The Garland of Letters

Contents: Preface. 1. Vak or the word. 2. Artha, pratyaya and Sabda. 3. Asabda and parasabda. 4. Parasabda, causal sabda. 5. Sakti as stress. 6. Eternality of sabda. 7. Sabda as language. 8. Natural name. 9. Vaidika - sabda. 10. The tattvas. 11. Sakti - potency to create. 12. Nada - the first produced movement. 13. Bindu or sakti - ready to create. 14. Maya tattva. 15. The Kancukas. 16. Hamsa. 17. Kamakala. 18. The gross tattvas and their lords. 19. Causal saktis of the Pranava. 20. The Kalas. 21. The garland of letters or varnamala. 22. Om. 23. The necklace of Kali. 24. Dhvani. 25. Sun, moon and fire. 26. Bija-Mantra. 27. Sadadhvas. 28. Mantra-Sadhana. 29. Gayatri-Mantra. 30. The Gayatri-Mantra as an exercise of reasoning. 31. Atma-Sadhana.

"This book is, as the sub-title states, a collection of studies in, or essays upon, particular subjects in the Mantra-Sastra, a term, which is commonly applied to the Tantra-Sastra. it is practically composed of two parts. After chapter 1, which deals with the "word", chapters 2-9 treat of the principles of the general doctrine of Sabda. Chapters 10-21 are elucidations of some subjects in the Tantra-Sastra which adopt the Mimamsa doctrine of Sabda with some modifications to meet its doctrine of Sakti. Chapters 12, 28 and 29 deal with the Mantras "Om" and the Gayatri. An understanding of such terms as Sakti, Nada, Bindu, the causal Saktis of the Pranava, Bijamantras and so forth, is essential for those who would understand the Sastra in which they appear hitherto knowledge of these matters has been confined (where it exists at all) to the Gurus and Sadhakas. This does not mean that my information has been gathered from oral sources only. On the contrary, the substance of it may be found in the Tantras. These are however generally unknown. The definitions must be sought for in many Sastras. When found they must be explained by the aid of general Sastric knowledge and of Upasakas who possess the tradition." (jacket)