Robert Czyżykowski

Studies on Tantra in Bengal and Eastern India. Ed. Madhu Khanna, Singapore: Springer 2022. pp. 188. ISBN 978-981-19-3022-5 (eBook) —Reviewed by Robert Czyżykowski (Jagiellonian University, Cracow, Poland)

Introduction

Studies on tantra in bengal and eastern india. Ed. Madhu khanna, singapore: springer 2022. Pp. 188. Isbn 978-981-19-3022-5 (ebook) —reviewed by robert czyżykowski (jagiellonian university, cracow, poland). Explore comprehensive studies on Tantra, its practices, and traditions across Bengal and Eastern India. Insights from a key edited volume.

Abstract

Review

The reviewed volume, *Studies on Tantra in Bengal and Eastern India*, edited by Madhu Khanna and published by Springer in 2022, immediately signals a focus on a fascinating and complex area of religious and cultural history. The geographic scope, encompassing Bengal and Eastern India, is particularly pertinent given the region's historical prominence as a hotbed of Tantric traditions, often characterized by unique philosophical developments, ritual practices, and artistic expressions. The editor, Madhu Khanna, is a recognized scholar in the field, suggesting that the collection likely benefits from her expertise in curating contributions on this specialized subject. As a Springer publication, the book is positioned within an academic context, aiming to contribute to scholarly discourse. However, a comprehensive assessment of this volume is significantly hampered by the absence of its abstract. Without this crucial introductory text, it is impossible to ascertain the specific aims, methodologies, or key arguments presented within the 188 pages. One cannot determine whether the book offers new textual analyses, historical surveys, ethnographic studies, or theoretical reinterpretations of Tantric phenomena. Key questions such as the specific Tantric traditions covered, the chronological span of the studies, the scholarly approaches employed by the contributors, or the volume's unique contribution to existing literature remain unanswered. This lack of detail precludes any judgment on the coherence of its chapters (if it is an edited collection), the depth of its analysis, or its intended scholarly impact. Despite these limitations, the book's title alone indicates a significant and timely subject for academic inquiry. Researchers specializing in South Asian religions, particularly those with an interest in Tantra, regional religious history, and the cultural landscape of Bengal and Eastern India, would undoubtedly find the general topic highly relevant. While the promise of the title is strong, a definitive recommendation regarding the volume's scholarly merit, its target audience, or its specific contributions to the field cannot be made without access to its substantive content, or at minimum, a detailed abstract outlining its scope and principal findings.

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