Isänsivaguru-The Author 11 मार्कण्डेयनिबन्धन मयमतं रत्नावलि भास्कर- प्रोक्तं काश्यपविश्वकर्मगुरुदेवोक्तञ्च पञ्चाशिकाम् | सव्याख्यां हरिसंहिता विवरणाद्यं वास्तुविद्यादिकं दृष्ट्वा तन्त्रसमुच्चयोक्तमनुसृत्यैवात्र संक्षिप्यते ॥ There is no doubt that the work has influenced later writers directly or indirectly. But this monumental treatise became out of circulation since more simple works were available for practi- cal purposes. It is an undisputed fact that the Tantrapaddhati of Tsanasivaguru is one of the first comprehensive treatises on Tantra literature. ISANASIVA GURU The Author Mahamahopadhyaya Dr. T. Ganapati Sastri who edited the work Isänasivagurudeva paddhati for the first time deserves the gratitude of the world of scholars for bringing out this sub- stantial contribution of Kerala to Tantric literature. The author of the monumental treatise is mentioned as Işanagurudeva Miśra, a high souled personage who attained all the mantric powers. According to the editor the suffix Miśra suggests that the author might be a native of Mithila or any of the adjoining countries. The suffix Misra is found added to the name of the author in the colophon at the end of of the first Patala as follows: इति श्रीमदीशानशिवगुरुदेवमिश्रविरचिते तन्त्रसारपद्धतौ वस्तुनिर्देशमातू- कोत्पत्तिनिर्णयो नाम प्रथमः पटलः । In the preface to the second volume of the publication Ganapati Sastri quotes Haraprasada Sastri's views on the date and identity of Isanasivaguru. The author of the tretise, it is said belonged to the Mattamayur line of Saiva saints of Dhārā. The Trivandrum editor holds the view that the author of the Tantric treatise lived earlier to Bhoja. In other words he is of the opinion that even though manuscripts of the works were
