This is the first of a two-volume monograph on the iconography of Hindu deities as presented in Tantric texts. It focuses on the iconography of 108 deities described in the sixteenth-century North Indian Mantramahodadhi by Mahīdhara. The print edition is available as a set of two volumes (9789069801193).
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. Hesperides Press are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
The Iavara -pratyabhijna Karika (IPK) of Utpaladeva is the foremost work of Pratyabhijna Darsana and contains the core argumentation in support of this important Saiva Philosophy as well as refutations of and disputations with Buddhsit Vedantin and Ritual
This book, first published in 1962, is an analysis of the history of the philosophy of a country that has never distinguished philosophy from religion. Indian philosophy is not merely metaphysical speculation, but has its foundation in immediate perception. This insistence upon immediate perception rather than abstract reasoning is what distinguishes the Indian philosophy of religion from philosophy as Western nations know it.
While Volume I of this two-volume monograph focuses on the deity pantheon of the sixteenth-century Mantramahodadhi, this volume compares for the first time deity descriptions extracted from two earlier and closely related texts, the anonymous Prapañcasāra (ca. tenth century) and Lakṣmaṇadeśika’s Sāradātilaka (tenth/eleventh centuries). The latter work, though based on the Prapañcasāra, treats the topics independently and incorporates new deity descriptions while omitting others. Both texts are still influential and are frequently cited. The Sanskrit text of the 78 deity descriptions extracted from the Prapañcasāra and the 101 descriptions from the Sāradātilaka is based on a comparison of different printed editions of these texts, as well as citations found in other works. The Sanskrit text is presented with a literal translation and remarks on the iconography. The introductory section addresses basic questions related to these two works. In addition, a new edition and translation of the important chapters I (on cosmogony) and 25 (on yoga) of the Sāradātilaka are presented in two appendices. A large number of illustrations of deities complement the volume. The print edition is available as a set of two volumes (9789069801193).
Visnuism has given rise to two very important schools of ritual and philosophy, namely Vaikhanasa and Pancaratra. Isvarasamhita is an important text of the Pancaratra school of Visnuism. Whereas Vaikhanasa is relatively archaic in character and leans more upon the Vedic tradition for its repertoire of Mantras used in religious rites and ceremonies, the Pancaratra is more liberal and open in its approach. It has a text tradition going back to some two thousand years- which has also been the main source of the Visistadvaita philosophy of Ramanuja (11th 12th c.). In most of the Vaisnava temples in South India, especially in Tamilnadu, worship is conducted in accordance with the prescription of one of the important Pancaratra Samhitas. Isvarasamhita is an important text of the Pancaratra School and is followed meticulously for conduction of daily Puja ceremony and performances of various religious festivals in the Narayanasvami temple of Melkote. It can safely be dated to 8th-9th Century at least on the basis of its reference in the Agama Pramanya of Shri Yamunacarya. It is supposed to be a simpler and smaller version of the older sattvatasamhita of this school which is the earliest available work of Pancaratra and is considered as one of three ratnas, (Jewels), along with Pauskara- and Jaya Samhitas. In 25 long Adhyayas the Isvarasamhita describes in great details the rites, rituals and ceremonies taking place ( or ought to take place) in a Vaisnava temple. Palm leaf Manuscripts of the Isvarasamhita were procured mainly from the Narayanasvami temple of Melkote for the sake of authenticity. We have also appended to the text the gloss of Alasimha Bhatta (early 19th C.) which shall be helpful in comprehending certain difficult or sectarian expressions. The English translation on the opposite (right) page has been provided for the facility of the modern scholars working on philosophy, Ritual and Iconography of Visnuism. A proper understanding of ritual is obviously indispensable for the study of Art.