मृगेन्द्र आगम: विद्या एवं योग पाद (भट्ट नारायणकण्ठ वृत्ति सहित प्राचीनतम कामिक आगम परिशिष्ट)

S'ri Mṛgendra Tantram:
INTRODUCTION.
On the authority of the Tantric Encyclopædia
called Tantrāloka, Tantras are classified under three
heads according to the form of worship and the
view they enunciate of the innermost essence of the
world. They are called S'iva, Rudra and Bhairava—
Shiva standing for those secret writings which ideal-
istically discuss the Reality in the monistic aspect alone;
Rudra for that class which confines itself to the dualistic
interpretation; the last, Bhairava, refers to the class
which has for its object the adoration of the supreme
being monistically as well as dualistically.
The Mṛgendra comes under the category of the
dualistic class called Rudra. The system of Philosophy
discussed in and preached through this Tantram, is
familiar under the name of the Pās'upata system. Like
all kindred Tantras it comprises four sections or pādas—
Vidyā, Kriyā, Charyā and Yoga—and aims at proving
the Un-beginning Trinity of Pashu, Pāsha and Pati.
According to this system the relation between the
creator and the created is that of the sheep and the
shepherd. The created, when divested bare of the
Veils, is not merged in, but becomes an approach
to, the creator. The Lord is immune eternally from
bondage whereas the individual soul is always in fetters
until realisation dawns and the complete unfoldment of
the supremacy of God takes place.
Tradition as preserved in the Āgamas has it that
the Mṛgendra has, as it were, streamed forth from the
upper face of Svacchanda Bhairava. Svacchanda, as we
know, is said metaphorically to possess five faces which
are called Is'āna, Tatpurusha, Ghora, Vāmadeva and
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