2 INTRODUCTION. The Tantra of which the first edition appears in the following pages bears the designation of Nilatantram. It is so called because it supplies every information in connection with the worship of Nilā Sarasvati. How the goddess of wisdom became Nilā ( blue ) is at length described in the eleventh chapter of this Tantra. It is written in the form of a dialogue in which Mahākālabhairava appears as the speaker and Mahākāli as the hearer. It contains twentyfour chapters. Contents of these are briefly mentioned in the first chapter. The Tantra is evidently later in composition than the Gandharvatantra to which it refers and the Durgāsaptašati etc., from which stanzas borrowed and made its own.
SUMMARY OF CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I
In this the Devi requests Bhairava to reveal the Nilatantra, as promised at the time when the Kālitantra revealed. Bhairava affirms the promise and declares that the Tantra which he is to reveal should be duly preserved and concealed as that leads to many blessings. First he briefly mentions the important topics of the Tantra and then begins description of Tārā in all her forms together with the way in which she is to be worshipped. . The mantra of Nilasarasvati consisting of five syllables reads as ऑं ह्रीं स्त्री हूं फट् . Of this Vasishtha is the sage, Vțahati the metre, Nilasarasvati the deity and the object acquisi- tion of poetic power. Practitioner of the mantra is advised to perform the bathing etc., in the right manner according to both forms Vedic and Tantric. He has to use in so doing particular mantras for particular acts such as फट्, for besmearing the body with
