by Prem Prakash – Motilal Banarsidass – Paperback – 2024 – 130 pages

The Tantra Sāra, “The Essence of Tantra,” was composed by Abhinivagupta as an encapsulation of his entire philosophy. Abhinivagupta lived sometime during the period of 900 – 1050 CE., and spent most of his life in Kashmir. He is often considered the foremost exponent of the school known as Kashmir Shaivism.

In this rendering, I have approached the Tantra Sāra less as a technical manual than as a work of art. Thus, the reader will find the verses are in poetic rhyme. This is consistent with my conviction that yoga is both a science and an art. It is a science in that it is a replicable set of techniques within a consistent framework. Anyone, anywhere, can reap the same results through assiduous practice. Yoga, however, is also an art; it requires passion and needs to be adjusted to the unique constitution of the aspirant. While realization will be universal, the path will be personal. This book is intended for inspiration; that the reader may imbibe the nectar of this magnificent text. See Amazon listing for a hard copy edition – Tantra Sara: The Essence of Tantra (A Poetic Rendering) https://a.co/d/iVvnkWY