Tag Archives: tantra

The magic of the deva-ogdoad

Posted on May 14, 2017 by

Classical Hindu tradition holds that the ogdoad of deva-s corresponding to their directions is: Indra: East; Agni: Southeast; Yama: South; Nirṛti: Southwest; Varuṇa: West; Vāyu: Northwest; Kubera: North; Īśāna: Northeast. The central position might be occupied in certain traditions by … Continue reading →

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Śarabha vidhi

Posted on April 9, 2017 by

The account of this rite continues from the prefatory narrative. Lootika: “There are several ways in which Rudra is worshipped as Śarabha conceived as the great dinosaur. We shall follow the way which is appropriate for us brāhmaṇa-s who observe … Continue reading →

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A note on lost Śaiva centers: consideration of examples from Magadha and Vaṅga

Posted on February 28, 2016 by

To be read in conjunction with this handout: Harihara in the Indosphere One of the poorly understood but immensely important facets of Hindu history is the role of the saiddhāntika Śaiva-s in the cultural unification of the Indosphere within the … Continue reading →

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The ghosts of Tulagiri

Posted on February 24, 2016 by

Vrishchika was taking a few days off to visit her parents’ town before proceeding with her fellowship. Lootika had nearly completed moving her lab to Somakhya’s institute. She was happy that they could finally be together for good again and … Continue reading →

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The domain of India according to bhāskararāya-makhīndra

Posted on October 26, 2014 by

bhāskararāya was one of the greatest mantravādin-s of all times, who perhaps was only rivaled by the illustrious abhinavagupta or aghoraśiva deśika, who in times closer to our own was verily like how a brāhmaṇa sage of the time of … Continue reading →

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Some comments of on the vyapohana stava and its pantheon

Posted on January 2, 2014 by

The vyapohana stava is an important saiddhAntika purificatory incantation. It may be compared with other works composed by deshika-s of the Urdhvasrotas such as: 1) the vyomavApistava of the Kashmirian commentator bhaTTa rAmakANTha-II; 2) the shiva-pUjA-stava of j~nAnashambhu, a scholar … Continue reading →

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susmeratayA saha saMmelana

Posted on June 30, 2013 by

Holding a trident he arrived at the great smashANa at the foot of kollagiri from the subterranean temple of nR^isiMha where he had practiced the mantra of the adhomukha. It was in the midst of a storm: the trees in … Continue reading →

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