Feeding the Enemy to the Goddess: War Magic in Śaiva Tantric Texts

This article deals with the war magic as described in Sanskrit Śaiva tantric texts written between 5th and 12th Century A.D. period marks a shift from invocation of Aghora/Bhairava main war-helping god to rituals invoking terrible goddesses, mātṛkās, yoginīs. At same time, religious specialists were invited exchange their magical knowledge for kings’ patronage such contexts war, drought, epidemics such. The original presupposition was that related shall be most violent transgressive initiated, compared purāṇas broader public, “mixed” literature (that is one by initiated kings). However, this contradicted text-based evidence, it proposes rituals, while whole subject happened minor importance literature. war-prayogas included attract attention kings, but aim internal ritual use. explanation contradiction based on fact somewhere 10th century, working kings actually duped them into performing war-magic real intent those procedures calling yoginīs order achieve higher state practice himself. includes materials Jayadrathayāmala Ṣaṭsāhasrasaṃhitā edited translated first time.