The Concealed Essence of the Hevajra Tantra: With the Commentary Yogaratnamala

by G.W. Farrow, I Menon (Editor)

The Hevajra Tantra is a non-dual, Yogini tantra of the late Mantrayāna tradition of Buddhism which was composed in northeastern India during the 8th century A.D. It was one of the principle later tantric cycles which were first introduced into Tibet during the late 10th century in a general reintroduction of the Buddhism there after the persecutions of the previous century.

The origins of the tantric Buddhist Wisdom and Means method exposed in the Hevajra Tantra can be traced to the views found in the 1st century A.D. Mādhyamika works of Nāgārjuna and the works of other Mahāyāna schools as well as through the texts of the later, 6th–7th century Yoga tantra tradition. The method of the Hevajra Tantra was especially evolved from the views on the tantric Buddhist method found in the Guhyasamāja Tantra, the Manjuśri Mūlakalpa, and other Yoga tantra works.

The Yogaratnamālā, also known as the Hevajra Panjika (9th cent. A.D.), is a principal commentary of the Hevajra Tantra by the Mahasiddha and Pandit Krishnacarya. This English translation of a principal root Tantra together with a translation of a major commentary by a Mahasiddha offers an authentic insight into the radical bio-genetic and psychological views of the Yogi tradition of Mantrayāna Buddhism. These two translations therefore highlight not only the sophisticated but controversial Buddhist tantric methods, which constitute the very essence of the Tibetan tantric method, but also provide an authoritative historical record of and testament to the unique and uninhibited classic, 5th–13th century tantric period of Indian religious history.

Genres: Buddhism

308 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

George W. Farrow (1944–) is a translator of tantric and yoga texts, consecrated by Vaishnava, Saiva, and Vajrayana yogis.