Influence of Tantra on the Tattvas of Raghunandana

Summary

Focusing on Raghunandana, a 16th‑century Bengali jurist whose Tattva texts codified Smṛti practices, this essay explores how Tantric rituals permeated late medieval Hindu law. The author contrasts the scope and tone of early Dharmaśāstra Saṃhitās—such as those of Manu and Yājñavalkya—with the later nibandha compilations of Raghunandana. While the Saṃhitās discussed a wide spectrum of duties for the four varṇas, the nibandhas largely omit topics like the four āśramas and the five great sacrifices, instead providing detailed procedures for domestic rites and festivals. Hazra demonstrates that many of these additions derive from Śākta and Tāntric sources: the worship of Kālī, Durgā and other goddesses receives elaborate treatment; rites involving animal sacrifice and wine, once excluded from orthodox Smṛti, are regularised; and esoteric observances from texts like the Kālīkula Tantras become part of mainstream ritual manuals. Through textual comparisons, he shows that Raghunandana frequently cites Tāntric authorities, sometimes preferring them over Vedic injunctions. The article argues that this shift reflects wider religious trends in Bengal, where Śākta devotion was flourishing and interacting with Vaiṣṇava and Smārta traditions. By codifying Tantric elements within legal commentaries, Raghunandana helped legitimise practices that were previously marginal.