श्रीखच्छन्दतन्त्रम्।श्रीमहामाहेश्वराचार्यवर्य-श्रीक्षेमराजकृतोछ्योताख्यटीकोपेतम्: The Svacchandatantra with Uddyota of Ksemaraja (Set of 4 Volumes)

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ABOUT THE BOOK The Svacchandatantra is one of the leading Tantras of the Daksinacara as it Panegyrises and the right into the face of the Svacchanda-Bhairava. This worship of (Advaita) system of the Saiva philoso Tantra adheres to tradition and is considered as one of according the monistic the authorities in Saivite (Siva-diksa), its to the Kashmirian meditation (upasana) and ritual(kriya). In its fascinating initiation chief theme being Saivite initiation, its description of treatment of the charms and mantrafakti and its dealing with esoteric and wondrous powers of Yoga, high among the Tantras. Its chief aim the Svacchandatantra ranks is the realization of the highest spiritual bliss, viz. the Monistic truth (Advaita tattva).

Just like other Tantras, the Svachandatantra is an Agama Sastra, and hence its authorship cannot be attributed to any human being. It is Written in the form of a dialogue between Devi and Bhairava. It is also believed that the present text is an abstract of the original revealed work which ran into several million verses.

The Uddyota of Kşemaraja (10th/ 11th cent A.D.) is the only extant commentary on the text and explains the moot points in the Tantra in the light of pure monism. The commentary which follows the style of Abhinavagupta, is philological, vigorous, generally pithy, but to the point.

The text and commentary contained in these volumes had been critically edited, from there Saradā Manuscripts by Pandit Madhusudan Kaul Sastri, an authority Saivite system of Kashmir, on the and published, for the first time, in the Kashmir Series af texts and studies. The present reprint is a photo-offset reproduction, retaining all the beauty and accuracy of the original edition as published in the Kashmir Series.

PREFACE The present edition of the Swacchanda -Tantram with the "Uddyota" is based on collation of the following manuscripts

A.-Belongs to Pandita Raja Ram Sastri, late Principal of the Rajakiya Pathasala, Srinagar, The Ms. is an old one and written out on old Kashmiri paper in Sarada character. It is generally correct. A copy of the same by Pandita Sridhara Gâdaroo, who formerly worked in this office, lies in the Library of this Department.

B. This was written out by Rájánaka Ratnakantha in 1608 Anno S' aka as is manifest from the colophon of the first Patala. It is very old and belongs to Pandita Kantha Kaula Sahib of Purushayâr, Srinagar, Kashmir. Character, old Sarada. Paper,

1. The Honorable Sir John Woodroffe of the Calcutta High Court was found by my predecessor to use the edition of this book prepared by this Department, and Pandita Hara Bhatta, a Pandita of this Department, was suspected to have given him assistance by way of supplying him with the edited text of this Department. But the Home Minister, Jammu and Kashmir State, after instituting full enquiries in the matter, dronned it for reasons on record in this office.

2. The dolophon runs thus-- "Has been copied by me Ratna Kantha in 1608 Saka year, corresponding to the Laukika year 4762."

Kashmiri. Leaves , worm-eaten and repaired here and there. The Ms. is bound in leather and carefully prose verl. Slips of pen are occasionally met with herein.

C.-This Ms. belongs to Pandita Lasa Dutta of Srinagar. It is written out on Kashmiri paper in Sarada character. It does not seem to be very old and there are some mistakes sparsely found in the book. .

In preparing this Tantram for the Piece the Panlits of this Department have, as usual, contributed their mite to make the edition really useful and interesting by their learned labour and scholarly help for the Sanskrit knowing public, especially for those who are keenly interested in the Tantrik lore. For this they deserve my heartfelt thanks. The English staff too has similarly won my thanks as it has in every way facilitated the preparation of the book for the Press. .

INTRODUCTION The Swacchanda-Tantram is one of the leading Tantras of the Dakshina-chura as it panegyrises and initiates into the secret worship of Aghora, the Right mouth of the Swacchanda-Bhairava. Unlike Mrgendra & Matanga, Tantras of the Dakshindchára where the doctrines discussed are understood to represent the dualistic school of philosophy, the Swacchanda-Tantra adheres to the purely monistic side or the Adwaita System of the Saiva Philosophy and is considered to be one of the best authorities on the Saivaistic Initiation or Siva Diksha, its cheif theme being meditation (Upisand) and ritual (Kriya). The very name of the book indicates its inborn tendency towards the pure monism which, to distinguish it from other systems of philosophy, may safely be designated as the Trika system of Kashmir.

**Contents and Sample Pages**