पृष्ठम्:ईशानशिवगुरुदेवपद्धतिः (प्रथमः भागः).djvu/१३१

PREFACE, Tantrapaddhati is a collection of subjects dealt with in various Tantric works. It is also called Isanasivaguru- devapaddhati as it was written by Isanasivagurudeva-misra. It is divided into four parts namely, Samanyapada, Mantra- pada Kriyāpādā and Yogapida; of these the first two form Purvärdha or the former half and the other two Uttarardha or the latter half. The subjects dealt with in this work are the hymns belonging to various deities; the Japa, Homa and other rites attending on them; the means of their attainments; their ap- plication for averting the evil effects of poison, malicious planets and diseases; the use of medicines; the properties of medicinal herbs; the science of magics; the construction of temples, Vimanas, consecration, worship and festivals of the deities in temples; and many other kindred matters. The treatment of these subjects is so elaborate that the work amounts to about 18,000 slokas of various metres. From the merit of the work, it is possible to infer that the author Isänasivagurudeva-Misra was a high-souled personage who attained all the mantric powers. The suffix misra to his name shows that he might be a native of Mithilâ or of any of the adjoining countries. He is posterior to Bhoja whom he often cites as authority.. I have dealt with the date of Bhojadeva in his Tattvaprakasa, (already publish- ed as No. 68 of the Trivandrum Sanskrit Series). I intend to publish this voluminous work in three parts, and the first part consisting of the Samanyapāda is now offered to the public, where subjects common to all other pādas are dealt with. The edition is based on the following three manus- cripts:- 1. (क) Belonging to the Palace Library, beginning with the 14th Patala up to the end of Mantra Päda.