Hardcover with DC, 2 Volumes, together 420 pages, color plates, Delhi 2025, new
In this book discussion was made about the origin and development of Buddhist Tantra, its divisions, literature, deities, and geographical expansion of the cult, Siddha tradition and the life-sketch of eighty-four Siddhas. The book is well supported by illustrations, maps and reliable information.
Dr. G. K. Lama, Professor, Department of AIHC & Ar-chaeology, Centre of Advanced Study, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, having specialization in the field of Archaeology, Buddhism and Asian Studies, has 32 books in his credit namely Tibet Men Bauddha Dharma Ka Itihas-2004; Samyak Darshan -2004; Cultural Heritage of South-East Asia-2009; Indus to Ganges-2009; Pakkakot: Some New Archaeological Dimensions of Mid-Ganga Plain-2012; Buddhist Cave Temples of Ancient India-2013; A Buddhist Universe-2016; An Archaeological Journey of Nalanda-2018; Art Heritage of Nalanda-2018; India: A Journey from Lithic to Iron-2019; Footprints of the Buddha on the Roof of the World-2020, Glimpses of North-East India-2021, Indian Culture through the Ages-2021, Revealing India's Past-2021, Buddhism on the Silk Route-2022, Mysterious World of Siddhas-2022, The Cult of Adamantine Path-2022, Buddhism A Living Spiritual Force-2022, Indian Archaeology Some New Perspectives-2022, Glimpses of Asian Art Heritage-2023, Indian History A Multidisciplinary Approach-2023, Fusion of Indian Culture on Asia-2023, Unique Features of Buddhist Monasteries-2023, Mahayana Sutra Samgraha-2023, Cultural Heritage of Nepal-2023, India in Chinese Travelogues-2023, Trans Himalayan Buddhism-2023, The Sacred Ganga-2024, Prajna-Jyoti-2024, Yantra-Mantra-Tantra in Buddhism-2024, Archaeological Excavations at Rukhegarh, Nalanda-2024 and Archaeological Investigations in the Ganga Plain, 2025. He has presented 89 research papers in various National and International seminars and 113 research papers have been published in various reputed journals, edited books, conference proceedings and felicitation vol-umes. He has completed a Major Research Project entitled Archaeological Investigation in and around Nalanda, granted by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, which was submitted in 2014. The author has also completed 16 projects regarding archaeologi-cal investigations in Sikkim, Eastern and Western UP and Bihar with the kind permission of Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi. He has invited twice to Sri Lanka and once to Thailand to deliver special lectures.
The aim and objects of the Buddhist tantra are widely different from those of the Hindu untra T It is a dificult task to determine when and under what circumstances the word cantra was used, nor is it possible to race the person who first introduced them. I will be evident that wher the mystical practices become popular with nay section of society, the othes section incorporates in as religion in a modified forms to sit its osen requirements and tonets. So that famriom costed from very early times and was transmitted in the taust secret manner possible from time to time. So, it can be seen that, Tantrism was handed down from the most secret manner possible before its followers could swell in number so as to openly declare themichves and preach their doctrine Siddl, Siddha and Panchmalkans, these words creat a mysterious world. Since beginning the path of Tantrism, ins wachings and practices was kept secret. The life and activities of Tancric guros was also mysterious to the common peuple, so that people were either afraid or hated this path zoud in followers.
To understand the rise of Vajrayana or Tantrayana in Buddhism, it is necessary to go back to T the original trachings of the Buddha. Lord Buddha prescribed two yanas in the beginning, namely the Sravakayama and the Prtveka Buddhayana. The Sravakas were to hear from a Buddha, they could not attain Nirvana themselves, but they had to wait till the advent of another Buddha for their emancipation. The Prtyekas were eminent men: they could attain Nirvana by their own efforts, without the help of Buddha. Buddism contained in this state till the row of Mahayana. The Mahayana dismissed the previous theories. They claimed that they could not only attain the Nirvana but could also help others to atrain it. Mahayana is of two kinds Maramicayana and Mantrayana, Paramitzvana is explained by the theories of Santramika (Sarvastivada), Yogachar (Vijoamavala) or Madhyamika (Shunyavada). Mantrayano is explained by the theories of Yogachars and Madhyamika. Thus Manrrayana commences with the most abstruse theories of Shunyavula and Vijnanavada. The Mantasyana conceras itself with mantrs and yantra It believes that certain special mystic forces are generated by recting words in a certain manner and that they can help one to obtain whatsoever one desires including emancipation. Belief in mantra or in the mysterious power of the sound is a social heritage with the Indian masses from the past. Such beliefs in various forms are no be found in early Buddhiam also. Worship of stupa and reverence for the mystic Bodhimandals or the circle round the Piple tree beneath which Buddha attained enlightenment were popular features of early Buddhism. The postures and gestures of Buddha were also held mystically significant. These elements of early Buddhism have no doubt paved the path for the propagation of mantra, mudra and mandala elements in Tantric Buddhism, but gradually the sexo-yogic practice also began to he referred to.