A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t5.59

v2.c19.s6.t5.59

We have seen that there is no rigid boundary-line between the Mahāyāna and the Mantrayāna-Vajrayāna: and the same may be said of the Mahāyāna-Sūtras and the Tantras,¹ the literature of the Mantrayāna and Vajrayāna. As we have already seen, there are some Mahāyāna-Sūtras which contain Tantric sections,² and the Tantras treat not only of the rites of the Vajrayāna, but also of the ritual of the Mahāyānist cult (the erection of Stūpas, construction and setting up of images, Stotras and daily sacrifices), as well as sections on the philosophical doctrines of the Mahāyāna. The only thing which distinguishes the Buddhist Tantras from the Tantras of the Śāktas,³ is the sparse element of Buddhism which is still to be found in them. There are four classes of Buddhist Tantras: Kriyā-Tantras, which treat of ceremonies at the building of temples, erection of images of gods, etc.; Caryā-Tantras, which teach the practical cult; Yoga-Tantras, which deal with the practice of Yoga, and Anuttarayoga-Tantras, which deal with higher mysticism.⁴