The Cakrasamvara Tantra (The Discourse of Sri Heruka) - A Study and Annotated Translation (2007)

The Cakrasamvara Tantra (The Discourse of Sri Heruka) - A Study and Annotated Translation (2007)

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This is the first complete, critical English translation of the Cakrasamvara Tantra, also known as the Śrīherukābhidhāna and Laghusamvara. Composed in India during the eighth century, this text is a foundational scripture of one of the most important Indian Buddhist tantric traditions, as evidenced by the vast number of commentaries and ritual literature associated with it. Along with the Hevajra Tantra, it is one of the earliest and most influential of the Yoginī Tantras, a genre of tantric Buddhist scripture that emphasizes female deities, particularly the often fiercely depicted Yoginīs and Ḍākinīs.

The author’s introductory essay provides an analysis of the historical and intellectual contexts in which the text was composed, including its complex interrelationship with Hindu Śaiva traditions, and investigates the history of its adaptation by Buddhists. The translation was made on the basis of the surviving Sanskrit manuscripts of the Tantra and its commentaries, as well as parallel passages in related explanatory tantras (vyākhyātantra). It is also takes into consideration two different Tibetan translations of the root text, and several Tibetan commentaries. The translation itself is heavily annotated, with extensive translations from the Indian and Tibetan commentaries on the text. Includes a trilingual glossary and index. (Source: The American Institute of Buddhist Studies)

Citation	Gray, David B. The Cakrasamvara Tantra (The Discourse of Śrī Heruka): A Study and Annotated Translation. Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences. New York: American Institute of Buddhist Studies; Columbia University's Center for Buddhist Studies and Tibet House US, 2007.

ContentsSources

Series Editor's Prefaceix Author's Prefacexv

Introduction: The Study of the Cakrasamvara Tantra

• 1. Introduction to the Cakrasamvara Tantra
  • The Cakrasamvara and the Yoginī Tantras3
  • Dating the Text11
  • Cakrasamvara Literature 15
• 2. Traditional History of the Cakrasamvara Tantra
  • Mythic Root Texts28
  • The Origin of Heruka35
• 3. Contents and Contexts
  • The Triple Wheel Mandala54
  • Ḍākinīs, Yoginīs, and Women77
  • Consecration and the Sexual Yogas103
  • Mantras and Magic131
• 4. Texts and Translation
  • Texts Employed137
  • Translation Methodology145
  • Technical Notes151

Translation of the Cakrasamvara Tantra

• I. The Descent of the Maṇḍala155
• II. The Procedure of Wheel Worship164
• III. The Procedure of Consecration and Fee [Payment]171
• IV. The Procedure Called 'The Nonduality of the Heroes and Yoginīs'178
• V. The Procedure of Selecting the Letters of the Root Mantra181
• VI. The Procedure of Selecting the Hero's Six Armor [Mantras]186
• VII. The Procedure of Selecting the Mantra188
• VIII. The Procedure of Selecting the Reversed Yoginī Mantras194
• IX. The Procedure of the Ritual Actions of the Root Mantra196
• X. The Achievement of the Triple Body and the Procedure of the Ritual
  Actions of the Essence Mantra202
• XI. The Procedure of Characterizing the Seven-lived One206
• XII. The Procedure of the Ritual Actions of the Quintessence209
• XIII. The Procedure of the Applications of the Armor Mantra214
• XIV. The Procedure of the Donkey Form Yoga for Becoming Śrī Heruka217
• XV The Procedure of the Syllabic Signs222
• XVI. The Procedure of Examining the Characteristics of the Seven Yoginīs226
• XVII. The Procedure of the Signs, Gestures, and Perambulant Forms of All
  Yoginīs232
• XVIII. The True Procedure of the Colors, Characteristics, and Signs of all
  Yoginīs236
• XIX. The Procedure of Pointing Out the Gestures of the Yoginīs239
• XX. The Procedure of the Symbolic Hand Gestures of the Yoginīs243
• XXI. The Procedure of the Characteristics of the Visual Body Gestures246
• XXII. The Procedure of the Characteristics of the Distinctive Limb Gestures248
• XXIII. The Procedure of the Characteristics of the Ḍākinīs' Signs and Insignia250
• XXIV. The Procedure of the Symbolic Speech of the Four Classes256
• XXV The Procedure of Completely Hiding the Root Mantra263
• XXVI. The Procedures of Inspecting the Disciple and the Vows265
• XXVII. The Procedures of the Conduct, Observances, Worship, and Sacrificial Cakes271
• XXVIII. The Procedures of the Inner Fire Sacrifice and Class Oneness282
• XXIX. The Procedures of the Messenger's Defining Marks and the State of Empowerment289
• XXX. The Procedure of Mantra Selection Bound in the Muraja Drum292
• XXXI. The Procedure of the Rites of Eating, Fire Sacrifice and the Sacrificial Cakes, and the Hand Signs297
• XXXII. The Procedures of the Animal Sacrificial Victims, the Means of
  Achieving the Zombie, and the Creation Stage300
• XXXIII. The Reverential Procedure of Secret Worship305
• XXXIV. The Procedure of Summoning via the Fire Sacrifice of the Nondual Messenger308
• XXXV. The Procedure of the Nondual Ritual Action and the Method of
  Cheating Black Death312
• XXXVI. The Procedure of Summoning the Reality Worship317
• XXXVII. The Procedure of Inner Mastery320
• XXXVIII. The Procedure of the Yoginīs' Place and the Heroes' Secret Abode322
• XXXIX. The Procedure of Vision and Loud Laughter325
• XL. The Procedures of Subjugating the Five Social Classes and Mahāmudrā327
• XLI. The Procedure of Laying Down the Mandala of the Twenty four
  Syllables329
• XLII. The Procedure of the Laughter Mantra and the Magic of the Yoginīs'
  Forms338
• XLIII. The Procedure of Accomplishing the Ritual Actions of the Quintessence [Mantra]343
• XLIV. The Procedure of the Six Yoginīs' Ritual Actions with the Seven Syllable [Mantra]350
• XLV. The Six Yoginī Ritual Actions and the Summoning of the Power of
  Speech353
• XLVI. The Procedure of Ritual Actions with the Five ha Syllables358
• XLVII. The Procedure of All Ritual Actions of the Sarvabuddhaḍākinī
  Mantra360
• XLVIII. The Procedure of the Maṇḍala of the Hidden Abode of all Heroes and Ḍākinīs364
• XLIX. The Procedure of Transforming the Victim who is Born Seven Times367
• L. The Procedure of the Domination Fire Sacrifice and the Teaching of the
  Stages in Relation to the Seats, etc.370
• LI. Creation Stage Esoteric Instruction376
• Glossaries385
• Conspectus Siglorum405
• Bibliography409
• Index437

1. Cakrasamvara Tantra, also known as the Śrīherukādbhidhādna and Tantrarāja-śrīlaghusamvara-nāma. (D 368) rgyud, ka 213a1-246b7 (vol. 77). Translator(s): Padmākaravarman, Rin chen bzang po. In bka' 'gyur (sde dge par phud), Vol. 77: 426-492. Delhi: delhi karmapae chodhey gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1976-1979. Columbia AIBS ACIP. Author gives extensive lists of texts consulted in the fourth section of the introduction.