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Åaivism and the Tantric Traditions
Essays in Honour of Alexis G.J.S. Sanderson
Series: - Gonda Indological Studies, Volume: 22
Academic study of the tantric traditions has blossomed in recent decades, in no small measure thanks to the magisterial contributions of Alexis G. J. S. Sanderson, until 2015 Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions and Ethics at Oxford University. This collection of essays honours him and touches several fields of Indology that he has helped to shape (or, in the case of the Åaiva religions, revolutionised): the history, ritual, and philosophies of tantric Buddhism, Åaivism and Vaiá¹£á¹avism; religious art and architecture; and Sanskrit belles lettres. Grateful former students, joined by other experts influenced by his scholarship, here offer papers that make significant contributions to our understanding of the cultural, religious, political, and intellectual histories of premodern South and Southeast Asia.
Contributors are: Peter Bisschop, Judit Törzsök, Alex Watson, Isabelle Ratié, Christopher Wallis, Péter-Dániel Szántó, Srilata Raman, Csaba DezsÅ, Gergely Hidas, Nina Mirnig, John Nemec, Bihani Sarkar, Jürgen Hanneder, Diwakar Acharya, James Mallinson, Csaba Kiss, Jason Birch, Elizabeth Mills, Ryugen Tanemura, Anthony Tribe, and Parul Dave-Mukherji.
Contributors are: Peter Bisschop, Judit Törzsök, Alex Watson, Isabelle Ratié, Christopher Wallis, Péter-Dániel Szántó, Srilata Raman, Csaba DezsÅ, Gergely Hidas, Nina Mirnig, John Nemec, Bihani Sarkar, Jürgen Hanneder, Diwakar Acharya, James Mallinson, Csaba Kiss, Jason Birch, Elizabeth Mills, Ryugen Tanemura, Anthony Tribe, and Parul Dave-Mukherji.
Dominic Goodall studied under Alexis Sanderson at Oxford (doctorate 1996), joined the Ãcole Française dâExtrême-Orient (2000), and is now head of its Pondicherry Centre. He has published editions and translations of Åaiva works, Sanskrit poetry and Cambodian inscriptions. He is joint-editor, with Marion Rastelli, of the Vienna dictionary of tantric terminology (TÄntrikÄbhidhÄnakoÅa).
Shaman Hatley studied under Harunaga Isaacson at the University of Pennsylvania (doctorate 2007), taught at Concordia University until 2015, and is now Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His research mainly concerns Tantric Åaivism, yoga, and medieval goddess cults, and his publications include The BrahmayÄmalatantra or Picumata, vol. I, (Pondicherry, 2018).
Harunaga Isaacson, PhD in Sanskrit (University of Leiden, 1995), was a post-doctoral research fellow at Oxford University (1995 to 2000), and held positions at Hamburg University (2000-2002) and the University of Pennsylvania (2002- 2006) before joining Hamburg University as Professor of Classical Indology in 2006. His main research areas are South Asian tantric traditions, especially VajrayÄna Buddhism; classical Sanskrit poetry; Indian philosophy; PurÄá¹ic literature; and manuscript studies.
Srilata Raman studied with Alexis Sanderson between the years 1986-1988, taking her M.Phil under his supervision at Oxford University. She is currently Associate Professor of Hinduism at the University of Toronto and specializes on the textual history of Tamil religion in both its Sanskrit and Tamil iterations, focusing on specific figures in both the ÅrÄ«vaiá¹£á¹ava and Tamil Åaiva traditions between the 12-14th and the 18-19th centuries.
Shaman Hatley studied under Harunaga Isaacson at the University of Pennsylvania (doctorate 2007), taught at Concordia University until 2015, and is now Associate Professor at the University of Massachusetts Boston. His research mainly concerns Tantric Åaivism, yoga, and medieval goddess cults, and his publications include The BrahmayÄmalatantra or Picumata, vol. I, (Pondicherry, 2018).
Harunaga Isaacson, PhD in Sanskrit (University of Leiden, 1995), was a post-doctoral research fellow at Oxford University (1995 to 2000), and held positions at Hamburg University (2000-2002) and the University of Pennsylvania (2002- 2006) before joining Hamburg University as Professor of Classical Indology in 2006. His main research areas are South Asian tantric traditions, especially VajrayÄna Buddhism; classical Sanskrit poetry; Indian philosophy; PurÄá¹ic literature; and manuscript studies.
Srilata Raman studied with Alexis Sanderson between the years 1986-1988, taking her M.Phil under his supervision at Oxford University. She is currently Associate Professor of Hinduism at the University of Toronto and specializes on the textual history of Tamil religion in both its Sanskrit and Tamil iterations, focusing on specific figures in both the ÅrÄ«vaiá¹£á¹ava and Tamil Åaiva traditions between the 12-14th and the 18-19th centuries.
'To sum up, this is an extraordinary volume on a wide range of subjects. A sizable portion of these essays are of major significance to their respective areas,and all have something worthwhile to offer the study of Indian history. It is a fitting tribute to the brilliant life and work of Alexis Sanderson.
Michael Slouber, Western Washington University, Indo-Iranian Journal (2021)
'There is much to appreciate in this book. In brief: it makes a key chapter of the ÅivadharmaÅÄstra accessible for diverse readers through a transparent critical edition and a clear annotated translation; it introduces the reader not just to this text, but to the active scholarly subfield investigating the corpus of early lay Åaiva literature commonly known as the Åivadharma; and it reflects on the methodological principles guiding a philological approach to this corpus. Notably, the book is available as an Open Access ebook thanks to the generosity of the J. Gonda Fund Foundation.' - Hamsa Stainton, McGill University JAOS, 141.4 (2021)
"This collection of essays is an excellent starting point for a student setting out on the study of Åaiva, ÅÄkta and tantric traditions. It reflects the exemplary standard of philological rigour promoted by Alexis Sanderson along with higher level reflection on meaning and history, showing the importance and impact of these kinds of religion on later thinking and on other areas of Asia. Philology has often come under attack in recent years, but these essays show its importance in understanding religion and culture, and far from being a tool of colonialism, these essays demonstrate how the use of philology actually allows the voice of the other to be heard through the objective system of language and grammar. Professor Sandersonâs work provides a model and a benchmark for scholars to strive for, and the essays in this book are a fine collection that reflect the high standard of their inspirer. With work of this quality, it seems to me that there is an optimistic future for Indology and the history of Indian religions so long as our educational institutions continue to support them." - Gavin Flood, OLZ 119-3 (2024).
Michael Slouber, Western Washington University, Indo-Iranian Journal (2021)
'There is much to appreciate in this book. In brief: it makes a key chapter of the ÅivadharmaÅÄstra accessible for diverse readers through a transparent critical edition and a clear annotated translation; it introduces the reader not just to this text, but to the active scholarly subfield investigating the corpus of early lay Åaiva literature commonly known as the Åivadharma; and it reflects on the methodological principles guiding a philological approach to this corpus. Notably, the book is available as an Open Access ebook thanks to the generosity of the J. Gonda Fund Foundation.' - Hamsa Stainton, McGill University JAOS, 141.4 (2021)
"This collection of essays is an excellent starting point for a student setting out on the study of Åaiva, ÅÄkta and tantric traditions. It reflects the exemplary standard of philological rigour promoted by Alexis Sanderson along with higher level reflection on meaning and history, showing the importance and impact of these kinds of religion on later thinking and on other areas of Asia. Philology has often come under attack in recent years, but these essays show its importance in understanding religion and culture, and far from being a tool of colonialism, these essays demonstrate how the use of philology actually allows the voice of the other to be heard through the objective system of language and grammar. Professor Sandersonâs work provides a model and a benchmark for scholars to strive for, and the essays in this book are a fine collection that reflect the high standard of their inspirer. With work of this quality, it seems to me that there is an optimistic future for Indology and the history of Indian religions so long as our educational institutions continue to support them." - Gavin Flood, OLZ 119-3 (2024).
Preface
List of Figures and Tables
Notes on Contributors
A Note on Alexis Sanderson and Indology
âDominic Goodall and Harunaga Isaacson
Bibliography of the Published Works of Alexis G.J.S. Sanderson
Introduction
1 From MantramÄrga Back to AtimÄrga: AtimÄrga as a Self-referential Term
âPeter Bisschop
2 Why Are the Skull-Bearers (KÄpÄlikas) Called Soma?
âJudit Törzsök
3 Dressing for Power: On vrata, caryÄ, and vidyÄvrata in the Early MantramÄrga, and on the Structure of the GuhyasÅ«tra of the NiÅvÄsatattvasaá¹hitÄ
âDominic Goodall
4 Further Thoughts on RÄmakaá¹á¹haâs Relationship to Earlier Positions in the Buddhist-BrÄhmaá¹ical Ätman Debate
âAlex Watson
5 Some Hitherto Unknown Fragments of Utpaladevaâs Vivá¹ti (II): Against the Existence of External Objects
âIsabelle Ratié
6 Alchemical Metaphors for Spiritual Transformation in Abhinavaguptaâs ĪÅvarapratyabhijñÄvimarÅinÄ« and ĪÅvarapratyabhijñÄvivá¹tivimarÅinÄ«
âChristopher D. Wallis
7 On VÄgÄ«ÅvarakÄ«rtiâs Influence in Kashmir and among the Khmer
âPéter-Dániel Szántó
8 Reflections on the King of Ascetics (YatirÄja): RÄmÄnuja in the Devotional Poetry of VedÄnta DeÅika
âSrilata Raman
9 Not to Worry, Vasiá¹£á¹ha Will Sort It Out: The Role of the Purohita in the Raghuvaá¹Åa
âCsaba DezsÅ
10 Buddhism, Kingship and the Protection of the State: The Suvará¹aprabhÄsottamasÅ«tra and DhÄraá¹Ä« Literature
âGergely Hidas
11 Adapting Åaiva Tantric Initiation for Exoteric Circles: The Case of the Lokadharmiá¹Ä« DÄ«ká¹£Ä and Its History in Early Medieval Sources
âNina Mirnig
12 Innovation and Social Change in the Vale of Kashmir, circa 900â1250 C.E.
âJohn Nemec
13 Toward a History of the NavarÄtra, the Autumnal Festival of the Goddess
âBihani Sarkar
14 ÅÄrikÄâs Mantra
âJürgen Hanneder
15 The KÄmasiddhistuti of King VatsarÄja
âDiwakar Acharya
16 The Lotus Garland (padmamÄlÄ) and Cord of Power (Åaktitantu): The BrahmayÄmalaâs Integration of Inner and Outer Ritual
âShaman Hatley
17 The Amá¹tasiddhi: Haá¹hayogaâs Tantric Buddhist Source Text
âJames Mallinson
18 A Sexual Ritual with MÄyÄ in Matsyendrasaá¹hitÄÂ 40
âCsaba Kiss
19 Haá¹hayogaâs Floruit on the Eve of Colonialism
âJason Birch
20 The Early Åaiva Maá¹ha: Form and Function
âLibbie Mills
21 The KriyÄsaá¹grahapañjikÄ of Kuladatta and Its Parallels in the Åaiva Pratiá¹£á¹hÄtantras
âRyugen Tanemura
22 MañjuÅrÄ« as Ädibuddha: The Identity of an Eight-Armed Form of MañjuÅrÄ« Found in Early Western Himalayan Buddhist Art in the Light of Three NÄmasaá¹gÄ«ti-Related Texts
âAnthony Tribe
23 Life and Afterlife of SÄdá¹Åya: Revisiting the CitrasÅ«tra through the Nationalism-Naturalism Debate in Indian Art History
âParul Dave-Mukherji
Index
List of Figures and Tables
Notes on Contributors
A Note on Alexis Sanderson and Indology
âDominic Goodall and Harunaga Isaacson
Bibliography of the Published Works of Alexis G.J.S. Sanderson
Introduction
Part 1 Early Åaivism
1 From MantramÄrga Back to AtimÄrga: AtimÄrga as a Self-referential Term
âPeter Bisschop
2 Why Are the Skull-Bearers (KÄpÄlikas) Called Soma?
âJudit Törzsök
3 Dressing for Power: On vrata, caryÄ, and vidyÄvrata in the Early MantramÄrga, and on the Structure of the GuhyasÅ«tra of the NiÅvÄsatattvasaá¹hitÄ
âDominic Goodall
Part 2 Exegetical and Philosophical Traditions
4 Further Thoughts on RÄmakaá¹á¹haâs Relationship to Earlier Positions in the Buddhist-BrÄhmaá¹ical Ätman Debate
âAlex Watson
5 Some Hitherto Unknown Fragments of Utpaladevaâs Vivá¹ti (II): Against the Existence of External Objects
âIsabelle Ratié
6 Alchemical Metaphors for Spiritual Transformation in Abhinavaguptaâs ĪÅvarapratyabhijñÄvimarÅinÄ« and ĪÅvarapratyabhijñÄvivá¹tivimarÅinÄ«
âChristopher D. Wallis
7 On VÄgÄ«ÅvarakÄ«rtiâs Influence in Kashmir and among the Khmer
âPéter-Dániel Szántó
8 Reflections on the King of Ascetics (YatirÄja): RÄmÄnuja in the Devotional Poetry of VedÄnta DeÅika
âSrilata Raman
Part 3 Religion, the State, and Social History
9 Not to Worry, Vasiá¹£á¹ha Will Sort It Out: The Role of the Purohita in the Raghuvaá¹Åa
âCsaba DezsÅ
10 Buddhism, Kingship and the Protection of the State: The Suvará¹aprabhÄsottamasÅ«tra and DhÄraá¹Ä« Literature
âGergely Hidas
11 Adapting Åaiva Tantric Initiation for Exoteric Circles: The Case of the Lokadharmiá¹Ä« DÄ«ká¹£Ä and Its History in Early Medieval Sources
âNina Mirnig
12 Innovation and Social Change in the Vale of Kashmir, circa 900â1250 C.E.
âJohn Nemec
13 Toward a History of the NavarÄtra, the Autumnal Festival of the Goddess
âBihani Sarkar
Part 4 Mantra, Ritual, and Yoga
14 ÅÄrikÄâs Mantra
âJürgen Hanneder
15 The KÄmasiddhistuti of King VatsarÄja
âDiwakar Acharya
16 The Lotus Garland (padmamÄlÄ) and Cord of Power (Åaktitantu): The BrahmayÄmalaâs Integration of Inner and Outer Ritual
âShaman Hatley
17 The Amá¹tasiddhi: Haá¹hayogaâs Tantric Buddhist Source Text
âJames Mallinson
18 A Sexual Ritual with MÄyÄ in Matsyendrasaá¹hitÄÂ 40
âCsaba Kiss
19 Haá¹hayogaâs Floruit on the Eve of Colonialism
âJason Birch
Part 5 Art and Architecture
20 The Early Åaiva Maá¹ha: Form and Function
âLibbie Mills
21 The KriyÄsaá¹grahapañjikÄ of Kuladatta and Its Parallels in the Åaiva Pratiá¹£á¹hÄtantras
âRyugen Tanemura
22 MañjuÅrÄ« as Ädibuddha: The Identity of an Eight-Armed Form of MañjuÅrÄ« Found in Early Western Himalayan Buddhist Art in the Light of Three NÄmasaá¹gÄ«ti-Related Texts
âAnthony Tribe
23 Life and Afterlife of SÄdá¹Åya: Revisiting the CitrasÅ«tra through the Nationalism-Naturalism Debate in Indian Art History
âParul Dave-Mukherji
Index
Anyone interested in Asiaâs tantric traditions, philosophy and religion in premodern India, Sanskrit, and Indology. The book will be essential reading to specialists and advanced students of Åaivism and Tantric Buddhism.