History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v7.c92.s1.68

v7.c92.s1.68

*Hevajratantra*, edited and translated by Dr D. L Snellgrove (Oxford University Press, 1959), in two parts This work came to the author's hands while this Appendix was passing through the Press Part I (pub in 1959) contains Introduction (pp. 1-46), English translation (pp. 47-119), contents (pp 121-125), diagrams (pp 126-129), Glossary (pp. 131-141) and Index (pp 142-190); Part II contains Sanskrit texts and Tibetan texts based on a Nepalese ms. lent by Prof. Tucci; com. called Yogaratnamālā by Pandita Kānha has been included from an old Bengali ms. The editor holds (part I p. 14) that Hevajratantra was in existence towards the end of 8th century A. D. and that Advayavajrasaṅgraha and Sekoddeśaṭīkā borrow from Hevajra-tantra. Sādhanamālā No 229 (two opening verses) are the same as Hevajra II. 8. 6-7 Hevajra is an invocation of vajra. On p. 11 part I the editor questions how the yogins could call themselves Buddhists when they experienced enlightenment in the embrace of a yoginī Part I p. 70 mentions Jālandhara, Oḍḍiyāna, Paurṇagiri as pīṭhas and several upapīṭhas, upakṣetras. The term Śakti does not occur in Hevajra but its place is taken by Prajñā Part II verses 11-15 p. 98 express how the followers of this tantra had sexual experiences with women called mudrās and how thereby they secured *siddhi*. Part I p 54 contains ritual for gaining mastery over a young woman. Part II p. 2 states 'Hekāreṇa mahākaruṇā vajraṁ Prajñā ca bhaṇyate; Prajñopāyātmakaṁ tantraṁ tan-me nigaditaṁ sṛṇu'. This is a very valuable addition to the literature on Tantra and has been very well edited.