Shakti and Shâkta : essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra

SHAKTI AND SHAKTA

Each of these divisions of worshippers have their own Tantras, as also had the Jainas and Bauddhas. Different sects had their own particular subdivisions and Tantras of which there are various classifications according to Krantas, Deshaparyyaya, Kalaparyyaya and so forth.

The Sammohana Tantra mentions 22 different Agamas including Chinagama (a Shakta forna), Pashupata, (a Shaiva form) Pancharatra, (a Vaishnava form) Kapalika, Bhairava, Aghora, Jaina, Bauddha ; each of which is said there to contain a certain number of Tantras and Upatantras.

According to the Sammohana Tantra, the Tantras according to Kalaparyy4aya are the 64 Shakta Tantras, with 327 Upatantras, 8 Yamalas, 4 Damaras, 2 Kalpalatas and several Samhités, Chidamanis (100) Arnavas, Puranas, Upavedas, Kakshaptitas, Vimarshini and Chintamanis. The Shaiva class contains 32 Tantras with its own Yamalas, Damaras and so forth. The Vaishnava class contains 75 Tantras with the same, including Kalpas and other Shastras. The Saura class has Tantras with its own Yamalas, Uddishas and other works. And the Gdanapatya class contains 30 Tantras with Upatantras, Kalpas and other Shastras, including one Damara and one Yamala. The Bauddha class contains Kalpadrumas, Kaémadhenus, Siktas, Kramas, Ambaras, Puranas and other Shastras.

According to the Kularnava and Jnanadipa Tantras there are seven Acharas of which the first four, Veda Vaishnava, Shaiva and Dakshina belong to Pashvachara ; then comes VAama, followed by Siddh4nta, in which gradual approach is made to Kaulachara the reputed highest. Elsewhere six and nine Acharas are spoken of and different kind of Bhavas, Sabhava, Vibhaéva and Dehabhava and so forth which are referred to in Bhavachfidamani.

An account of the Acharas is given in the Haratattvadidhiti (pp. 339-342. See in particular Vishvasara Tantra (Ch. 24) and Nitya Tantra and Pranatoshini. The first is the best account).

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