Comparative Study of Mantrashastra

SR No.: 006575
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Mohanlal Bhagwandas Jhaveri
Publisher: Sarabhai Manilal Nawab
Publication Year: 1944
Total Pages: 376
Language: English
Classification: Book_English, L000, & L020
File Size: 21 MB

Page 58

TANTRAS: IMPARTIAL CRITICISM OF TANTRAS
ance than their teachers, be that capacity in any particular case more or less. Some of them care nothing for their Shastra. Others do not understand it. x x x The Indian who has lost his Indian soul must regain it if he would retain that independence in his thought and in the ordering of his life which is the mark of a man, that is of one who seeks Svarājyasiddhi.
"Again the cause of this ignorance is the fact that the Tantra Shastra is a Sadhana Shastra, the greater part of which becomes intelligible only by Sadhanā.
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IMPARTIAL CRITICISM OF TANTRAS
An impartial criticism of Tantras may be summed up in the few words that together with what has value, it contains some practices which are not approved and which have led to abuse (for these see post). TANTRAS THEIR CONTENTS AND CHARACTERISTICS
We have mentioned in the beginning that "Sri Bhairava Padmavati Kalpa ", the work here published, is a Tantra. We would, therefore, consider the characteristics and contents of Tantras. We do not propose to enter into a learned discussion about the etymology of the word Tantra'. Readers interested in such discussion will find it in the beginning of chapter II of Shakti and Shakta ' by Sir John Woodroffe. According to the said chapter Tantra means a particular kind of religious scripture. Kamika Agama there quoted gives the following definition:
तनोति विपुलानर्थान् तत्त्वमन्त्रसमन्वितान् । त्राणं च कुरुते यस्मात् तन्त्रमित्यभिधीयते ॥
"It is called Tantra because it promulgates great knowledge concerning Tattva and Mantra and because it saves.
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CONTENTS
common belief and
"The Tantra deals with all matters of interest from the doctrine of the origin of the world to the laws which govern kings and societies which they have been divinely appointed to rule, medicine and science generally. The Tantra is not