The Roots of Tantra (SUNY series in Tantric Studies)

Among the many spiritual traditions born and developed in India, Tantra has been the most difficult to define. Almost everything about it—its major characteristics, its sources, its relationships to other religions, even its practices—are debated among scholars. In addition, Tantrism is not confined to any particular religion, but is a set of beliefs and practices that appears in a variety of religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. This book explores one of the most controversial aspects of Tantra, its sources or roots, specifically in regard to Hinduism. The essays focus on the history and development of Tantra, the art history and archaeology of Tantra, the Vedas and Tantra, and texts and Tantra. Using various disciplinary and methodological approaches, from history to art history and religious studies to textual studies, scholars provide both broad overviews of the beginnings of Tantra and detailed analyses of specific texts, authors, art works, and rituals. CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS PREFACE Introduction Overviews OVERVIEWS What Do We Mean by Tantrism?1 Early Evidence for Tantric Religion THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF TANTRA Historical and Iconographic Aspects of Śākta Tantrism Auspicious Fragments and Uncertain Wisdom: The Roots of Śrīvidyā Śākta Tantrism in South India The Structural Interplay of Tantra, Vedānta, and Bhakti: Nondualist Commentary on the Goddess THE ART HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY OF TANTRA The Spinal Serpent1 The Warring Śaktis: A Paradigm For Gupta Conquests Early Evidence of the Pāñcarātra āgama THE VEDAS AND TANTRA Imagery of the Self from Veda to Tantra Tongues of Flame: Homologies in the Tantric Homa THE TEXTS AND TANTRA Becoming Bhairava: Meditative Vision in Abhinavagupta’s Parātrīśikā-laghuv.rtti Tantric Incantation in the Devī Purā.na: Padamālā Mantra Vidyā CONTRIBUTORS GLOSSARY INDEX Edited By Katherine Anne Harper And Robert L. Brown. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.