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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 Gestures 246 XXII. The Procedure of the Characteristics of the Distinctive Limb Gestures 248 XXIII. The Procedure of the Characteristics of the Ḍākinīs' Signs and Insignia 250 XXIV. The Procedure of the Symbolic Speech of the Four Classes... 256 XXV The Procedure of Completely Hiding the Root Mantra 263 XXVI. The Procedures of Inspecting the Disciple and the Vows 265 XXVII. The Procedures of the Conduct, Observances, Worship, and Sacrificial Cakes 271 XXVIII. The Procedures of the Inner Fire Sacrifice and Class Oneness 282 XXIX. The Procedures of the Messenger's Defining Marks and the State of Empowerment 289 XXX. The Procedure of Mantra Selection Bound in the Muraja Drum 292 XXXI. The Procedure of the Rites of Eating, Fire Sacrifice and the Sacrificial Cakes, and the Hand Signs 297 XXXII. The Procedures of the Animal Sacrificial Victims, the Means of Achieving the Zombie, and the Creation Stage 300 XXXIII. The Reverential Procedure of Secret Worship 305 XXXIV. The Procedure of Summoning via the Fire Sacrifice of the Nondual Messenger 308 XXXV. The Procedure of the Nondual Ritual Action and the Method of Cheating Black Death 312 XXXVI. The Procedure of Summoning the Reality Worship 317 XXXVII. The Procedure of Inner Mastery 320 XXXVIII. The Procedure of the Yoginīs' Place and the Heroes' Secret Abode 322 XXXIX. The Procedure of Vision and Loud Laughter 325 XL. The Procedures of Subjugating the Five Social Classes and Mahāmudrā 327 XLI. The Procedure of Laying Down the Mandala of the Twenty four Syllables 329 XLII. The Procedure of the Laughter Mantra and the Magic of the Yoginīs' Forms 338 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 Speech 353 XLVI. The Procedure of Ritual Actions with the Five ha Syllables ...358 XLVII. The Procedure of All Ritual Actions of the Sarvabuddhaḍākinī Mantra 360 XLVIII. The Procedure of the Maṇḍala of the Hidden Abode of all Heroes and Ḍākinīs 364 XLIX. The Procedure of Transforming the Victim who is Born Seven Times 367 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 Instruction 376 Glossaries 385 Conspectus Siglorum 405 Bibliography 409 Index 437

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.

tantra - Tantra, when juxtaposed with Sūtra, generally refers to the scriptures and texts which discuss esoteric topics. While the term is used to refer to texts on other topics, it is mostly used to refer to the genre of scriptures and texts on themes and topics associated with Vajrayāna Buddhism. Skt. तन्त्र Tib. རྒྱུད། Ch. 密宗

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Mahāmudrā - Mahāmudrā refers to an advanced meditation tradition in Mahāyāna and Vajrayāna forms of Into-Tibetan Buddhism that is focused on the realization of the empty and luminous nature of the mind. It also refers to the resultant state of buddhahood attained through such meditation practice. In Tibet, this tradition is particularly associated with the Kagyu school, although all other schools also profess this tradition. The term also appears as part of the four seals, alongside dharmamūdra, samayamudrā, and karmamudrā. Skt. महामुद्रा Tib. ཕྱག་རྒྱ་ཆེན་པོ།

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