Scriptural canon of Tantrism

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Scriptural canon of Tantrism

 

Tantrism is based upon Shruti, Divine Revelation, which is of two kinds: Agama (Tantras)

and Nigama (Veda-samhitas, Brahmanas, Aranyakas and Upanishads). Additional sources

are writings of Tantric Masters and a few texts from Puranas and Itihasas.

 

Primary authority for all schools of Tantrism are Agamas or Tantras, which are seen as the

essence of Vedas and are the sole practical authority in kaliyuga. Nigamas (Vedic texts) are

acknowledged as an integral part of the same Shruti, though they cannot be under-stood

and applied properly without Agamic knowledge.

 

Vedic sources of Tantric tradition are:

1. Certain hymns of Vedas, especially those of Agni, Soma and various forms of Devi. In

this category we have Shri-sukta, Durga-sukta, Sarasvati-sukta, Devyatharvashirsha and

others. Atharvana-samhita is thought to be a Vedic root of Tantras.

2. Several Upanishadic texts, including some of great Upanishads (passages from Briha-

daranyaka, Chandogya, Shvetashvatara, Kena and some other) and numerous minor

Upanishads of Muktika canon of 108. The most important are eight Shakta Upanishads:

Tripura, Tripuratapini, Devi, Bahvricha, Bhavana, Savitri, Sita and Saubhagya-lakshmi. In

addition to these, there are several later Shakta Upanishads which were not included into

Muktika list: Advaitabhavana, Kali, Kalika, Kaula, Tara etc.

3. Bhagavadgita, which is seen as an exposition of Krama system.

 

Agamic sorces are:

1. 64 Bhairavagamas, which include a group of eight Yamalas. The most important texts of

these group are Svacchanda-tantra, Vijnanabhairava, Rudra-yamala (incorporating

Paratrishika-tantra and other important texts), Devi-yamala or Devya-yamala, Brahma-

yamala or Pichumata, Jayadratha-yamala, Tantraraja-bhattaraka, Netra-tantra and Mri-

gendra-tantra.

2. Kaulagamas, which are divided into six Amnayas (flows of Revelation). These Amnayas

with corresponding Tantras are:

œ Purvamnaya, Trika school: Siddhayogeshvari-mata, Malinivijayottara-tantra, Shiva-

sutra.

œ Dakshinamnaya, Shrividya school: Vamakeshvari-mata (which consists of Nityasho-

dashikarnava and Yogini-hridaya), Jnanarnava, Parashurama-kalpasutra, Gandharva-

tantra, Tripura-rahasya, Tantraraja, Prapanchasara, Tripurarnava.

œ Pashcimamnaya, Kubjika school: Kubjika-mata, Shatsahasra-samhita,

Cincinimatasara-samuccaya etc.

œ Uttaramnaya, including Krama, Kali and Tara schools: Krama-Agamas, Vatulanatha-

sutra, Mahakala-samhita, Parananda-sutra, Shaktisangama-tantra, Kali-tantra, Niruttara-

tantra, Brihannila-tantra, Todala-tantra, Yogini-tantra, Yoni-tantra, Kulachudamani, Ma-

trikabheda-tantra, Tara-tantra, Kumari-tantra, Mahachinacharakrama-tantra, Phetkarini-

tantra, Nirvana-tantra and many other.

œ Urdhvamnaya, Kula school: Kularnava-tantra, Kaulajnana-nirnaya.

œ Rahasyamnaya, Rahasya-kaula school: exclusively oral tradition.

 

Then, there are several texts which are revered as Agamic Shruti, though formally they are

not. These for example include:

œ Tantraloka of Abhinavagupta, which was a direct revelation from Bhairava.

œ Mahartha-manjari of Maheshvarananda.

œ Shrividyarnava of Vidyaranya Yati.

œ Lalita-sahasranama, a part of Brahmanda-purana.

œ Devi-mahatmya, a part of Markandeya-purana.

œ Saundarya-lahari attributed to Adi Shankara.

 

In addition to these, Agamas of Shaivism and Vaishnavism are accepted as subsidiary

sources. These include twenty eight Siddhantagamas (10 Shaiva + 18 Raudra) and

Pancharatra-tantras (Lakshmi-tantra is of special importance out of them).

 

There are Tantric commentaries to Vedantic canon of Prasthana-traya: to Gita (Gitartha-

sangraha of Abhinavagupta), Brahma-sutra (Shakti-bhashya) and some Upanishads (by

Bhaskararaya Makhin and others).

 

Puranic and Itihasic sources are:

1. Kalika-purana, Lalitopakhyana of Brahmanda-purana, Uma-samhita of Shiva-purana,

Mahabhagavata-purana, Devibhagavata-purana, Devi-purana, Chandi-purana.

2. Some parts of Mahabharata, Adhyatma-ramayana and other minor texts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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