Essay name: Svacchandatantra (history and structure)
Author: William James Arraj
The essay represents a study and partial English translation of the Svacchandatantra and its commentary, 鈥淯ddyota鈥�, by Kshemaraja. The text, attributed to the deity Svacchanda-bhairava, has various names and demonstrates a complex history of transmission through diverse manuscript traditions in North India, Nepal, and beyond.
Page 466 of: Svacchandatantra (history and structure)
466 (of 511)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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commenting has been authorized] by revelation: "It is traditionally
stated [that] when there is a difference between scriptures because
of differences in ritual, etc., then, in each case, that [ritual]
should be performed as it is stated [in the scripture being used for
the ritual], and not according to another scripture." Therefore,
only with the formul忙, limbs and faces as stated, [is the lord
without parts] endowed (samanvitam), i.e., completely [ samyag-
glossing sam- of sam-anvitam,] i.e., non-dually, endowed
(-anvitam), and not, however, with [them manifested separately
in] a retinue; [this is] the meaning. For that very reason, [the
lord without-parts is] fully endowed also with blessed Aghore艣vari
[although she is not explicitly stated]. Although the revelation
[that she is meditatively] constructed [as accompanying him] is
[found] in texts that have a predominance of the radiations of the
power (艣akti岣�), [as, for example, in the instruction]: "Or he
should construct, on [the lord's] lap, Gauri, occupying half his
body," nevertheless, here, just like the limbs, faces, and
formul忙, she is identical in essence to the holder of power
(艣aktimat), [92] [and thus] this formula of the holder of power,
presented here, has this very radiation of the power interiorized.
[With the ] previously stated; by that [statement, there are]
included all [the rites,] the imposition of the form, of the energies,
etc., [done before,] [with the exception] solely, [that] the
imposition of the lord with-parts should be performed only with
the lord without-parts, who pervades both [the lord] with and
without parts. Since this [lord without parts is now] discussed
after [the discussion of] lord Ko峁璦r膩k峁岣�, some [commentators
argue, that] like him, this [lord without parts is] ten-armed; [this
is incorrect,] the masters [declare] since [the lord without parts
is] lord Svaccanda岣�, [he can] only [be] eighteen-armed. With the
collection of substances [he should worship]; by that
[statement, there is enjoined that] the sacrificing, a part of the
1979), pp.143ff.
