Mandalas and Yantras in the Hindu Tradition

In recent years mandalas have attracted much interest among a wider public. The main focus of such interest has been directed toward Tibetan mandalas, specimens of which have been included in numerous publications. But mandalas are found across a wide spectrum of South Asian religious traditions, including those of the Hindus and Jains. Hindu mandalas and yantras have hardly been researched. This book attempts to fill this gap by clarifying important aspects of mandalas and yantras in specic Hindu traditions through investigations by renowned specialists in the field. Its chapters explore mandalas and yantras in the Smārta, Pāñcarātra, Śaiva and Śākta traditions. An essay on the vāstupurusamandala and its relationship to architecture is also included. About the Author Gudrun Bühnemann, Dr. phil. (1980), University of Vienna, is a Professor at the Department of Languages and Cultures of Asia, The University of Wisconsin-Madison, Publications include The Iconography of Hindu Tantric Deities (2 volumes).