Shri Vidya

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Shri Yantra (shown here in the three-dimensional projection known as Shri Meru Chakra or Maha Meru) is central to most Tantric forms of Shaktism
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Shri Vidya (

religious system devoted to the Goddess. Shri Vidya developed out of various influences, especially Kāśmīr Shaivism, and its doctrines remain similar to this tradition.[2]

In the principally

Shri Yantra or Śrī Cakra.[3]

The south Indian tradition of Sri Vidya generally focuses on

Lalitā Sahasranāma, which includes Śrī Vidyā concepts.[b] The sect accepts and aims to provide both material prosperity and self-realisation. It has an extensive literature.[4]

The most important scholar of Sri Vidya is undoubtedly Bhāskararāya (1690–1785), who wrote over 40 works from a Sri Vidya perspective.[5][6] He is the author of key Sri Vidya texts like the Saubhāgyabhāskara (a commentary to the Lalitā Sahasranāma), Varivasyārahasya (a work on Sri Vidya mantra and worship) and the Commentary on Nityāṣōḍaśikārṇava.

Major texts

References

Notes

  1. ^ For goddess as supreme and beyond the manifest cosmos, see: Flood 1996, p. 188.
  2. ^ For influence on the Lalitā Sahasranāma and a brief summary of some Śrī Vidyā practices see: Sastry 1986, pp. vii–ix.

Citations

  1. ^ Apte 1965, p. 857.
  2. ^ Flood 1996, p. 188.
  3. ^ Flood 1996, pp. 187–188.
  4. ^ Bhattacharyya 1999, p. 329.
  5. ^ Brooks 1990, pp. x–xiv.
  6. ^ Brooks 1992, p. 23.

Works cited

  • Apte, Vaman Shivram (1965), The Practical Sanskrit Dictionary (Fourth revised and enlarged ed.), Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, .
  • Bhattacharyya, N. N. (1999), History of the Tantric Religion (Second revised ed.), New Delhi: Manohar, .
  • Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (1990), Secret of the Three Cities, University of Chicago Press, .
  • Brooks, Douglas Renfrew (1992), Auspicious Wisdom: The Texts and Traditions of Srividya Sakta Tantrism in South India, State University of New York Press, .
  • Flood, Gavin (1996), An Introduction to Hinduism, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, .
  • Sastry, R. Ananthakrishna (1986), Lalitāsahasranāma, Delhi: Gian Publishing House.

Further reading