Rare Buddhist Texts Research Unit

The Rare Buddhist Texts Research Unit (hereafter RBTRU) is mainly devoted to bringing out the critical editions of hitherto unpublished Buddhist Tantric Texts on the basis of Sanskrit manuscripts written in ancient scripts such as Newari (with its varieties such as Bhujimol, Pachumol etc.), Ranjana, Kutila, Vartula, Magadhi, ancient Devanagari, ancient Bangla, Maithili and so on. The founder and the first Director of this Unit was the (Late) Prof. Jagannath Upadhyaya, doyen of Buddhist Studies. While critically editing the Sanskrit texts, the manuscripts are collated and the Sanskrit texts are carefully compared with and supplemented by the critical editions of their classical Tibetan translations available in as many as four versions of Kagyur and Tangyur. Besides, the Unit publishes a research journal entitled Dhih, devoted to the Buddhist Tantric Studies. So far, 44 volumes of this journal have been published. RBTRU regularly conducts surveys of Sanskrit manuscripts and procures copies of the same for the purpose of editing the texts. RBTRU perhaps possesses the richest collection of copies of manuscripts of Buddhist Tantric texts, procured from Kathmandu (Nepal), Kolkata, Baroda and other places in India as well as other countries. RBTRU also organises seminars and workshops for a meaningful interaction with scholars in the field.

Publications

The work of editing and publishing Buddhist Sanskrit Tantric texts began even before the formal inception of RBTRU. Prof. Jagannath Upadhyaya, the founder and the first Project Director of RBTRU (formerly called "Rare Buddhist Texts Research Project") undertook a special research project of critically editing the Vimalaprabha, the encyclopaedic commentary on the celebrated "Kalacakra Tantra", for the first time. The first volume of the text edited by him was released in December 1985, at the hands of H. H. the Dalai Lama, on the auspicious occasion of the Kalacakra Initiation Ceremony held at Bodh Gaya. After the sad and sudden demise of Prof. Upadhyaya, the remaining text was edited and published in two more volumes by RBTRU. The first volume, which is included separately in the list of publications of the University (Bibliotheca Indo-Tibetica Series No. XI), has been out of print for quite a long time. A new revised critical edition of the entire text, along with a critical edition of its Tibetan translation is underway. (See below, Section 4: Work in Progress). In a short span of time, RBTRU has critically edited and published a number of Buddhist Tantric texts, in original Sanskrit, with their Tibetan translations under the Rare Buddhist Texts Research Series.

Major Texts

1. Jnanodayatantram (Skt.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1988
   

2. Vasantatilaka with Rahasyadipika Comm. (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1990

3. Dakinijalasamvararahasya (Skt.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1990
   
   
4. Krishnayamaritantra with Ratnavali Comm. (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1992
   
   
5. Mahamayatantra with Gunavati Comm. (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1992
   
   
6. Abhisamayamanjari of Shubhakaragupta (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1993
   
   
7. Vimalaprabha Comm. on the Kalachakra Tantra, Vol. I (Skt. ), ed. by V. V. Dwivedi and S. S. Bahulkar, 1994
   
   
8. Vimalaprabha Comm. on the Kalachakra Tantra, Vol. II (Skt. ), ed. by V. V. Dwivedi and S. S. Bahulkar, 1994
   
   
9. Sutratantrodbhavah Katipaya-Dharanimantrah (Skt. and Tib.), Transliterated and ed. by Thinley Ram Shashni, 1997
   
   
10. Adhyatmasarashataka with Commentary (Sanskrit), ed. by J. Pandey, 1997
    
    
11. Siddhaikaviramahatantra (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by J. Pandey, 1998
    
    
12. Yoginisancaratantra with explanation and Comm. (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by J. Pandey, 1998
    
    
13. Caryamelapakapradipa by Aryadeva (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by J. Pandey, 2000
    
    
14. Tattvajnanasamsiddhi with Marmakalika Comm. (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by J. Pandey, 2000
    
    
15. Kurukullakalpa (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by J. Pandey, 2001
    
    
16. Shricakrasamvaratantra with Bhavabhatta's Comm. (Skt. and Tib.), Vols. I & I, ed. by J. Pandey, 2002

Minor Texts

1. Guhyadi-ashta-siddhi Samgraha (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by S. Rinpoche and V. V. Dwivedi, 1988. This includes following 8 minor texts:
   1. Guhyasiddhi of Padmavajra
      
   2. Prajnopayavinishcayasiddhi of Anangavajra
      
   3. Jnanasiddhi of Indrabhuti  
      
   4. Advayasiddhi of Lakshminkara
      
   5. Vyaktabhavanugatatattvasiddhi of Yoginicinta
      
   6. Sahajasiddhi of Dombiheruka
      
   7. Acintyadvayakramopadesha of Kuddalapada  
      
   8. Advyavivarana-prajnopayavinishcayasiddhi of Padmavajra.
      
      
2. Bauddha Laghugrantha Samgraha (Skt. and Tib.), ed. by J. Pandey, 1997. This includes following 11 minor texts:  
   1. Ashtasahasrikaprajnaparamitapindartha (navashloki) with Comm. (Skt. and Tib.)  
      
   2. Kriyasamgraha (Skt. and Tib.)
      
   3. Gurupancashika of Ashvaghosha (Skt. and Tib.)  
      
   4. Guhyavajravilasinisadhana of Shabarapada
      
   5. Guhyavali of Daudipada  
      
   6. Tattvaratnavaloka with Comm. by Vagishvarakirti (Skt. and Tib.)
      
   7. Nanasiddhopadesha  
      
   8. Pancakara
      
   9. Pancakarabhisambodhi  
      
   10. Yogavatara of Nagarjuna (Skt. and Tib.)
       
   11. Svadhisthanaprabheda of Aryadeva (Skt. and Tib.)
       
       
3. The following minor texts have been published in various issues of Dhih
   1. Amanasikarakrama – Dhih 10, 1990.
      
   2. Cakrasamvaramandalapujavidhi – Dhih 24, 1997.
      
   3. Kalacakrabhagavatsadhana – Dhih 24, 1997
      
   4. Kalacakrapujavidhi – Dhih 25, 1998.
      
   5. Dakinijalacakravartisamvararahasya nama sadhana – Dhih 26,1998.
      
   6. Sekoddesha – Dhih 28, 1999.
      
   7. Aryamahapratisara Vidyaraj~ni – Dhih 28, 1999.
      
   8. Herukadyavajravarahiparamarahasya – Dhih 27, 1999.
      
   9. Dohakosha Tika – Dhih 32, 2001.
      
   10. Aryasarvatathagatoshnishasitatapatra nama aparajitapratyangiravidyarajni Dhih 33, 2002.
       
   11. Nityakramapujavidhi – Dhih 33, 2002.
       
   12. Mandalasadhanavidhi – Dhih 34, 2002.
       
   13. Samyaksambuddhabhashita-pratimalakshana – Dhih 35, 2003.
       
   14. Atreyatilakam – Dhih 35, 2003. 1
       
   15. Hevajrasadhanopayika – Dhih 36, 2003.
       
   16. Cakrasamvarasamadhi – Dhih 36, 2003.
       
   17. Herukabhyudayamahayoginitantrasya Katipaya aksharapanjika – Dhih 37, 2004.
       
   18. Aryamoghapashahridaya – Dhih 38, 2004.
       
   19. Shricakrasamvarapancakrama Ghantapadasya – Dhih 39, 2005
       
   20. Aryagrahamatrikanamadharani – Dhih 39, 2005
       
   21. Shriguhyasamajamandalavidhi – Dhih 42, 2006
       
   22. Aryamaricinamadharani – Dhih 42, 2006
       
   23. Shrivajrabhairavamahayogatantra (Patalas I-II) – Dhih 43, 2007
       
   24. Shribuddhakapalamahatantra (Incomplete) – Dhih 43, 2007
       
   25. Vasudharadharanisutra – Dhih 44, 2007

Dictionaries, Glossaries and other related works

1. Sampadana ke Siddhanta aur Upadana (Proc. of Seminar), ed. by V. V. Dwivedi, 1990
   
2. Lupta Bauddha Vacana Samgraha, Vol. I, V. V. and Banarasi Lal, 1990
   
3. Bauddha Tantra Kosha, Vol. I, V. V. Dwivedi and T. R. Shashni, 1990
   
4. Durlabha Grantha Paricaya, Part I, J. Pandey, 1990
   
5. Durlabha Granthon ki Adhara Samagri, Vol. I, Thakursain Negi, 1990
   
6. Bharatiya Tantrashastra (Proc. of Seminar), ed. by V. V. Dwivedi and S. S. Bahulkar, 1995
   
7. Bauddha Tantrakosha, Vol. I, T. R. Shashni, 1997
   
8. Durlabha Grantha Paricaya, Part I, J. Pandey, 1997
   
9. Durlabha Granthon ki Adhara Samagri, Vol. I, Thakursain Negi, 1997
   
10. Lupta Bauddha Vacana Samgraha, Vol. I, Banarasi Lal, 2001.
    
11. Durlabha Granthon ki Adhara Samagri, Vol. II, Thakursain Negi, 2004
    
12. Buddhist Tantric Literature, Vol. I, Banarasi Lal, 2005
    
13. Bauddha Tantra Kosha, Vol. II, T. R. Shashni, 2007