Indian Antiquary Vol 62

Author(s): Richard Carnac Temple, Charles E A W Oldham, S Krishnaswami Aiyangar, Devadatta Ramkrishna Bhandarka
Publisher: Swati Publications

Page 192

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THE INDIAN ANTIQUARY
[ SEPTEMBER, 1933
arguments of the original in intelligible form and Nothing in this book is likely to make the latter constitutes a contribution to the subject of the recede from their verdict that the Tantra cannot be highest importance, for which all of us, whether held to have any real value as religion or philosophy specialists in logic or general students, cannot but and that in some aspects it is, as the author states be deeply grateful to the Russian scholar.
in his preface, the product of diseased minds. E. H.J.
On one point we may be all agreed, that, whatever
its other deficiencies, it did give rise to an art, which, AN INTRODUCTION TO BUDDHIST ESOTERISM. By if by no means of the front rank, has produced a
BENOYTOSH BHATTACHARYYA. 10X74 inches : body of work of definite aesthetic value, and Dr. pp. viii + 184. 12 plates. Oxford University Bhattacharyya's publications with their admirable Press, 1932.
illustrations have done much to bring this home to Till recently it has been impossible to form any everyone. detailed idea of Buddhist Tantrism
E. H. J. for want of original texts. The Baroda Oriental Institute has now published some of the most important in edi. tions, which are readable but not up to the best GEOGRAPHY OF EARLY BUDDHISM, by BIMALA standards of scholarship through failure to correct CHURN LAW, M.A., B.L., PH.D. 94X6 in.; faulty MSS. by reference to the Tibetan translations xxi + 89 pp. ; with sketch map. London, Kegan and through omission to consult the few European Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1932.38.. publications on the subject. The obecurity of the
This little volume, which contains a fairly comwording is such that our knowledge has not been
plete collection of such geographical information as advanced as much as it should have been, and Dr. Bhattacharyya's brief sketch is accordingly wel.
is to be found in the PAli Buddhist texts, will be of come. To what extent does he lead us to modify
use to research students, inasmuch as it furnishes our previous views ! At the end he remarks, 'The
carefully collated references to the texts in which Tantras should be regarded as the greatest contri
the names are found. Students of Indian history bution of India to world culture,' a statement at and geography are constantly confronted with the entire variance with the rest of his book, which tende difficulty at times insuperable of identifying the to prove the exact opposite. It is in fact hard to territorial divisions and sites mentioned in the old disentangle from the curious ferrago of which most texts. The limits of countries (deda) and other Tantric works consist those elements which are geographical divisions have altered from time to original and important, nor does the author give us time, and their very names changed, while capitals all the help he might. For he is evidently insuffi
have been transferred and sites abandoned for ciently acquainted with the results of recent research
various reasons. Any evidence that will help to on the Vijfknavada system, to which Buddhist
determine the geographical conditions at definito Tantrism owes its philosophical framework, and I
periods is, therefore, of value. Though we cannot doubt the possibility of making definite assertions
find that any fresh identification of importance has on points of doctrine till one of the leading treatises,
been disclosed, we welcome this little compilation preferably the Guh yasamdja, has been translated
by one who has devoted so much time and labour and explained to as in all its implications and double
to the furtherance of Buddhistic research. The meanings in the light of the many commentaries
sketch map, however, has not been prepared with extent in Tibetan.
sufficient care. Meanwhile, from what Dr. Bhattacharyya has to
C. E. A. W. 0. tell us, the main principles would seem to be (1) absolute submission to the guru, (2) belief in the possibility of attaining magic powers, (3) belief in O ORIENTE PORTUGUES, April, July and October, salvation by the shortcut of such powers, (4) the release of aspirants and Yogins from all principles We recently welcomed the revival of this journal, of morality. These magic powers are evidently the organ of the Permanent Archaeological Commis. closely connected with the phenomena of hypnotism, sion of Goa. The issues before us contain much as appears from an excellent thesis just published that is of interest to local antiquarians. From the by Dr. Lindquist (Die Methoden des Yoga, Lund, nature of the case, most of the matter is ecclesiasti. 1932); originally the practice of Yoga was under cal, but in the wider field of Indian history we may taken to make the understanding of certain religious notice the text of an agreement made in 1686 truths a part of the personality by the process of between the Viceroy and some rebellious vassals of auto-suggestion, but what was once a means has Sambhaji, and the exploration of a shrine of Siva, developed in this school to an end in itself. Natu. which was destroyed in the eighteenth century, and rally there will be a difference of opinion between which appears to date from the days when Goa was those who accept the claims of the Tantrists at their in the possession of Vijayanagar. face value and those, the majority, who do not.
W. H. M.
anom
14h1 1932.