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PREFACE. xxix century. He was a Varendra Brahmana born in the district of Rajshahi, left an orphan at a tender age. Brahmananda, a great Tantrika writer of his time, brought him up and initiated him in the mysteries of Tantra. The place where he obtained siddhi or success is still known as siddhinagara. Purnananda became the guru or spiritual guide to a number of influential Brahmans in the North and East Bengal and his descendants are still to be found in many places, working as spiritual guides. Katihar in Maimensing appears to be the great stronghold of his descendants. Tattva-cintamani his great work runs through several thousands of shlokas. The influence which he and his Guru still exercises over the Brahmans of Bengal is very great. He was devoted to the left-handed worship. Tantrapradipa is a compilation by Jagannatha Cakravartti belonging to the Kanji gani of the Radhiya Brahmans of Bengal. His work is over 4,000 shlokas in extent and gives general rules for worship. Tantraratna, No. 140, is by Anandanandanatha the son of Sahajanandanatha on the left-handed form of worship. What the Brahmans call the right-handed worship is not much to be found among the Buddhists. The Brahmans say that the Viracara or the left-handed worship is not confined to Brahmans alone as the others are, even the Atheists (i.e., Buddhists) can be votaries under this system. I have elsewhere shown that the Nathas are the remnants of the Buddhists in Bengal. They are called Yogis but are as a caste considered out of the pale of the four castes, i.e., Hindu Society. They live by weaving, but there were and still are men among them learned in Sanskrit. I believe the present author is one of them. Tararahasya, No. 148, by Brahmananda, the spiritual guide of Purnananda and the disciple of Tripurananda deals with the worship of Tara. She is repeatedly represented to be identical with, or, better to express the idea, she is never to be differentiated from Ekajata, Kalika, and Nila Sarasvati.