Kalacakra
Contents
Chronology of the Kalacakratantra
Extant Sanskrit Kalacakra Manuscripts
(after Banerjee, 1985)
|
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) |
Characteristics of the Mss
|
Ms |
Paper |
Script |
Title |
|
C |
Palm leaf Ms |
Middle Bengali |
Shri Kalacakratantra
|
|
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 |
Some Dates
|
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 |
