The University of Nalanda c10.164

c10.164

Tāntrism, particularly that which was prevalent at Nālandā, had its origin amongst the various religious and even philosophical practices that were followed by the Hindus as well as Buddhists. It had something to do with religion and not anything else. This much is conceded by all. But the question is, what is Tāntrism actually? and in what period of Indian history did it spring up? These, however, are the most difficult questions to decide. Winternitz, for instance, says, “The term ‘Tantra’ ought to be restricted to the texts connected with Śakti worship. Tantra texts in this sense cannot be proved to have existed before the 7th century, though some of the elements constituting the *Tantras* may have existed before that time.”¹ Speaking of the elements of the *Tantras*, he says, “Some of these may be traced as far back as the times of the *Yajurveda*, where we already find the use of mystic syllables and words, which play such an important part in the Mantras of Tāntric works. Magic also which is one of the elements of Tantra literature, of course, reaches back to the *Atharvaveda*. But there is no line of ‘evolution’ from *Yajurveda* and *Atharvaveda* to the *Tantras*”.