Studies in Mantra Sastra Varnamala : The Garland of Letters

Contents: 1. Vak or the Word. 2. Artha, Pratyaya and Shabda. 3.Shabda and Parashabda. 4 Parashabda. Causal Shabda. 5. Shakti as Stress. 6. Eternality of Shabda. 7.Shabda as language. 8. Natural Name. 9. Vaidika Shabda. 10. The Tattvas. 11. Shakti, Potency to Create. 12 Nida, the First Produced Movement. 13 Bindu or Shakti Ready to Create. 14. Maya Tattva. 15. The Kanchukas. 16. Hangsa. 17. Kama-kala. 18. The Gross Tattvas and their Lords. 19 Causal Shaktis 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. Shad-Adhvas. 28. Mantra·sadhana. 29. Gayatrl Mantra. 30. The Gayatri Mantra as an exercise, of Reasoning. 31. Atma-Sadhana.

This book is an attempt made for the first time to explain the  intricacies of Mantra Sastra. The Mantra sastra is worthy of a close  study which when undertaken, will disclose elements of value to minds, free from superstition of metaphysical bent and subtle seeing - sookshma darsana. A prfound doctrine, ingeneously though gaurdedly set forth, is contained in the Tantras of the Mantra Sastra, or Agama. The Basal principles are as old as the Upanishads which proclaimed that all was Chit (consciousness). This book is a collection of Essays upon particular subjects in the Mantra sastra , a term which is commonly applied to the Tantra Sastra.

The Book is practically  composed of two parts. The chapter one deals with the Word,  chapters 2-9  treat the Principles of general doctrine of Sabda. Chapters 10-21 are elucidations of some subject in Tantra sastra which adopts the Mimasa doctrine of Shabda and some modifications to meet its doctrine of Shakti. Chapters,22,28,29 deal with the Mntra OM and Gayatri. The other chapters brings an understanding of the such terms as Shakti, Sabda, Bindu the causal Shaktis of the Pranava, Bija Mantras and so forth. These are essential to the understanding of the Mantra sastra. The chapters of Gayatri and Mantra sadhana elucidates the intricaciesof the Tantras and Tantrik rituals. The introduction in this chapter gives the fuller account of the Atmasadhana and its importance.

An essential book to understand the basic principles of Mantra and as applied to Tantra. (jacket)