An introduction to 301 works related to seven father tantra cycles beyond Guhyasamāja, including extensive collections on Yamāri and Vajrabhairava (172 works), plus cycles centered on Mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti, Ekajaṭā, and Vajrapāṇi.
The 301 works in this subsection, taking up some five volumes of the Degé Tengyur, are related to seven further cycles of skillful means (or father) tantras other than the Guhysamāja works, which were grouped in the preceding subsection.
I. The 172 works related to Yamāri (or Yamantaka) and Vajrabhairava (the dkar chag counts 180, probably by counting separately some multi-part liturgical works that the Tōhoku catalog treats as a single text), in six subgroups:
II. The 32 works related to the Mañjuśrīnāmasaṃgīti (’jam dpal mtshan yang dag par brjod pa, Toh 2090-2121) elucidated according to Unexcelled Yoga tantra; the dkar chag counts 33. The first 5 works are commentaries, and the remaining 27 (or 28) are liturgical works and other instructions. Note that other works on this tantra are found in the Non-dual tantra subdivision of this Unexcelled Yoga group, in the Yoga tantra section, and in the “Other works on tantra” collections.
III. The 25 works related to Ekajaṭā (bde chen ral gcig, Toh 2122-2146). The dkar chag (which counts 26 works here) mentions that some of these tantras might seem to be better classified as mother tantras, but have been traditionally placed here. It also appears to describe Ekajaṭā as an Unexcelled Yoga form of Avalokiteśvara, and this group of works includes several sādhanas of the various forms of Avalokiteśvara and Hayagrīva as well as works related to Amitāyus.
IV. The 70 works related to Vajrapāṇi (phyag na rdo rje, Toh 2147-2216) elucidated according to Unexcelled Yoga tantra.
Dr. John Canti was a founding member of 84000’s executive committee and editorial team and is now senior editor.
