Dhāraṇī Texts from the Mongolian Kangyur: a Case Study of The Dhāraṇī Titled ‘Heart-Essence [of the Holy One Possessing] Limitless Life and Knowledge

The article deals with dhāraṇī texts included in the 108-volume Mongolian-language Kangyur. A xylographic edition of the Mongolian Kangyur was delivered from expeditions to China by the Indian scientist Raghuvira, and subsequently used for reprint in the Śata-Piṭaka Series by Lokesh Chandra. A copy of this 108-volume serial publication was purchased through Buryat monasteries by the Kalmyk Gelong Tugmyud Gavji (O. M. Dordzhiev, 1887‒1980), and now constitutes a valuable part of the collection of old written sources at the Scientific Archive of Kalmyk Scientific Center (RAS). Analysis of tables of contents that precede each volume of the L. Chandra edition, and that of texts included show that dhāraṇī (Sanskrit dhāraṇī, Tib. Gzungs ‘spell’, Mong. tarni, toγtaγal ‘tarni, darani, magic formulas’) texts can be traced in a number of volumes and, respectively, in different sections, mainly in ones titled Dandr-a (‘Tantra’) and Eldeb (‘Collection of Sutras’). So, some volumes include single texts and others cluster them in single blocks (selections). The Dhāraṇī Titled ‘Heart-Essence [of the Holy One Possessing] Limitless Life and Knowledge’ is one such dhāraṇī text from Volume 23 transliterated and translated (with comments) in this work. Goals. The article examines available materials and provides an overview of dhāraṇī works within the Mongolian Kangyur, presents a translation of one notable dhāraṇī. Materials and Methods. The study gains comparative textual and structural insights into the Lokesh Chandra edition of the Kangyur and compares it to other editions, seeking to identify specific compositional features of various publications and reasons underlying the latter. Results and Conclusions. History of Mongolian Kangyur compilations – the compendium at large and its individual texts – is very complicated and requires further research.

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