[INDOLOGY] Tantrapāla

[naresh keerthi]

Hello,



I am not sure if there is a ‘traditional’ etymological explanation, but
here is a back of an envelope note.



The older lexicons [ Amara, Halāyudha, Śāśvata etc]. don’t attest these
senses, but Keśavasvāmin and Hemacandra have some relevant entries. I don’t
included later lexicons since their entries are mostly derivative.



*tantraṃ svarāṣṭravyāpāre tantuvāne paricchade* // 25cd //

(Nānārthārṇavasaṃkṣepa_Keśavasvāmin, Dvyakṣarakāṇḍaḥ,
Napuṃsakaliṅgādhyāyaḥ, , 25, 0035)



*tantraṃ svarāṣṭracintā syād āvāpas tv aricintanam* / 715 ab /

(Abhidhānacintāmaṇi_Hemacandra, Martyakāṇḍaḥ,  715, 0030)



*kaṭakaṃ dhvajinī tantraṃ daṇḍo 'nīkaṃ patākinī /*

* varūthinā camūś cakraṃ skandhavāro 'sya tu sthitiḥ* // 746 //

(Abhidhānacintāmaṇi Hemacandra, Martyakāṇḍaḥ, 746, 0031)



*tantraṃ siddhānte rāṣṭre ca paracchandapradhānayoḥ* // 413ab //

(Anekārthasaṅgraha_Hemacandra, Dvisvarakāṇḍaḥ, Dvisvararāntāḥ, , 413, 1)





If tantra has the meaning of bind → control → administrate, as attested in
words such as *svatantra* and *paratantra*, it stands to reason that it
extends to the agent* par excellence* of control and administration i.e.
the state (*rāṣṭre ca*). Similarly, the meanings ‘matters concerning one’s
territory’ i.e. defense (*svarāṣṭracintā, svarāṣṭravyāpāra*), and army
(*kaṭakaṃ
dhvajinī* etc.) seem to be tenable metonyms for *tantra *meaning the
kingdom/state.





Best regards,

Naresh Keerthi

Department of Sanskrit Studies

Ashoka University, New Delhi





---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: Mon, 04 Jul 2022 08:17:20 +0200
Subject: Re: [INDOLOGY] Tantrapāla
Dear Martin,

is the meaning 'army' for tantra (and 'soldier' for tantrin) explainable
on historical or etymological grounds, or is it even explained by
Sanskrit commentators?

Christian
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