Dr Gansten.<div><br></div><div>&nbsp;As far as I am aware of the etymology of the word "Tantra" , it&nbsp; 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.</div><div>Regards.</div><div><br></div><div>Alakendu Das.<br>Sent from RediffmailNG on Android<br><br><br><br><br>From: Martin Gansten via INDOLOGY &lt;indology@list.indology.info&gt;<br>Sent: Sun, 3 Jul 2022 13:10:30 GMT+0530<br>To: "indology@list.indology.info" &lt;indology@list.indology.info&gt;<br>Subject: [INDOLOGY] Tantrapāla<br><br>
  

    
   
  
    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:<br>
    <br>
    kasya samīpe candro ravimuthaśilage nṛpatipārśve |<br>
    śaninā ca muthaśile ’smin nīcānām ijyamuthaśile ca satām ||<br>
    śukreṇa ca yuvatīnāṃ jñena vyavahāripaṇḍitānāṃ ca |<br>
    bhaumena &lt;ca&gt; śatrūṇāṃ krūreśānāṃ ca tantrapālānām ||<br>
    <br>
    'In whose company is the moon? If it forms a <i>muthaśila </i>[Ar.
    <i>muttaṣil</i>, applying aspect] with the sun, [the querent
    travels] at the side of the king; if it has a <i>muthaśila </i>with
    Saturn, [at the side] of low people, and if a <i>muthaśila </i>with
    Jupiter, of good people; with Venus, of women; with Mercury, with
    merchants and scholars; with Mars, of his enemies, cruel lords and <i>tantrapālas</i>.'<br>
    <br>
    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'.<br>
    <br>
    Thanks in advance for any thoughts,<br>
    <br>
    Martin Gansten<br>
    <br>
   
 
<br>
_______________________________________________<br>
INDOLOGY mailing list<br>
INDOLOGY@list.indology.info<br>
<a href="https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology==" target="_blank">https://list.indology.info/mailman/listinfo/indology</a><br>
</div><br>