Customer Reviews

Kularnava Tantra

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This is one of the major primary text sources for detailed descriptions of cakrapuja and panca-makara, two ritual protocols that are central to the understanding of Tantric cosmogonic beliefs and sociopolitics. A welcome reissue and a must for any serious student of Tantrism.

This edition of the Kularnava Tantra is valuable for both scholars and practitioners. Arthur Avalon (really a composite figure of Sir John Woodroffe and his Indian translators; Woodroffe didn't actually know much Sanskrit, he was better with smoothing the translation) presents a clear introduction and relatively good translation of the text. But what is really valuable here is the original Sanskrit.

The reviewer below who mentioned he felt like he was "missing something" is right, though somewhat misguided about what he's missing. Although half the book is in Sanskrit, it is simply the translated text in its original form so that one can study the original, which is the best way to read it. Studying any text in translation is problematic, because the bias of the translator colors the reading - in Sanskrit this is particularly problematic, and in Tantras doubly so, because of the layers of meaning and subterfuge for which Sanskrit and Tantric verse are famous. Scholars will find the original text fairly clean. However, for those unable or unwilling to pursue many years of Sanskrit study, the translation is decent, although not always entirely correct.

As for practitioners, it is important to remember that this text leaves out crucial information, which is common amongst Tantric texts. A qualified teacher within the Shakta Kula should be able to fill in these gaps according to their lineage, but the language of this text is full of holes that "Avalon" doesn't adequately fill. From the practice perspective, it is crucial to study this text under the guidance of a qualified teacher.

With the guidance of a pandit, this is an incalculably rich resource; on one's own, it is vital reading material for anyone interested in this field, especially Shakta Tantra.

I was under the impression this was going to be an English translation of the Kularnava Tantra. I was disappointed when it arrived to see that it actually consists only of an Introduction by Arthur Avalon, "Readings" from the Tantra by M.P. Pandit, and then the Sanskrit text. Pandit explains in the Preface that "Portions relating to rituals, technicalities of special types of japa, etc. have been kept out of the treatment so as not to tax the aspirant of the present times..." Note: I found what looks like a full translation by Ram Kumar Rai, even rarer than Avalon's edition. Don't know how good it is, but it exists.

About half the text is in Sanskrit. I wish I knew this before I ordered. I can't read Sanskrit. The rest is good, but I really feel like I'm missing something...

The Kularnava Tantra is a medieval text from at least the end of the thirteenth century, when it was mentioned in the list of texts written by the scholar Lakshmidhara.
Although it is primarily a classical text, it includes critiques of Vedic knowledge and scholarly pride frequently seen in the folk and devotional Tantric traditions.
As much as I respect Mr. Woodroffe it has to be stated that he made a partial translation of the Kularnava Tantra, rephrasing & censoring many of its anti-Vedic statements.
From his translation, one would imagine the text to largely support the Vedic and Sanskritic philosophical tradition.