[ Tantra ] AVALON, Arthur [ aka Sir John Woodroffe ] Edited and with an Introduction by.

Principles of Tantra. The Tantratattva of Sriyukta Siva Chandra Vidyarnava Bhattacharya Mahodaya [ Two volumes in One ].

Madras India: Ganesh and Co, 1960. Third Edition. Hardcover. Thick quarto. Two parts in one volume. xii + 1172pp. Original red cloth with blind-stamped borders, black titling and illustration to upper cover and black lettering to spine. This massive volume is an "exhaustive and clear exposition of Tantra Shastra in its various aspects", and was first published in two volumes under the same title in 1914. Sir John Woodroffe (1865-1936), who also used the pseudonym Arthur Avalon, was a leading jurist who devoted much of his free time to the study of Sanskrit and Hindu religion, in particular tantrism, and was largely responsible for its introduction to the English speaking West. Chapter headings: Publisher's Note, Preface by Arthur Avalon. Introduction by Arthur Avalon. Part I: Invocation. Preface by Sriyukta Siva Candra Vidyarnava Bhattacarya Mahodaya; Appearance and applicability of the Tantra scripture; What is the necessity for the Tantras when there is the Veda?; The ephemeral and modern monism; Gayatri Mantra and image worship; Commands of Sastra; Worship of Devatas; What is Sakti?; What is Sakti? continued; Siva and Sakti?; Worship of the five Devatas. Part II: Preface by Arthur Avalon. Introduction by Sriyukta Barada Kanta Majumdar; On Mantra; Lettered and unlettered sound; On the Guru; Discussion upon, and selection of the Guru; Worship in general; The play of Gunas; Outer worship; Ordinances relating to worship; Ceremonial worship. Just a hint of shelfwear, cloth bright & clean, top edge darkened and a bit foxed, bookshop label, pages lightly toned, clean and unmarked, very faintly musty. Overall a solid and clean VG+ copy in VG dust jacket (Dust jacket a bit rubbed overall, one inch chips at upper spine and front points, price clipped, bookshop label. Now in mylar cover). Oversized book will require additional shipping on some local and all overseas orders. Item #69303

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