ratna 189. Saivagam s
^
^
_
190. Syama-kalpa-iata 191. Syama-pradipa 192.Syama-rahasya 193. Syamarccan;
candrika
194. Syama-saparya-krama
195. Syama-saparya-vidhi
cara Tantra 201. Sammohana Tantra 202. SarasvatT Tantra. 203. Sara-cinta-mani 2 n
Sara-sarhgraha 205. Sara-samuccaya 206. Sarasvata Tantra 207. Simha-vahinI l ai n i
208. SiddhalaharfTantra 209. Siddha-vidya-dipika 210. Siddhanta-sara 211 Siddhev. <<Tantra 212. Sotna-sambhu 213. Svacchanda-mahesvara Tantra. 214. Svatantra lai in
215. Hamsa-mahesvara 216. Haya-sTrsa-panca-ratra 217. Hara-gauri-samvada
We find a list o f Tantra in
great Tantric scholar and seer and also in Principles o f Tantra3I. translated and edited s
Arthur Avalon (John Woodrofie), eminent Tantric scholar. The list is as follows
1. Kairvilfsa 2. Kangkalamalinr3.Mundamala 4. Mahisamardim5. Maya lanti-.i
6. Matrka-bheda 7, Matrkodaya
Mahakalasamhita
8. Mahimirvana
damara 16. Virabhadra 17. BTja-cintamani 18. Ekajata 19.Nirvana Tantra 20. Tripi m
sara 21. Visvasara 22. Varada Tantra 23. Vasudeva-rahasya 24. VarahT Tantra
Brhad-gautamTya 26. Varnodhrti Tantra 27. Visnu yanala 28. Brhannila 29 Brhad->
30. Visnu-rahasya 31. Vamakesvara 32. Brahmajnana Tantra 33. Brahma yamala
Advaita Tantra 35. Varnavilasa 36. PhetkarinT 37. Purascarana-rasollasa 38. Purascar.m.i
candrika 39. Picchila Tantra 40. Prapancasara 41. Hamsa 42. Paramesvara Tantra i
Navaratnesvara 44. Nitya Tantra 45. Nfla Tantra 46.Narayartayaka 47. Nirutuira
is
Naradfya 49. Nagadina 50. Daksinamurti 51. Daksinamiurti-samhita 52. Yaksinf I a> v i
53. YoginTTantra 54. Yoni Tantra 55. Yogasara 56. Yogarnava 57. Yogiriihrda>a
Yoga-svarodaya 59. Akasa bhairava 60. Raja-rajesvari 61. Radha Tantra 62
Re
el
I 9l
Tantra 63. Rudrayiimala 64. RamSrccana candrika 65. Savara Tantra 66. Indrajala I antr
67. Kali" Tantra
71. Kuniaff Tantra 72. Krkalasadipika 73. Kalottara 74. Kubjika Tantra 75. Kuloddis.i
76. Kularnava
77.KuiamulavatSra 78. Kulasutra 79. Yaksadamara
80. SarasvatT'l anti i
.
81. SaradS Tantra 82. Saktisangama 83. Saktikagama sarvasva 84. Urdhamnaya X
Svatantra Tantra 86. SammohanaTantra 87.Cmacara 88. Todala Tantra 89. Buddh i
Tantra
91. Nigama-Kalpadruma
92. Nigama-Kalpa-lata 9
100. Agama-tattva-vilasa
101 Again,
113. Kalikarccai i
119. Kalihrdaya
123. Kulasara
120. Kumarikalpa
132. Kriya-yoga-sara
Gandharva Tantra
Guptarnava
121. Kulacudamani
140.Guru Tantra
12
133. Kriya-sara
126. Kularnava
12
134. GanesavimarsinT 15
137.Guptadiksa
141. Gudharthadlpika
138.
Guptasadhana
142.GautamTya
I3
lane;
158. TantrSdarla
sudhamava
165. Tararnava
166. Tarasara
163.Tara-pradIpa
167. Tripura-kalpa
160 ITTflf
164. Tarabhak o
168. Tripurarna a
171. Daksinamurtikaln.:
172. Dattatreya-yamala 173. Durga kalpa 174. Devl-yamala 175. Devyagama 17<
Nandikesvara-samhita 177. Narada-panca-ratra 178. NarayanT Tantra 179 Nigama
kalpa-Iata 180. Nigama-kalpa-sara 181. Nigama-tattva-sara 182. Nibandha Tantra 18:
Nrsimha-kalpa 184. Parama-hamsa-patala 185. Paradevlrahasya 186. Purascaranalx
dhinT 187. Pujasara 188. Prapancasara 189. Prayogasara 190. Balavilasa 191. Brahma
yamala 192. Brahmanda Tantra 193. Bhagvadbhakti-vilasa 194. Bhava-cudamani 19:
Bhimaparakrama 196. Bhuvanesvarf Tantra 197. BhuvanesvarT-parijata 198. Bhutasuddh
Tantra 199. Bhairava-kosa 200. Bhairava-yamala 201. Bhairava-sarhhita 20.
Matsyasukta 203. Mantra-tantra-prakasa 204. Mantra-darpana 205. Mantra-mahodadh
206.Mantra-muktavair 207. Mantra-ratna 208. Mantra-ratnavalf 209. MahakapiU
210.PaRcaratra
2!
Saktananda-taranginT 245. Sambhavf Tantra 246. SaradS Tantra 247. Saradatilaka 248
SUsvata Tantra 249. Sikharim Tantra 250. Sivatapdava 251. Sivadharma 2*
Sivarahasya 253. Siva samgraha 254. Saivaratna 255. Saivagama 256. Syama-kalpa-lai
/
27
298. Kamakhyaprayoga
299.Hanumat-kalpa
297.Kamesvai i
310. Cakresvara
311. Cakramukura
312.Kaula-krtya-tattva
?i
VarahfTantran has also given a list o f Tantras. Names of those Tantras are '
follows:
y
32. Haragaur
Tantra(i) 33. HaragauiTTantra(ii) 34. Tantranirnaya 35. Kubjika Tantra (i) 36. KubjiKit
Tantra (ii) 37. Kubjika Tantra (iiii) 38. Katyayanf Tantra 39. Pratyangira lanira
I*)'
Sahajahan. From
that list we mention only those Tantras that are under the head
Vaidika, Avaidika, Upatantras and Anyatantras. This list is also published b> th>
Gaikwad Oriental Series.34
VAIDIKA TANTRA
1. Sarvonnayana Tantra
2. Jnanarnava Tantra
3. Arunesvara Tantra -
27. Vatula Tantra 28. Bahurupastaka Tantra 29. Yamalastaka Tantra 30.Kiranakh> i
Tantra.
A-VAID1KA TANTRA
3. Kularnasa
'
20 *
Tantra 15. Bhutakhya Tantra 16. Bhairavastaka Tantra 17. Rajika Tantra 18. Garud.
Tantra 19. ValS Tantra
Cudamani Tantra.
UPA-TANTRA
1. Mantrarnavakhya Tantra 2. Mantra-sarakhya Tantra 3. Mahakdla Tantra Sambhava Tantra 5. atkalamata Tantra 6. Malaga Tantra 7. Mulakalesvarf Tantra x
Auddamahesvara Tantra 9. Kaiakesvara Tantra 10. MfgamukhT Tantra
11. Saubhagv;i
ANYA TANTRA
Adhvasiddhi 6. Anantavijayagama
Anubhava-stotram
10. Abheda-karika
T.Anuttarastakam
19. Ananda-&sanam
8. Anupratyabhijna
16. Atma-saptati
17. Atmu
20
34. Kaca
37. Kamikagama
58
Kalapara 39. KalavalF 40. Kafikakalpa 41. Kalikakrama 42. Kalikamata 43. (Calikui;
44. Kilottara 45. Kiraq&gatna 46. Kubjika Tantra 47. Kubjika-mata 48. Kulakamala 4*<
Kula-kalf-vidhi
50. Kula-kramodaya
51.Kula-kridavatara
52. Kulagahvara 5
7<
Catuka-pancasika
8*
77. Candra-jiiana
78. Candajn3na-vidya
79. Carana-sutra
89. Jnanamrta-rahasya
I0<
Tantra samuccaya 101. Timirodghata 102. Totulagama 103. Trikakula 104. I rik;
ratna-kula 105. Trika-s5sana 106. Trika-sara 107. Trika-hrdaya 108. Tripura-sundar
mardina 109. Trisiromata 110. DiksottarSgama 111. Devika-krama 112. DevT-kalottan
113. Devi-PaRcasatika 114. DevT-mantra-kalpa 115. DevT-samsthanagama 116. DevyimatasOtra 117. Dvaya-sampatti 118. Dhatu-sam1k$a 119. Nandisikha Tantra 120. Nay;
samgati 121. Naresvara-viveka 122.Nava-nitya-vidhana
123. Nava-ratna-malika
12-
13"
143. Para-pancasika
144.
Paramata
14'
Parasukta 146. Para-stotra 147. Paryantapancasika 148. Pascima 149. Padukodaya I5d
Paramesvaragama 151. Picu-sastra
PurvaTantra 155. Pauskaragama
152. Pujana-stotra
153. Puja-rahasya
15-i
15 8
163. Baudhayana-saiiihita
171. Bhairava-yamala
172. Bhairavagama
173. Bhoga-moksa
pradfpika 174. Bhoga>hastaka 175. Matanga fika . 176. Matahga-sutra 177. Matasastr
178. Matottara 179. Manonusasana 180. Mantraraja 181. Mantra-vartika 182. Mantra
vaitikatika
MahamBya
MahSrthodaya
188.
185. Mahanaya-paddhati
Maha-svacchanda
18<
189. Maha-svacchand;
202.
Mukhyamnaya-rahasya-vidhi
203.
Mula Tantra
20
20 ~
21
21
Rahasya-stotra 218. Ratrikuia 219. Rudrayamala-sara 220. Rudra rahasya 221. Raurav;
vartika 222. Raurava-samgraha 223.
Rauravagama 224.
Rauravagama-vrtti
22'
20
241.
Viveku
245.
Visayii
255. Siva-tattva-vilasa
256. Siva-tanu-sastra
2^
Sivadharma 258. Sivadharmottara 259. Siva sutra 260. Saiva Tantra 261. Srikanthl>;i
samhita 262. Srikula 263. SrTpancasika 264. Srtparikrama 265. Srimala
2 6 6 . Sai
27 <
Samvit-prakarana
27
278. Sadyojyoti
273. Samvidullasa
276. Samketa-paddhati
277. Satkarya
28
Siddhanta-dipika
29l
308.
Subhagodaya-vyakhya
309.
Suksma-svayambhuva
5I<
314. Saurabheyagama
322. Sva-bodhodaya-manjarT
324.Svatma-sambodha
Svayambhuvagama.
325. Svayambhuva-vrtti
51
32
323. Sva-svabhava-sambodhan
326. Svayambhuva-sastra-tlka
52
20-
Many more names listed in different books are left here. We have only mentioned
those names that are listed in these principal sources.
Moreover a large number of unpublished Tantric works are displayed in differen
libraries and research centers. The New Catalogus Catalogorum, published by Madra
University has given the names o f many unpublished Tantric texts,36 All these give us ai
idea about die magnitude of Tantra Literature.
B. LITERARY VALUE OF TANTRA
In spite of its vastness, Tantra as a literature is much neglected. In most of tht
books on the history of Sanskrit Literature, we have painfully noticed, Tantra Literature i
not much dealt with. We get some hints at Tantra in some books o f Philosophy. Most o
the scholars treat Tantra as a purely Sadhana 5>Sstra and dont want to rank Tantra in
standard class of Indian Literature. They are critical of its language, grammar and style
In this context M. Wintemitz comments,37
Neither the Puranas nor the Tantras make enjoyable reading, and this is muc>
more applicable to the latter. They are the work of inferior writers, and are often writte;
in barbarous and ungrammatical Sanskrit.
Probably this view of Wintemitz is also shared by most of the scholars of Sanskr
Literature.
Tantra is basically a Sadhana Sastra which mostly deals with the Gum. the Sisyt
Diksa, Puja, Mantra, Yantra etc. and other rituals. In spite o f its ritualistic feature, ot
study discovers the literary beauty o f Tantra.
Generally literature means something that which is written down, but the writing
must have a quality. This quality is attractiveness. It attracts in two ways - through
matter and through its manner.
20 '
Our study reveals that Tantra is full of poetic excellence. Tantra is full o
figurative expressions, sensuous and rich imageries, verbal music, rythms, myths
symbols, metres and poetic diction.
It is obviously seen that all the literatures center round human body and mint!
Other elements supplement these. Tantra is also based on human body and mind. Probabl
no other literature has given so much importance on human body as Tantra.Tantra's vivii
description of biological instincts and psychological emotion spontaneously attract on
mind.38
Tantra describes the helpless condition of human beings. It is full of pathos and <
reminds us o f tragic dramas.39 Man forgets his real identity, laments and suffers. Like a*
undried earthen jar human body decays every moment.
laments.40
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20
2 ()>
laughs. She possesses a face radiant with the blood trickling from two sides of lips Sh.
makes thunderous noises, possesses dreadful appearance, lives in the cremation groum
and has three red eyes like a circle made of the rays of the rising Sun.
The description of Adya Sakti is highly poetic.54
megHangfm sasi-sekharain trinayariam raktambaram bibhratlm
panibhySma-bhqyam vardnca vikasat-raktaravinda-sthitam
nrtyaniam puralo nipTya madhuram madhvlkamadyam mahdkdlam vTiqya vikas itanana- varamadytitn bhaje kalikam.
1 adore the Adya Kalika whose body is the hue of dark rain cloud, upon whov
fore-head the Moon gleams, the three-eyed One clad in crimson raiment, whose two hand
are raised-the one to dispel fear and the other to bestow blessing - who is seated on a re 1
lotus in full bloom, Her beautiful face radiant, watching Mahakala, who elated wiih ilkdelicious wine of Madhuka flower, is dancing before Her.
The description of Chinnamasfa55 spreads the ray of beauty and charms our mind
madhye tu tam mahddevTm surya-koti-sama-prabham
chinnamastam kare vame dharayanftm svamastakam
prasaritamuklnm bhlnlam lelihariagrajihvikam
pivantTm raudhinm dhUram nijakantha-vi-nirgaidm
The Suryamandala (Solar Region) is red like the Chinanose (Java). Chinnamastl
having the radiance of the crores of the Sun, stands in the middle of that region. She holes
her own severed head with her left hand. Her wide and ferocious face with lulling tongue
drinks blood oozing out from the throat.
2d-
and hymns
contain literal
">
1:
Visala, Kalylnl, Bara, Madhura, Bhagavafi, Avanfi, Vijaya are the names of famuu
capital towns o f ancient India as also words carrying the meaning - wide, auspicious
impossible to rival, flow, sweet, protective and victorious.
The power of imagery in Tantra is impressive62
tavaparne karne-japa-nayana-paisunya-cakitah
niliyante loye niyatamanimesah sapharikah
iyafka mrhaddha-cchada-puta-kavatain kuvalayam
jaiiati pratyme niii ca vighatayya pravisati
Oh! Eternal one ! the open-eyed female fishes disappear in water, being afraid <
the eyes who carry tales to your ears. This is certain. The Goddess of Prosperity residin.
in your eyes deserts the closed blue lotus in the morning and re-enters it opening the petal
at night.
Beautiful eyes of women are always compared to fish and the blue lotus. Ik
poetic fantasy deems the eyes of the Divine Mother to be superior rivals.
Many examples of the literary value of Tantra are scattered thorughout the page
of different Tantra texts. Only a few examples are given here in order to show that th
Tantra works are, by no means, the works o f inferior writers.