The Essence of Tantra

The twentieth lays down the various religious ordinances for an initiate, such as recitation of the Mantrās sacred sound formulas, study of the Shāstrās scriptures, redemptions for regulation of his conduct, adoration of his guru etc., etc.

The twenty-first proves how among the Shāstrās the Shaivāgama the tantric teachings of Shiva is to be looked upon as an authority.

The twenty-second enunciates the internal and external forms of “Kula Yajña” the ritual of the lineage/sacred family or the special modes of worship towards the Highest Reality.

Mahāmāhēshvara Great Lord of the Great Lords Abhinava Gupta, the author of this work, is silent as to the date of its composition. But as, in his great work Tantrāloka Light of the Tantras, he often quotes from Īshvara Pratyabhijña Vimarshinī Reflection on the Recognition of the Lord, which, he himself says, was written by him in the year 4115 of the Kali age the current dark age, corresponding to 1014 A. D., it follows that the former was composed after the year 1014 A. D. Now the date of composition of the Tantrasāra Essence of the Tantras which is an epitome of the Tantrāloka must necessarily be some time later than 1014 A. D.

As to the lineage of Abhinava Gupta and a brief history of his age as well as of his literary activity, as recorded by himself in his Tantrāloka and other books, the reader’s attention is invited to my introduction on Parā-Trimshikā The Supreme Thirty Verses, forming volume XVIII of this Series.

SRINAGAR,                   }           Mahāmahopādhyāya,
        KASHMIR.         } PANDIT MUKUND RĀM SHĀSTRĪ.
The 20th Nov. 1918. }   Officer I/C Research Department,
                                        Jammu and Kashmir State.