The Tantra of Sri-Chakra (Bhavanopanishat)

The tantric texts which are influenced by the Atharvana Veda speak of ten vidyas or cultic goddesses whose worship is recommended for health and happiness in this world and for liberation from rebirth. The ten vidyas are classified into three groups, maha-vidyas or extraordinary vidyas, vidyas or ordinary vidyas and siddha-vidyas or adept vidyas which are very arduous. The first among the ordinary vidyas is Shodasi vidya or Sri-vidya.

The Sri-chakra is the representation of the Sri-vidya. It is the chief instrument through which the mother goddess is propitiated. This book explains in great detail the symbolism behind the Sri chakra, the rituals involved in the worship of Sri-chakra and the textual background going back to the Vedas. The source materials have also been given.

Vidyalankara, Sastra-Chudamini, Sangita-Kalaratna, Professor Saligrama Krishna Ramachandra Rao, was a well-known scholar who had combined traditional learning with modern research. Well versed in Sanskrit, Pali Ardhmagadhi and several modern Indian languages and acquainted with Tibetan and some European languages, he had written extensively on Vedanta, Buddhism, Janism, Indian Culture, Art and Literature.

He had written more than Sixty Books in Kannada, a Play in Sanskrit, and a Pali Commentary on a Buddhist classic. One of his books on Iconography in Kannada has won the State Sahitya Academy Award, as also another of his Book on the Tirupati Temple.

Some of the books he had authored are-Encyclopaedia of Indian Iconography, Agama Encyclopaedia, Lalita Kosha, Sri Vidya Kosha, Tantric Practices in Sri Vidya, Sri Cakras, Yantra.

New Preface to This Edition

The Tantric texts which are influenced by the Atharvana Veda speak of ten vidyas or cultic goddesses whose worship is recommended for health and happiness in this world and for liberation from rebirth. The ten vidyas are classified into three groups, maha-vidyas or extraordinary vidyas, vidyas or ordinary vidyas and siddha-vidyas or adept vidyas which are very arduous. The first among the ordinary vidyas is Shodasi vidya or Sri-vidya.

The Sri-Chakra is the representation of the Sri-vidya. It is the chief instrument through which the mother goddess is propitiated. This book by the renowned scholar Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao explains in great detail the symbolism behind the Sri-chakra, the rituals involved in the worship of Sri-chakra and the textual background going back to the Vedas. The source materials have also been given.

This book was first published by the Sharada Prakashana, Bangalore in 1983. The Prof. S.K. Ramachandra Rao Memorial Trust(R) which was formed by the family members of Prof. S.K.R. Rao after his demise is involved in reprinting all the books of Prof. Rao which are out of print. The Trust is grateful to Shri Sunil Gupta of Indian Books Centre for coming forward to reprint this book.