A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t5.64

v2.c19.s6.t5.64

Among the first class of Tantras we have the Ādikarma-Pradīpa.⁵ This is a work which, in the style of the Brahmanical manuals of ritual (Gṛhya-Sūtras, Karma-Pradīpas) describes the ceremonies and religious acts which the "Ādikarmika-Bodhisattva," *i.e.* the adherent of the Mahāyāna and candidate for enlightenment, has to perform. The work consists of a Sūtra text (Mūla-Sūtra) with a running commentary, and contains precepts on the initiation ceremonies for the disciple (who can be a layman or a monk), sprinklings, washings and prayers, rules for rinsing the mouth, cleaning the teeth, morning and evening devotions, offerings of water for the departed (Pretas), almsgiving, meals, worshipping of the Buddhas and other sacred beings, reading of the Prajñā-Pāramitā, meditations, and so on, as they are to be performed at the various times of the day by the candidate (the beginner as opposed to the accomplished Yogin).