Understanding Mantras explores the origin, nature, function, and significance of mantras within the bounds of the Hindu tradition. It analyzes the use of mantras in the Vedic age, in the great theistic movements of Saivism and Vaisnavism, and in Tantra. A brief introduction by Alper outlines the major controversies in Western scholarship concerning the nature of mantras and gives an insightful and suggestive paradigm for resolving the issues. The essays provide enlightenment into the Indian mantric tradition, and into Western attempts to understand that tradition. They also discuss the issues surrounding the debate over whether mantras should count as instances of language.
Of immeasurable worth is the comprehensive bibliographical and methodological essay and list contributed by Professor Alper. This essay covers more than 1600 items and situates mantra contextually in Indian history, society, and culture. It approaches a bibliography of all of Hinduism and will serve as an invaluable tool for future research.
Harvey P. Alper was Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Southern Methodist University from 1974 to 1987. As a Sanskritist, his primary interest was the religious traditions of South Asia. He served as editor of the SUNY series on Saiva Traditions of Kashmir. Professor Alper died suddenly on April 4, 1987 after completing the editorial work on the present volume.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Harvey P. Alper
1 Mántra kavisastá : Speech as Performative in the Rgveda
Ellison Banks Findly
2 Vedic Mantras
Frits Staal
3 The Mantra in Vedic and Tantric Ritual
Wade T. Wheelock
4 Mantra in Ayurveda: A Study of the Use of Magico-Religious Speech in Ancient Indian Medicine
Kenneth G. Zysk
5 Are Mantras Speech Acts? The Mimamsa Point of View
John Taber
6 The Meaning and Power of Mantras in Bhartrhari's Vakyapadiya
Harold Coward
7 Mantras in the Sivapurana
Ludo Rocher
8 The Use of Mantra in Yogic Meditation: The Testimony of the Pasupata
Gerhard Oberhammer
9 The Pañcaratra Attitude to Mantra
Sanjukta Gupta
10 The Cosmos as Siva's Language-Game: "Mantra" According to Ksemaraja's Sivasutravimarsini
Harvey P. Alper
Conclusion: Mantras—What Are They?
André Padoux
Notes on the Contributors
Abbreviations Used in this Volume
A Working Bibliography for the Study of Mantras
Harvey P. Alper
