Descriptive Catalogue of Sanskrit Manuscripts Asiatic Society Vol 08 Part 02

SR No.: 020275
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Hariprasad Shastri, Chintahran Chakravarti
Publisher: Asiatic Society
Publication Year: 1940
Total Pages: 340
Language: English, Sanskrit
Classification: Catalogue
File Size: 19 MB

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without any definite indication in that respect. But an arrangement similar to the one proposed in connection with the Digests would, as later considerations suggest, have been more appropriate and helpful.
It may be mentioned in passing that we have here fully or in parts four Dāmaras 1 (Bhūta-dāmara, Mātangi°, Gaurio, and Tridaśao), four Yāmalas 2 (Rudra", Krsna° 3, Brahma', Jayadrathao 4), a number of Uddisa and sābara-tantras, several works definitely assigned to one or other of the Srotas or Āgamas, e.g., Bhairavasrotas (5937), Mahāsrotas (5953), Anandabhairava-srotas (5893)5, Şadvidyāgama (6084), Kālikāgama (6090). It may be noted that a large number of the above-mentioned works are apparently late and have little authority. Not a few of them are full of incantations in the vernaculars.
II. SPECIAL FEATURES OF THE MSS. DESCRIBED (i) Provenance. The present volume gives an account of over a thousand MSS. belonging to the Government Collection of Sanskrit and Sanskritic MSS. on permanent loan to the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal. These MSS. refer to the subject of Tantra or Mantraśāstra which forms an important branch of later Hindu (both Brahmanical and Buddhistic) religious and ritualistic literature. The present collection is unique in many respects. It is a fairly extensive collection, and quite a representative one on the subject,
(3) Magic rites: 5830 ff, 5981, 6069, 6073, 6079, 6089, 6091. (4) Yogic Tantras: 6102–3, 6113-6132.
(5) Tantric Upanişads: 6133-6. 1 None of these names are found in the list of six damaras given in the Vārāhitantra and quoted in the Vācaspatya. It is not known however if the Durgā. dāmara of the list has any relation with the Gauri-damara. The list of three damaras as given in the Samayācāra-tantra (5920) refers to a Bhuta-dāmara as also to a S'akti-dāmara which may have some connection either with Gaurio or Mätangi”.
2 A reference to a fifth Yāmala called Umā° is met with in the colophon of the Paramasiva-sahasranama-stotra (6750) which is assigned to this Yamala.
3 It is not known if this has any connection with the Visnuyāmala which is mentioned in both the lists of eight Yāmalas, one given in the Samayācāratantra and the other quoted by Bhăskararāya in his commentary on the initial portions of the Vāmakesvara-tantra.
4 Not mentioned in the Samayācāra list (5920). 5 Rudra-yāmala is stated to belong to the Dakşiņa-srotas (Mad. XII, 5712). 6 Surendra-samhita is stated to belong to the Pancāstrāgama (Mad. XII, 5755).