Guide to the Deities of the Tantra

Guide to the Deities of the Tantra
Author: Vessantara
Publisher: Windhorse Publications
Total Pages: 198
Release: 2013-09-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1909314277

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Vessantara explains the key characteristics of the Tantra, introduces its many Deities, and explores its symbolism. This guide provides the foundations for a gradual and thorough understanding of Tantric Buddhism, encouraging confidence in the exploration of its many themes and lavish forms. Mantra recitation and colourful visualizations of the Deities lie at the heart of the Tantric practice and Vessantara provides beautiful meditations on each of the key figures while also explaining the reasoning, theory and history behind each practice.

Meeting the Buddhas

Meeting the Buddhas
Author: Vessantara
Publisher: Windhorse Publications
Total Pages: 406
Release: 1993
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9780904766530

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An introduction the most well-known and important Buddhas, deities and other sacred figures of Buddhism. Each is imaginatively brought to life for the reader presenting their major characteristics along with illustrations, visualizations, symbols, mantras and myths.

Meeting the Buddhas

Meeting the Buddhas
Author: Vessantara
Publisher: Windhorse Publications
Total Pages: 444
Release: 2022-12-05
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1911407961

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Meeting the Buddhas is a modern classic, giving a vivid and accessible introduction to all the main figures meditated on in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist tradition. First published in 1993, this new edition incorporates a section on Vajrakīla, as well as new images, and hundreds of small changes that nuance and deepen earlier editions. It is a mine of information for those who want to learn about buddhas, bodhisattvas and tantric deities, and of inspiration for those who are already doing the practices. Vessantara powerfully evokes the figures, giving the reader a real feeling for what it’s like to meditate on them, and how they can transform us on a deep level. It gives detailed descriptions of the figures, including their mudras and symbolic emblems, so it can be used as a handy reference to identify and learn about particular images.

Female Deities in Buddhism

Female Deities in Buddhism
Author: Vessantara
Publisher: Windhorse Publications
Total Pages: 156
Release: 2003
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9781899579532

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Queens and old crones, Buddhas and goddesses, mothers and wild women. Female deities in Buddhism take many forms to inspire, beguile, rouse and protect us. Enter the magical realm of gently compassionate Kuan Yin from China, meet the elusive golden goddess from India representing Perfect Wisdom, and tangle with the energetic embodiments of freedom, the fearless sky-dancing dakinis of Tibet. Respected Western Buddhist teacher Vessantara invites us to learn more about ourselves as women and men by reflecting on these figures, for within us lie the seeds of love, wisdom and freedom that these figures symbolise in their fullness, qualities we can nurture through contemplating the beauty of these enlightened beings. Engage not just with your head but with your heart. Follow your intuition ... enrich your life. My thanks to Vessantara for a treasure trove of fascinating information, explanation, and anecdote on the feminine divine. This is an invaluable introductory source book.Sandy Boucher, author of Discovering Kwan Yin, Buddhist Goddess of Compassion.

Guide to Dakini Land

Guide to Dakini Land
Author: Kelsang Gyatso
Publisher: Tharpa Publications US
Total Pages: 554
Release: 1996
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 0948006390

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Reprint. originally published: Tharpa Publications, 1991.

Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses

Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses
Author: David Frawley
Publisher: Lotus Press
Total Pages: 293
Release: 1994-03
Genre: Health & Fitness
ISBN: 0910261393

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This book provides an excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism, discussing all the major concepts and correcting many existing misconceptions.

The Goddess of Tantra

The Goddess of Tantra
Author: Pranab Bandyopadhyay
Publisher:
Total Pages: 390
Release: 2002
Genre: Tantrism
ISBN:

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This Book Deals Mainly With Tantra Sadhana With The Help Of Illustrations Of The Important Yantras That Are Commonly Used In The Spiritual Practices By The Tantrikas.

Gods & Goddesses

Gods & Goddesses
Author: Trilok Chandra Majupuria
Publisher:
Total Pages: 189
Release: 2000
Genre: Gods, Nepali
ISBN:

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The Cosmic Play of Power

The Cosmic Play of Power
Author: Sanjukta Gupta
Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass
Total Pages: 494
Release: 2013-01-01
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 8120835425

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In Hindu theology, Divine Power is conceived as a divine woman-the Goddess. Sometimes she is wholly autonomous and sometimes she is the divine spouse of the creator God, Siva or Visnu. She is also held to be the evolving material source of every created phenomenon. Religious texts like Puranas and Tantras have thoroughly investigated the mysterious nature of the Cosmic Goddess. Tantra as a religious practice endeavoured to show how through ritual and Yoga one may achieve the realization of the mystery of the Supreme Goddess. Authors in Sanskrit and modern Indian languages have poured out their ecstatic devotion to the Goddess. She is close to the heart of the passionate devotee, who adores her as mother or daughter - a mortal emotional bond with the divine so peculiar to Hindus. She is also sovereign Power a little part of which reigning royalties covet to possess in order to be good rulers. AS the divine woman she is represented in all women. Therefore women should be holding a high position amongst Hindus. But the question is, do they? In spite of the obvious contrary evidence, women do succeed in carving out a very important position in Hindu religious practices by having their alternative religious rituals highly valued by Hindu women have a very complex interrelationship. The book focuses on the great cosmic Goddess and her ritual worship, Tantric theology and praxis in a wider sense, the attitude of her devotees towards her authority and the social character of the Tantric practitioners, and the position of Bhakti. It also figures out the position of women inside the Tantric and non-Tantric Hindu religious milieu. The Goddess symbolizes the supreme divine authority that activates the creation, protection and governance and necessary dissolution of the world in accordance with the ancient Indian concept of cyclical time. But She also discharges the divine sovereign privilege of punishing evil-doers and rewarding true devotees. Finally, the relevant forms of the Cosmic Goddess in this book are Sri/Tripurasundari/ Lalita; Goddess Kali and Her various emanations; and Laksmi and Her powers in the Pancaratra canonical texts.

Goddess Traditions in Tantric Hinduism

Goddess Traditions in Tantric Hinduism
Author: Bjarne Wernicke Olesen
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 199
Release: 2015-09-16
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 1317585224

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Hinduism cannot be understood without the Great Goddess and the goddess-orientated Śākta traditions. The Goddess pervades Hinduism at all levels, from aniconic village deities to high-caste pan-Hindu goddesses to esoteric, tantric goddesses. Nevertheless, the highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship have only recently begun to draw scholarly attention. This book addresses the increasing interest in the Great Goddess and the tantric traditions of India by exploring the history, doctrine and practices of the Śākta tantric traditions. The highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship form a major part of what is known as ‘Śāktism’, and is often considered one of the major branches of Hinduism next to Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism and Smārtism. Śāktism is, however, less clearly defined than the other major branches, and the book looks at the texts of the Śākta traditions that constitute the primary sources for gaining insights into the Śākta religious imaginative, ritual practices and history. It provides an historical exploration of distinctive Indian ways of imagining God as Goddess, and surveys the important origins and developments within Śākta history, practice and doctrine in its diversity. Bringing together contributions from some of the foremost scholars in the field of tantric studies, the book provides a platform for the continued research into Hindu goddesses, yoga, and tantra for those interested in understanding the religion and culture in South Asia.