TANTRALOKA THE LIGHT ON AND OF THE TANTRAS - VOLUME ELEVEN: Volume Eleven - Chapters Thirty through Thirty-Seven, With the Commentary called Viveka by

TANTRALOKA THE LIGHT ON AND OF THE TANTRAS - VOLUME ELEVEN: Volume Eleven - Chapters Thirty through Thirty-Seven, With the Commentary called Viveka by

The Tantrāloka by Abhinavagupta (c. 975-1050) is undoubtably one of the world's great classics. Treating the whole range of early Śaiva Tantras as part of the Trika Śaivism Abhinavagupta systematically and extensively presents, he draws from all of them to enrich his marvelous and uniquely profound exposition. The result of decades of research, Dyczkowski provides along with his translation of the text and its commentary by Jayaratha, extensive explanatory notes drawn from a wide range of Sanskrit and other sources. These volumes are a must for anyone who is studying Tantra in general and, in particular, the Trika Śaivism of Kashmir. Volume eleven contains the concluding chapters thirty to thirty-seven. Chapter thirty is a concise compendium of the Mantras used for the main rites taught in the Tantrāloka . At the beginning and end a few verses are dedicated to the fundamental metaphysical nature of Mantra and their inner vitality as consciousness to insure, as always, an abiding awareness that they are grounded in it. Abhinava presents the Mantras according to their order of importance beginning with the Trident Throne and the deities seated on it. He continues with a series of Krama Vidyās, Mantras uttered at the time of death to induce it and liberate dying man, those for the Scale Initiation, the Sacrificial Animal, a Mantra to paralyze witches (Śākinīs), Bhairava’s Heart Mantra, the Mantra for the initiation taught in the Śrīsantati , and the three Vidyās.