Tantra of the Great Liberation [Mahanirvana Tantra] Paperback – June 4, 2012

One of the best tantric books to read in English, gives a good overview of tantra and Hinduism in general.

Yes!

Sir John Woodroffe (1865-1936), also known by his pseudonym Arthur Avalon, received his B.C.L. (Bachelor of Civil Law) from University College, Oxford. He moved to India, where he practiced law. He became Advocate-General of Bengal and in 1915 Chief Justice at the Calcutta High Court. He also was appointed Standing Counsel to the Government of India. He was appointed Tagore Law Professor at the Calcutta University. After retiring to England he became Reader in Indian Law at the University of Oxford.Alongside his judicial duties he studied Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy and was especially interested in the esoteric Hindu Tantric Shakti system. He translated some twenty original Sanskrit texts, and under his pseudonym Arthur Avalon he published and lectured prolifically and authoritatively on Indian philosophy and a wide range of Yoga and Tantra topics. His work helped to unleash in the West a deep and wide interest in Hindu philosophy and Yogic practices.His most popular and influential book, a major contribution to the appreciation of Indian philosophy and spirituality, is The Serpent Power - The secrets of Tantric and shaktic yoga (Dover Books).Mahanirvana Tantra Of The Great Liberation is an excellent example of this wonderful humanitarian's work. I highly recommend it.

Very poor binding

Avalon's ninety page introduction to this late, compiled Hindu tantra is a crash course in Indian Philosophy. If you've never been able to get your gunas sorted out, this will help. But he does sometimes go off on one and give you an endless string of definitions.Like the introduction, the tantra often goes off on one too. Being more interested in advaita - and practice without particular practice, practice that is sustained non-practice - I did often wonder why I was wading through its imprecations and commandments and visualisations and incantations. Like many rememberings - shared through generations - it is replete and chaotic. But its florid abundance is never less than entertaining and, periodically, a non-dual voice comes through.Arthur Avalon - the pen name of Sir John Woodruffe - was a major `orientalist' of the 19th century British empire in India. He manages to be surprised, enthusiastic, conquering and individual self[bar the odd colonial twang]-effacing all at the same time. The weighty and immediate tenor of his translation - with sacred awe as the words arise - shows him to have been a person of genuine commitment to the experiences described by ancient and mystic sages.

It is a good book to be read for spiritual students

This book might interest a scholar of such texts but for practical use it's way over the top. The rituals are extremely difficult complicated and many unnecessary items are required to do most of the rituals.

Read the book to understand the review. Since Tantra is a secret subject, it seems some chapters/contents were deliberately removed.

Avalon's ninety page introduction to this late, compiled Hindu tantra is a crash course in Indian Philosophy. If you've never been able to get your gunas sorted out, this will help. But he does sometimes go off on one and give you an endless string of definitions.Like the introduction, the tantra often goes off on one too. Being more interested in advaita - and practice without particular practice - I did often wonder why I was wading through its imprecations and commandments and visualisations and incantations. Like many rememberings - shared through generations - it is replete and chaotic. But its florid abundance is never less than entertaining and, periodically, a non-dual voice comes through.Arthur Avalon - the pen name of Sir John Woodruffe - was a major `orientalist' of the 19th century British empire in India. He manages to be surprised, enthusiastic, conquering and self-effacing all at the same time. The weighty and immediate tenor of his translation - with sacred awe as the words arise - shows him to have been a person of genuine commitment to the experiences described by ancient and mystic sages.

Nice