The Hevajra Tantra: A Critical Study

by Snellgrove, David

• ISBN13: 9789745241282
• ISBN10: 9745241288
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-04-16
• Publisher: Orchid Pr

Summary

Hevajra (Tib. Kye'i rdo rje) is one the principal i??adevat? (Tib. Yidam) or meditational deities of tantric Buddhism and is key to Sa skya pa practice in Tibetan Buddhism. Professor SWnellgrove's edition of the Hevajra-tantra has been prepared on the basis of the extant Sanskrit manuscripts, the core being a Sanskrit original found in Nepal in the 19th century. The translation is made with reference also to the Tibetan edition of the tantra, as well as the most important Indian commentaries, among which is the Yogaratnam?l? by K??ha, here reproduced in full. The first part is in two sections: the introduction provides historical & religious setting, and then interprets the essential meaning of the tantra; then follows the complete translation, with full explanatory notes based upon the commentaries. The second part contains the complete romanised Sanskrit and Tibetan texts of the tantra, followed by Yogaratnam?l?. Both versions of the text are fully annotated, and followed by a select vocabulary: Tibetan-Sanskrit-English, then Sanskrit-Tibetan.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition	p. ix
Later Edited Tantric Texts	p. xix
Preface to the First Edition	p. xxi
Bibliography	p. xxv
Introduction
Apologetic	p. 1
Origins	p. 11
Subject-matter	p. 19
Observations	p. 39
Translation
The Body of Hevajra	p. 47
Mantras	p. 50
Hevajra and his Troupe	p. 56
Self-consecration	p. 59
Reality	p. 60
The Performance	p. 63
Secret Signs	p. 66
The Troupe of Yoginis	p. 73
The Spheres of Purification	p. 78
Consecration	p. 81
The Four Gazes	p. 84
Consecrations and Oblations	p. 88
The Certainty of Success	p. 89
The Basis of all Tantras	p. 94
Answers to Various Questions	p. 100
The Manifestation of Hevajra	p. 109
The Making of a Painting	p. 114
Books and Feasting	p. 115
Subjugating	p. 116
Mantras	p. 116
On Reciting Mantras	p. 118
The Five Families	p. 118
The Four Consecrations	p. 119
Résumé of Contents	p. 121
Diagrams	p. 126
Glossary of Special Terms	p. 131
Index	p. 143
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