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
(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
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
