Ms

Description

C

Cambridge University Manuscript (1)

L

Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland (2)

P & P¹

K.P. Jayswal Research Institute (Patna) (3 & 4)

V

Vishva-Bharati (5)

Ms

Paper

Script

Title

C

Palm leaf Ms

Middle Bengali

Shri Kalacakratantra
(copied in 1446 in Maghada)

L

Palm leaf Ms

Old Bengali

Shri Kalacakratantra

P¹

Palm leaf Ms

Old Bengali

Shri Mahakalacakra

P

Palm leaf Ms

Old Bengali (smaller)

Shri Mahakalacakra

V

Handmade paper

Nagari

Shri Kalacakratantra

Date

Event

-621

Birth of Gautama acc. to Singhalese Chron. (HPB in Theosophical Glossary, p.65)

-560

Birth of the historical Buddha Gautama (death -480) (acc. to 14th Dalai Lama)

-480

K. Mulatantra preached by the Buddha in his 80th year, preserved in Shambala

-480

Death of Gautama

-479

K. Mulatantra, 12000 verses, expounded at the request of Suchandra, king of Shambala, emanation of Vajrapani (date: 1 yr after preaching of K.) Suchandra himself is said to have written a commentary of 60000 verses on the K. Mulatantra.

-529

Enlightenment of the Buddha at his 35th year (Thurman)

600 (ca.)

First palm leaf scriptures

617-698

King Songtsen Gampo: design of Tibetan script

624

Moslem invasion in India

627

Manjushrikirti, 8th king of Shambala, 1st Kulika, composes the K. Laghutantra (should be 800 yrs after Suchandra) (Csoma: comp. Gr. Epiphanes) Also called Yashas or Yasoraja.

700 (ca.)

First appearance of Nagari script

727

Pundarika, 2nd Kulika, composes Vimalaprabha, 12000 verses, being a commentary on the K. Laghutantra

966

Chilupa's return to India from Shambala, taking with him K. and Pundarika's Vimalaprabha. Start of spread of K. in India, Name also spelled Tsi Lu Pa, or Tilopa, probably id. with Kalachakrapada. (should be 800 yrs after the reign of Pundarika)

974-1026

King Mahipala of Bengal: effective spread of K. in India

?-1027

Naropa (student of Chilupa (Tilopa), abbot of Nalanda in Magadha, Bihar, in Skt. called Nadapada, or lesser Kalachakrapada), writes commentary to K. (Mulatantra?) initiation section, called Sekoddeshatika. Naropa got his K. initiation from the first K. master in India.

1012-1096

Marpa, student of Naropa

1026

Introduction of K. into Tibet (60 yrs after Chilupa's return, on which sources seem to agree)

First translation into Tibetan by Gyi Jo, student of Bhadrabodhi, (in turn) student of Chilupa

Somanatha fr. Kashmir, student of Naropa, with Shes rab grags, translated Pundarika's Vimalaprabha into Tibetan -> Dro tradition ('Bro)

1027

Start of 60 year time cycles of K. (Introduction of K. into Tibet)

1040-1123

Milarepa, student of Marpa -> Kagyu order (alt. 1025-1135)

1042

Atisha in Tibet:introduction of K. alt.

11th-12th c.

Last Buddhist strongholds in Northern India

1200 (ca.)

First appearance of Bengali script

P¹ Ms in Old Bengali script

P Ms in Old Bengali script (smaller)

L Ms in Old Bengali script

1290-1364

Budon (composition of Tib. Canon, various K. commentaries), part of Ra tradition (Rva)

1292-1361

Dolpopa: Jonangpa teachings based on K.

1357-1419

Tsongkhapa: K. initiate, various commentaries

1385-1438

Kedrup Je: commentaries

1442

Inscription in Burma: Mahakalacakka and Mahakalacakkatika <- K. known in Upper Burma

1446

C Ms colophon date (Middle Bengali script)

V Ms in Nagari script

1966

D Delhi Edition Raghuvira and Lokesh Chandra (Skt./Tib./Mong.)

1985

Critical Ed. Banerjee, based on CLPV Mss & D Ed.

2327

Start of the reign of the last, 25th, Kulika

2425

End of present timecircle