Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

SHAKTI AND SHAKTA

“Mr. Avalon has not only rendered a great service to Indian literature, but has rescued from-obscurity the life-work (‘Principles of Tantra’) of that great Pandit. . . . The crowning merit of his work consists in this—that it is, to the best of our belief, a first handbook of Tantra written straight out of personal experience. . . . To a mind of superior vigour and acuteness Mr, Avalon unitesa far more extensive intimacy with the products of Indian thought than we have ever encountered, after acquaintance with hundreds of educated Europeans, in any other individual of hisclass. . . . A work of this nature, which seems to anchor the mind in the solid substance of Tantrik principles, cannot but be beneficial.” —Amrita Bazar Patrika.

‘©The book chosen by Mr. Avalon for introducing the West to the study of the Tantras is, at all events an extraordinary work. ... The author has written the book with his life-blood, as it were, and it is impossible not to feel sympathy with him . . . There is perhaps no one living -t present from whom we may get so much solid information on the subject concerned than from Sj. Shiva Chandra, author of his work .,~ A. Avalon’s scholarly Introduction and Preface contain an able and exhaustive criticism of the various unfavourable opinions on Tantrism which have so far came forth in the West. These at least should be ready by everybody interested in Indian religions.’”’-—The Commonweal.

“Most of those who know India know what moral and social results have been associated with Tantrik rites, and it may be doubted whether, even as an historical document, this long, obscure, and repulsive apology (‘Principles of Tantra’) was worth: the considerable labour of translation and annotation.’’—S ectator.

“This (‘Principles of Tantra,’ Vol. I.) is an English translation by Mr. Arthur Avalon, the pioneer in the field ot Tantrik research, and dedicated by him to the author of the work, who is one of the highest living authorities in Bengal on the subject concerned. . . . There are still many people who believe that ‘the chief, and practically the sole, subjects of the Tantra’ are ‘ sensual rites and black magic.’ To them this book will be a revelation, for it will show them that there is still quite a different aspect of the Tantras, which is no less prominent for having been altogether neglected so far. They will be astonished to find that it is possible to deal with the philosophy of the Tantras without even referring to those rites and that magic, and they will grow suspicious with regard to those general statement about which our translator very aptly remarks, . .. The value of the book is undeniable, as nothing like it has been so far available to the Western student. .. . Arthur Avalon’s

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