[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Literature, language and dating](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature) › [A History of Indian Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927) › v2.c19.s6.t5.80 # A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t5.80 A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s6.t5.80 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c19.s6.t5.80](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s6.t5.80) The earliest Tantras are difficult to distinguish from the Mahāyāna-Sūtras. It may be that Mahāyāna doctrines mingled with Tantric rites, or perhaps works which were originally Sūtras, were remodelled into Tantras. Among the earlier Tantras we have the Tathāgata-Guhyaka or Guhyasamāja, which was a very authoritative work as early as in the 7th century. It was an authority for Indrabhūti,¹ and even in the Śikṣā-Samuccaya a Tathāgata-Guhya-Sūtra is quoted several times.² The passages quoted, however, teach a pure Mahāyāna morality, and appear to have been culled from a Mahāyāna-Sūtra rather than from a Tantra, for instance: - [Previous: v2.c19.s6.t5.79](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s6.t5.79) - [Next: v2.c19.s6.t5.81](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s6.t5.81) - [Up: v2.c19.s6.t5](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s6.t5) ## Cites (4) - [Guhyasamājatantra](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.tantra.yogottara.guhyasamaja-cycle.tantra.guhyasamaja) — Sanskrit - [Guhyasamāja](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.tantra.yogottara.guhyasamaja-cycle) — Sanskrit - [Śikṣāsamuccaya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.marga.santideva.siksasamuccaya) — Śāntideva, Sanskrit - [Tathāgataguhya](https://indike.org/pramana/in.bauddha.sanskrit.mahayanasutra.ratnakuta.tathagataguhya) — Sanskrit --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s6.t5.80](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s6.t5.80) · Pramāṇa