Book Description

The Kubjikāmatatantra in its Kulālikāmnāya version represents the primary literary source for the cult of the Hindu goddess Kubjikā. Three out of its twenty-five chapters, that is chapters 14-16, are devoted to a discussion of five cakras forming a system hitherto unknown. These five cakras are the seat of a great number of goddesses - called the Devīs, the Dūtīs, the Mātṛs, the Yoginīs and the Khecarīs, respectively - and, to a lesser degree, of male deities as well. Heilijgers’ study presents a detailed examination of the esoteric doctrine concerning these cakras. After an introduction and a chapter on some general features of the flve cakras, each of the next five chapters deals with one separate cakra, discussing its presiding deities, its location in the human body and its symbolism. The second part contains the Sanskrit text of chapters 14-16 of the Kubjikāmatatantra, the annotated translation of these chapters and some appendices. The book offers a valuable contribution to a more thorough understanding of and insight into the Kubjikā doctrine, which occupies an important position within the Śakta oriented Hindu Tantric tradition.