Vastu-shastra (Vol. I: Hindu Science of Architecture; Vol. II: Hindu Canons of Iconography and Painting) v2.c75.s3.19

v2.c75.s3.19

This third stage of the development of Buddhist pantheon coincides with the strides which Vajrayāna was taking on its marvellous march of progress in Mahāyana. The works like 'Aṣṭa-sāhasrika-prajñāpāramitā' bearing a large number of miniature pictures of Buddhist Tāntric deities and the compilation of the Sādhanamālā containing the dhyānas of more than 400 principal and minor deities (11th & 12th centuries) corroborate this tremendous influence of Tāntricism. The Sidhas simply made it a popular practice of the day. The four great centres or Pīṭhas, the sacred spots of Vajrayāna as mentioned in the Sadhana-mālā: are Uddiyna (Orissa), Kāmākhyā, Śirihaṭṭa and Pūrṇagiri. The Śirihaṭṭa is recognised as Śrī-Śaila cf. so many references to it in the literature—vide Pr. Vjn P. 136-8 Kāmākhya is well known. Pūrṇagiri is unidentified.