[INDOLOGY] Tantrapāla

[alakendu das]

Dr Gansten.
 As far as I am aware of the etymology of the word "Tantra" , it  implies a set of guidelines/rules. If this connotation of "Tantra" is prefixed before "Pala" in TantraPala , it means the Chief Authority administering a set of rules/ guidelines,. similar to "NagarPala", which is equivalent to City Governor.Regards.
Alakendu Das.
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From: Martin Gansten via INDOLOGY <indology at list.indology.info>
Sent: Sun, 3 Jul 2022 13:10:30 GMT+0530
To: "indology at list.indology.info" <indology at list.indology.info>
Subject: [INDOLOGY] Tantrapāla


  

    
   
  
    I wonder if anyone knowledgeable about (north)western India around
    the 13th century might have an idea about how the epithet tantrapāla
    should be understood in that context? I am looking at these two
    verses from an astrological text:

    

    kasya samīpe candro ravimuthaśilage nṛpatipārśve |

    śaninā ca muthaśile ’smin nīcānām ijyamuthaśile ca satām ||

    śukreṇa ca yuvatīnāṃ jñena vyavahāripaṇḍitānāṃ ca |

    bhaumena <ca> śatrūṇāṃ krūreśānāṃ ca tantrapālānām ||

    

    'In whose company is the moon? If it forms a muthaśila [Ar.
    muttaṣil, applying aspect] with the sun, [the querent
    travels] at the side of the king; if it has a muthaśila with
    Saturn, [at the side] of low people, and if a muthaśila with
    Jupiter, of good people; with Venus, of women; with Mercury, with
    merchants and scholars; with Mars, of his enemies, cruel lords and tantrapālas.'

    

    The standard dictionaries failling me, I did a simple web search,
    which turned up some suggestions; but the present context seems to
    call for something more warlike, violent and/or sinister than just
    'high official' or 'secretary of council'.

    

    Thanks in advance for any thoughts,

    

    Martin Gansten

    

   
 


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