The Sixty-four Tantras and Sixty-four Arts

It is from the Goddess that the Svatantratantra was derived. It enables man for attaining all the ends for the devotee, viz. Dharma, Artha, Kama and Moksa. She is the nucleus of all Gods. The account of the origin of Durga i.e. Sakti is as follows: Once, there emanated a hue from the faces of the three gods, and then from the other gods also. This hue then took a feminine form and began to glow with full lustre. From Siva, it obtained its face, from Visnu the two hands, from Moon the two breasts, from Indra the middle portion, 161. Saundaryalahari 30. 162. Saundaryalahari 31.

366 from Varuna the hips and thighs, from Earth the buttocks, from Brahma the feet, from Vasus the fingers, from Kubera the the teeth, from Agni the three eyes, i nose, from Prajapaty G from Twilight from Visvakarman and others. She obtained the Trisula (lance) the eyebrows, from Vayu - the ears and the rest from Siva, Cakra (disc) from Visnu, Sankha (conch shell) from (bow) Varuna, Sakti (spear) from Agni, Dhanus from Indra and so also L the Banas (arrows) etc. Thus She formed the quintessence of all the divine powers. The sixty four Tantras of Pasupati were generally intended for the lower and mixed castes who by mental and spiritual equipments, were not qualified for Vedic practices. Then, owing to misapprehension, and selfish desires to achieve certain evil ends, some ignoble persons erred and followed these sixtyfour Tantras. They do not claim any benefit for lifebeyond i.e. life after death. In Her desire to uplift the devotees from such calamity the Goddess formed an independent Tantra otherwise called the Sodasaksari or sixteen lettered chant. 163 The sixty four Tantras expounded were (1) Mahamayasambara (dealing with Indrajala) (2) Yogini jalasambara (dealing with jaladarsanopaya) (3) Tattvasambara (dealing with Indrajalavidyavi sesa (4) Bhairavastaka viz. Siddhibahairavatanatra, Mayi kabhairavatantra, Kalagni bhairavatantra, Kankalabhairavat antra, Sakti bhairavatantra, 163. Nityasodasikarnava 13-16.

18009 367 Yogini bhairavatantra, Mahabhairavat antra, Bahairavanathatantra (dealing with the twentyfive principles on earth and the various interpretations to know them including Kapalika doctrines) (12) The Bahurupastaka viz. Brahmit antra, Mahesvaritantra, Kaumaritantra, Vaisnavitant ra, Varahit antra, Indranitantra, Camundatantra and Sivadutitantra (dealing with various forms of the Goddess noted for their names) (20) Yamalastaka Viz. Brahmayamala, Visnuyamala, Rudrayamala, Laksmiyamala, Umayamala, Skandayamala, Ganesayamala and Jayadrathayamala (dealing with the cherished desires and way to attain them) (29) Malinitantra (dealing with sea-voyage) (30) Mahasammohan at antra (dealing with captivation, bringing asleep in persons even during waking state) (31) Vamakesvaratantra or Nityasodasi kamava or Catuh sati (dealing with the attainment of liberation through rituals and meditation on Goddess) (32) Vatulottaratantra and (35) Kamikatantra (dealing with rituals and rules in connection with the building of temples, etc.) (36) Hrdbhedatantra (dealing with the Kapalika rituals and the six plexuses) (37) Tantrabhedatantra and (38) Guhyatantra (dealing with the revelations of Mantra and Tantra) (39) Kalavadatantra (dealing with the Vatsyayan akamasastra) (40) Kalasaratantra (dealing with Vamacara) (41) Matottaratantra (dealing with Rasasiddhi or s alchemic virtues) (42) Vinakhyatantra (dealing with the meditation on the Yaksini of that name for the attainment of certain mystical powers) (43) Kundi kamata (dealing with the attainment of marvellous powers by

368 consuming pills) (44) Trotalottaratantra (dealing with attainment of powers through 64000 Yoginis) (45) Trotal atantra (dealing with attainment of magical, mysterious and medicinal powers) (46) Pancamrtatantra (dealing with the prevention of death through the captivation of five elements) (47) Rupabhedatantra (48) Bhutoddamaratantra (49) Kulasaratantra ((50) Kuloddi satantra and (51) Kulacudamanitantra (dealing with the extirpation of enemies and evils that can be done to them) (52), (53), (54), (55) and (56) deal with the tenets of Digambaras, viz. Sarvajnanottaratantra, Mahakalimatatantra, Arunisatantra, Modini satantra and Vikunthesvaratantra (57), (58), (59), (60), (61), (62), (63) and (64) deal with the doctrines of Ksapanakas viz. Purvamnayatantra, Pascimamnayatantra, Daksinamnayatantra, Uttaramnayatantra, Niruttaramnayatantra, Vimalatantra, Vimalottaratantra and Devimatatantra. Sixtyfour Arts There is another view that the sixtyfour Tantras do not denote Kulatantra; but they denote the sixtyfour kinds of art viz. (1) Gita, (2) Vadya (3) Nrtya (4) Natya (5) Alekhya (6) Visesakacchedya (7) Tandulakusumabalivikara (8) Puspastarana (9) Dasanavasanangaraga (10) Manibhumi kakarma (11) Sayanaracana (12) Udakavadya (Udakaghatavada) (13) Citrayoga (14) Malyagrathanakalpa (15) Sekharapidayojana (16) Nepathyayoga (17) Karnapatrabhanga (18) Sugandhayukti (19) Bhusanayojana (20) Aindrajala

- 369 - (21) Kaut umarayoga (22) Hastalaghava (23) Citrasakapup abhaksyavi karakriya (24) Panakaras aragasavayojana (25) Sucivay akarma (26) Sutrakrida (27) Vinadamarukavadya (28) Prahelika (29) Pratimala (30) Durvancakayoga (31) Pustakavacana (32) Natakakhyayi kadarsana (33) Kavyasamasyapurana (34) Pattikave trabanavi kalpa (35) Tarkakarma (36) Taksana (37) Vastuvidya (38) Rupyaratnapariksa (39) Dhatuvada (40) Maniragajnana (41) Akarajnana (42) Vrksayurvedayoga (43) Mesakukkutalavakayuddhavidhi (44) Sukasarikapralapana (45) Utsadana (46) Kesamarjana (47) Aksaramustikakathana (48) Mlecchit akut arkavikalpa (49) Desabhasajnana (50) Puspasakoti kanirmiti (51) Yantramat radharana (52) Samvacy am (53) Manasakavy akriya (54) Abhidharakosa (55) Chandojnana (56) Kriyavi kalpa (57) Cchalitakayoga (58) Vastragopana (59) Dyut avisesa (60) Akar sakrida (61) Balakrida (62) Vainayi kividya (63) Vaijayikividya (64) Vaitalikividya.