The garland of letters : studies in the mantra-sāstra

Books written by the Author Sir John Woodroffe can perhaps be called as Classics.One is indebted to him for his study of Tantra Sastra and the scholarly works he produced in English.His Books like "Serpent Power","Sakti And Sakta" etc.,have helped the Readers to gain excellent knowledge on the generally difficult to interpret subject of Tanta Sastra. In line with the other classics the Author in the present Book has in great detail explained the significance of the Letters in the context of the Tantra knowledge.Thus it becomes a must for the student of Tantra Vidya. THE GARLAND OF LETTERS (Varnamâlâ)......Page 3 Preface......Page 5 Other works written or translated by the author......Page 12 I. Vâk or the Word......Page 13 II. Artha, Pratyaya and S'abda......Page 24 III. As'abda and Paras'abda......Page 33 IV. Paras'abda, Causal S'abda......Page 43 V. S'akti as Stress......Page 52 VI. Eternality of S'abda......Page 60 VII. S'abda as Language......Page 68 VIII. Natural Name......Page 78 IX. Vaidika-S'abda......Page 89 X. The Tattvas......Page 101 XI. S'akti -- Potency to Create......Page 111 XII. Nâda -- The first produced Movement......Page 120 XIII. Bindu or S'akti -- Ready to Create......Page 134 XIV. Mâyâ-Tattva......Page 147 XV. The Kañcukas......Page 158 XVI. Hamsa......Page 168 XVII. Kâmakalâ......Page 178 XVIII. The Gross Tattvas and their Lords......Page 188 XIX. Causal S'aktis of the Pranava......Page 198 XX. The Kalâs......Page 206 XXI. The Garland of Letters or Varnamâlâ......Page 214 XXII. OM......Page 228 XXIII. The Necklace of Kâlî......Page 233 XXIV. Dhvani......Page 240 XXV. Sun, Moon and Fire......Page 249 XXVI. Bîja-Mantra......Page 253 XXVII. Sadadhvâs......Page 262 XXVIII. Mantra-Sâdhana......Page 270 XXIX. The Gâyatrî-Mantra......Page 277 XXX. The Gâyatrî-Mantra as a Process of Reasoning......Page 280 XXXI. Âtma-Sâdhana (Yoga by Reasoning)......Page 302 Editorial note to the Celephaïs Press edition......Page 309 [Advertisement]......Page 310 Studies in the Mantra-S'âstra THE GARLAND OF LETTERS (Varnamâlâ) 3 Preface 5 Contents 12 Other works written or translated by the author 12 I. Vâk or the Word 13 II. Artha, Pratyaya and S'abda 24 III. As'abda and Paras'abda 33 IV. Paras'abda, Causal S'abda 43 V. S'akti as Stress 52 VI. Eternality of S'abda 60 VII. S'abda as Language 68 VIII. Natural Name 78 IX. Vaidika-S'abda 89 X. The Tattvas 101 XI. S'akti -- Potency to Create 111 XII. Nâda -- The first produced Movement 120 XIII. Bindu or S'akti -- Ready to Create 134 XIV. Mâyâ-Tattva 147 XV. The Kañcukas 158 XVI. Hamsa 168 XVII. Kâmakalâ 178 XVIII. The Gross Tattvas and their Lords 188 XIX. Causal S'aktis of the Pranava 198 XX. The Kalâs 206 XXI. The Garland of Letters or Varnamâlâ 214 XXII. OM 228 XXIII. The Necklace of Kâlî 233 XXIV. Dhvani 240 XXV. Sun, Moon and Fire 249 XXVI. Bîja-Mantra 253 XXVII. Sadadhvâs 262 XXVIII. Mantra-Sâdhana 270 XXIX. The Gâyatrî-Mantra 277 XXX. The Gâyatrî-Mantra as a Process of Reasoning 280 XXXI. Âtma-Sâdhana (Yoga by Reasoning) 302 Editorial note to the Celephaïs Press edition 309 [Advertisement] 310 THE word Vak (in Latin Vox) comes from the root Vach which means "to speak".