In Hinduism

Shaivism (Shaiva philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva

Bhūtatantra (भूततन्त्र) or Bhūtatantrāgama refers to one of upāgamas (supplementary scriptures) of the Aṃśumāgama which is one of the twenty-eight Siddhāntāgama: a classification of the Śaiva division of Śaivāgamas. The Śaivāgamas represent the wisdom that has come down from lord Śiva, received by Pārvatī and accepted by Viṣṇu. The purpose of revealing upāgamas (e.g., Bhūta-tantra Āgama) is to explain more elaborately than that of mūlāgamas (e.g., Aṃśumān-āgama) and to include any new idea if not dealt in mūlāgamas.

context information

Shaiva (शैव, śaiva) or Shaivism (śaivism) represents a tradition of Hinduism worshiping Shiva as the supreme being. Closely related to Shaktism, Shaiva literature includes a range of scriptures, including Tantras, while the root of this tradition may be traced back to the ancient Vedas.

Shaktism (Shakta philosophy)

Source: Shodhganga: Iconographical representations of Śiva (shaktism)

Bhūtatantra (भूततन्त्र) refers to one of the four classifications of Tantras belonging to the Śāktāgama or Śāktatantra tradition, according to the Pratiṣṭhālakṣaṇasamuccaya of Vairocana. Śāktāgama represents one of the three classes of āgamas (traditionally communicated wisdom) and holds the idea that the worship of Śakti is the means to attain liberation.

The Bhūta class of Śāktatantras are:

1. Hālāhalatantra,
2. Hayagrīvatantra,
3. Karkoṭatantra,
4. Kaṭaṅkatantra,
5. Karoṭatantra,
6. Maṇḍamātantra,
7. Kaṅkoṭatantra,
8. Khaḍgarāvaṇatantra,
9. Caṇḍāsidhāratantra,
10. Hūṅkāratantra,
11. Hāhākāratantra,
12. Śivāravatantra,
13. Ghorāṭṭahāsatantra,
14. Ucchiṣṭatantra,
15. Ghurguratantra,
16. Duṣṭatrāsakatantra,
17. Vimalatantra,
18. Vikaṭatantra,
19. Mahotkaṭatantra,
20. Yamaghaṇṭatantra.

Source: Brill: Śaivism and the Tantric Traditions (shaktism)

Bhūtatantra (भूततन्त्र) refers to a group of Tantra texts detailing the method of worshiping the Mothers, according to the Devīpurāṇa verse 88.1-3.—Accordingly, “People desiring liberation worship the Mothers by way of the Vedas and the Śaiva Tantric revelation. They are also worshipped in accordance with the Gāruḍatantras, Bhūtatantras, and Bālatantras. Beneficent, they bring all endeavors to fruition, and are like wish-fulfilling jewels. Heretics of the future—[viz.] the Buddhist proponents of Gāruḍa Tantra—will worship them according to their own methods, devoted to their own ways, dear child. They give rewards that accord with any disposition wise people worship them with, whether they be Brahmins or even lowborn outcastes”.

context information

Shakta (शाक्त, śākta) or Shaktism (śāktism) represents a tradition of Hinduism where the Goddess (Devi) is revered and worshipped. Shakta literature includes a range of scriptures, including various Agamas and Tantras, although its roots may be traced back to the Vedas.

Jyotisha (astronomy and astrology)

Source: Wisdom Library: Brihat Samhita by Varahamihira

Bhūtatantra (भूततन्त्र) refers to “sorcerers”, according to the Bṛhatsaṃhitā (chapter 16) (“On the planets—graha-bhaktiyoga”), an encyclopedic Sanskrit work written by Varāhamihira mainly focusing on the science of ancient Indian astronomy astronomy (Jyotiṣa).—Accordingly, “[...] Mercury also presides over painters, grammarians, mathematicians, physicians, sculptors, spies, jugglers, infants, poets, rogues, tale-bearers, black-magicians, messengers, eunuchs, buffoons, sorcerers (bhūtatantra) and conjurers; over sentinels, dancers and dancing masters; over ghee, gingelly and other oils; over seeds, over bitter flavour, over observers of religious ceremonies, over chemists and mules”.

context information

Jyotisha (ज्योतिष, jyotiṣa or jyotish) refers to ‘astronomy’ or “Vedic astrology” and represents the fifth of the six Vedangas (additional sciences to be studied along with the Vedas). Jyotisha concerns itself with the study and prediction of the movements of celestial bodies, in order to calculate the auspicious time for rituals and ceremonies.

Languages of India and abroad

Sanskrit dictionary

Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionary

Bhūtatantra (भूततन्त्र).—the doctrine of spirits.

Derivable forms: bhūtatantram (भूततन्त्रम्).

Bhūtatantra is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms bhūta and tantra (तन्त्र).

Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary

Bhūtatantra (भूततन्त्र):—[=bhūta-tantra] [from bhūta > bhū] n. the doctrine of spirits (as contained in the 6th [chapter] of the Aṣṭāṅga-hṛdaya).

[Sanskrit to German]

Bhutatantra in German

context information

Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.

See also (Relevant definitions)

Partial matches: Bhuta, Tantra.

Starts with: Bhutatantrajna.

Ends with: Pancabhutatantra, Panchabhutatantra.

Full-text (+33): Vikata, Hayagriva, Karota, Ghorattahasa, Karkota, Halahala, Hahakara, Khadgaravana-tantra, Hunkaratantra, Yamaghanta-tantra, Yamaghanta, Hayagrivatantra, Mandamatantra, Vikatatantra, Mahotkatatantra, Mandama, Kankota, Candasidhara, Vimala, Ucchishta.

Relevant text

Search found 2 books and stories containing Bhutatantra, Bhūtatantra, Bhuta-tantra, Bhūta-tantra; (plurals include: Bhutatantras, Bhūtatantras, tantras). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:

Expiatory Rites in Keralite Tantra (by T. S. Syamkumar)

1. Expiatory Rites in Śaiva Texts (Introduction) < [Chapter 2 - Expiatory Rites in Āgamic Literature]

1.8 (b). Expiatory Rites in Prāyaścittasamuccaya < [Chapter 2 - Expiatory Rites in Āgamic Literature]

6. Social Impacts of Impurity and Expiatory Rites < [Chapter 4 - Socio-Cultural aspects of Expiatory Rites]

show preview

The Skanda Purana (by G. V. Tagare)

Chapter 8 - The Glory of Someśvara (Soma-īśvara) < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

Chapter 147 - Greatness of Brahmakuṇḍa < [Section 1 - Prabhāsa-kṣetra-māhātmya]

show preview