Contents

Preface

Introduction

The Khecarīvidyā

The date and place of composition of the text

The witnesses of the text

The KhV manuscripts

The Matsyendrasahitā manuscripts

Manuscript G

Manuscript R2

The Yogakualyupaniad (U) and manuscript T

The Khecarīvidyā: part, whole or wholes?

Editorial policy

Language

Aiśa peculiarities in the text

Metre

The hahayogic khecarīmudrā

Forerunners of the hahayogic khecarīmudrā

The Pali canon

Early Sanskrit texts

Texts of tantric Śaivism

Khecarīmudrā in tantric texts

Why was the hahayogic practice called khecarīmudrā?

Khecarīmudrā in hahayogic texts

Khecarīmudrā in modern India

Practitioners of khecarīmudrā

Sources

Manuscript sources of the Khecarīvidyā

Testimonia

Manuscripts consulted but not collated

Manuscripts not consulted

Ethnographic sources

Conventions in the apparatus

Critical edition of the Khecarīvidyā

The Khecarīvidyā: an annotated translation

Appendices

A. KhV 3.5 5–69 in µ and G

Matsyendrasahitā 16.98–17.1

MS G 259a–274b

B. Matsyendrasahitā paalas 17, 18 and 27

Matsyendrasahitā paala 17

Matsyendrasahitā paala 18

Matsyendrasahitā paala 27

C. Works cited in the Bhatkhecarīprakāśa

Abbreviations

Notes

Bibliography

Pāda index

Index