Kaulavalinirnaya Tantra

Sir John Woodroffe translated, studied and wrote about Hindu tantra texts during the early 20th century under the pseudonym Arthur Avalon. He is perhaps most well known for his translation of the Mahānirvāṇatantraṃ tantra from the original Sanskrit, and for ‘Shakti and Shâkta: essays and addresses on the Shâkta Tantrashâstra’. His work influenced the acceptance of Hindu philosophy as a complex structured belief system in the West, especially academically. The Kaulavalinirnaya Tantra was another text that Wooddroffe translated and although no English translation survives Woodroffe’s lengthy “Introduction” does. In it, Woodroffe summarizes each chapter of the text and he also includes the mantras and oblations (in English). The Kaulavalinirnaya Tantra provides instruction on the place of sexual intercourse in the life of a Brahman, including social ethics and reverence for women. Rituals are also explained, the goals of which are to attain liberation, pleasure and siddhis. Whilst it’s regrettable that a full translation of the Kaulavalinirnaya Tantra in English is not available, Woodroffe’s generous summary allows the reader to come to know this marvelous ancient text and have access to mantras from the 16-17th century that are so highly revered by the Kula school. It is hoped that with this eBook edition of Woodroffe’s work it will be more widely read and understood.