S. Pakhomov

St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia

E-mail: sarpa68@mail.ru

THE NOTION OF DHARMA IN THE MAHANIRVANA-TANTRA

Abstract. The article analyzes various contexts and meanings of the word dharma in the Mahanirvana-tantra. This late Hindu tantric text (the second half of the 18th century), was written by an author, who had known well both the tantric tradition as a whole, and the Hindu-British law. The concept of dharma plays an important role in this Tantra. It is mentioned here 148 times. Dharma is understood as the universal cosmic law, epoch energy, system of prescriptions, virtue, righteous man, one of the four values of life, as well as the tantric (kaulic) way of life and a part of the tantric sadhana. The text strives to combine the general Indian and tantric interpretations of this term.

Keywords: Nizami, Mahmud Mudhahhib, Simonich (Ivan O.), Riza ‘Abbasi (école), Bukhara (école), Jahangir (atelier), Mir ‘Ali (calligraphe), peinture persane, manuscrit composite

Acknowledgement. The paper is supported by Russian Science Foundation, project No. 16-18-10427.

References

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 Received by the Editorial Board: 02.09.2017