An outline of the religious literature of India / by J.N. Farquhar.

  • Farquhar, J. N. (John Nicol), 1861-1929.
Date:
1920
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: An outline of the religious literature of India / by J.N. Farquhar. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    231/488 (page 199)
    r F. Sakta Literature. a. The Tantras. § 231. The sect of Durga is now reorganized with a new theology, a more varied cult, and a fresh literature. It is called the Sakta sect. There is no authoritative canon of the / Tantras, the literature of the Saktas. In several places lists of sixty-four Tantras are found, and one list contains three groups of sixty-four,1 but these catalogues differ so seriously the one from the other that, as yet at least, they are of little help to the student. Hundreds of Tantras are mentioned in the lists, and, although many are lost for ever, a very large number still survive. In addition there are several Sakta documents scattered about in the Puranas, and numerous hymns in praise of the goddess, lineal descendants of those already discussed, are found in various places. Only a very few of these authorities can be dated with any certainty, but there are a number more whose age can be approximately discerned. It is scarcely possible as yet to classify the texts as belonging to the sub-sects, references to which are found from quite early times.2 The whole literature awaits the toil of scholarly investigators. What we propose to do is to give brief notices of all the important works whose age is approximately known. In this way an outline of the history will be afforded and a basis of study provided. A MS. of the Kubjikdmata T. in Gupta character proves that that work dates from the seventh century at latest. A MS. of the Paramesvaramata T. is dated A.D. 858, and a MS. of the Mahdkaulajhdna Vinirnaya is quite as old,3 the works themselves being probably a good deal older. A careful study of these three Tantras would .give a very full account of early Sakta philosophy and worship. From the Kubjikdmata we may conclude that a formed Sakta theology and ritual were 1 Avalon’s Tantrik Texts, I. ii.; Dutt’s Mahdnirvdna T. v. 2 H. P. Sastrl, I. lxiv, lxxviii. 3 lb. I. lxxvii, lxxviii ; II. xxi, xviii.