Origins & Early history of Sri Vidya

                 Vamakeshvara Tantra has unique position among Hindu Tantras . This tantra is considered as most important   65th Tantra by likes of  Sri Bhaskarraya Makhin , famous tantrik and writer of many books on Sri Vidya from 18th century . 

चतुःषष्टया तन्त्रैः सकलमतिसंधाय भुवनं

स्थितस्तत्तत्सिद्धिप्रसवपरतन्त्रैः पशुपतिः।

पुनस्त्वन्निबन्धादखिलपुरुषार्थैकघटना

स्वतन्त्रं ते तंत्रं क्षितितलमवातीतरदिदम् ॥ ३१ ॥ 

--- सौंदर्यलहरी

Before Sri Vidya teachings arrived on the land of bharata , there were already sixty four tantras practiced by various sects . These tantras though taught by Adi Nath of Uddiyana , consist mainly black magic spells and various prayoga material for material siddhis . There are many lists of these 64 tantras given in later tantras or in Saundaryalahari commentary by Laxmidhara ( 15th century ) . One such list is found in Vamakeshvara Tantra itself ..

64 तंत्र ग्रंथोकी यादी List of 64 Tantras 

चतुष्पष्टिश्च तन्त्राणि मातृणामुत्तमानि च ।

महामायाशम्बरं च योगिनीजालशम्बरम् ।।

तत्वशम्बरकं चैव भैरवाष्टकमेव च ।

बहुरूपाष्टकं चैव यामलाष्टकमेव च ॥

चन्द्रज्ञानं मालिनी च महासम्मोहनं तथा।

वामजुष्टं महादेवं वातुलं वातुलोत्तरम् ॥

हृद्भेदं तन्त्रभेदं च गुह्यतन्त्रं च कामिकम् ।

कलावादं कलासारं तथान्यत् कुण्डिकामतम् ॥

मतोत्तरं च वीणाख्यं त्रोतलं त्रोतलोत्तरम् ।

पञ्चामृतं रूपभेदं भूतोडामरमेव च ॥

कुलसारं कुलोड्डीश कुलचूडामणिस्तथा ।

सर्वज्ञानोत्तरं चैव महाकाळीमतं तथा ॥

अरुणेशं 'मोदिनीशं विकुण्ठेश्वरमेव च ।

पूर्वपश्चिमदक्षं च उत्तरं च निरुत्तरम् ॥

विमलं विमलोत्थं च देवीमतमतःपरम् ॥

Existing Vamakeshvara Tantra is not complete . It has eight hundred verses plus some scattered portions like khadgamala mantras & sahasranama stotras . Eight hundred verses are divided into two parts Nityashodashikarnava and Yogini Hridaya . First part is also called Chatushati . Both parts have commentaries written by famous Tantriks from Kashmir to Kerala .

Nityashodashikarnava has first commentary by Jayarath Rajanak ( 13th century ) of Kashmir , famous commentator of Tantraloka .

After him came Shivananda (15th century ) from Kerala who wrote beautiful commentary on it named Rujuvimarshini .

Around same time Vidyananda wrote another commentary Artharatnavali . Both interpreted the mantroddhara of Sri Vidya Panchadaahi mantra in favour of Hadi tradition . They also give extensive Guru Ogha of Hadi tradition . Jayarath differs from them and interpret for Kadi tradition . He was followed by Sri Bhaskarraya ( 18th century ) in his commentary Setubandha on same text . Sri Bhaskarraya belonged to Kadi tradition . He supported meaning of text as per his tradition .

Saundaryalahari written in Kashmir by Adi Shankaracharya follows the Hadi tradition . He also gave construction of Sri yantra in short . His other book , Prapanchasara Tantra also has construction of Sri yantra . Adi Shankaracharya wrote these works in late 8th century or early 9th century . He wrote it after knowing about Sri Vidya worship from Kashmir Sharada Peeth . 

Shivananda , author of Rujuvimarshini also says that tradition of Sri Vidya originated in Kashmir .

             Jayarath gives more information of Sri Vidya avataran in Kashmir . As per him Vishvavarta and Ishwarashiva are two starters of Sri Vidya worship in Kashmir . Ishwarashiva was head of one muth established by Kashmir king Avantivarma in 9th century . Ishwarashiva wrote first commentary on Vamakeshvara Tantra , called as Rasamahodadhi . This text is now lost . In this text Ishwarashiva had given detailed construction method of Sri yantra . Historically this is first evidence of Sri yantra construction in Tantrik Texts . Time of Ishwarashiva being late 9th century , it's same time of Sri yantra worship started gaining popularity in Kashmir . 

             One of the Siddhaugha Guru of Hadi tradition , Deepakanath ( author of Tripurasundari Dandak ) was one of the nine jewel poet in court of King Bhoja of Dhara in 10th century . Charyananda Nath , first of Hadi Divyaugha Guru also wrote book on Sri yantra worship which is strangely criticized ( his method of drawing Sri yantra ) by Rajanak Jayaratha . Charyanand Nath also belonged to Kashmir . It looks there was quite interest & views among Shaiva tantriks of Kashmir about drawing of Sri yantra and interpretation of Panchadashi mantra . Author of Mahimnastotra on Tripurasundari , Durvasa also belonged to Kashmir . Hadi tradition connects Durvasa to Lopamudra and then to Agasti .

               Adi Shankaracharya of Kaldi , Kerala went to Kashmir ( probably in late 9th century or early 10th  )  . Ishwarashiva who was head of Shura muth during reign of Avantivarma already started preaching Sri Vidya in late 9th century . We do not know who was real Sri Vidya Guru of Adi Shankaracharya . He established temple of Sharadamba in Sringeri . His teacher must be from Srinagara & probably a female teacher . We have no information more on this . He passed this tradition to his disciples , specially to Padmapada who wrote commentary on his tantra book , Prapancha Sara Tantra .

             So who was the Adi Guru of Sri Vidya before it became mythology of South Indian tradition of Kanchi Kamakshi or spread to far mountains of east at Kamakhya  ( Will write a separate articles on Brahmanda Puraan Sri Vidya cult & Story of Kamakhya  ) First Guru of Divyogha , Charyananda Nath is worshipped at the central bindu of Sri Yantra , same point where Uddiyana pith is worshiped . Uddiyana was part of now Swat Valey and mountain area of Afghanistan . As bindu is starting point from where universe of Sri yantra expands , teacher associated and worshipped at bindu must be the first teacher of the Sri yantra . Charyananda Nath is also name of Adinath called in stotras like Adinath ashtak . And Uddiyana was influencing area ( probably living place ) of Adinath ( same as Padmasambhava ) who taught Tantras to Hindus & Tibetans in 8th century . 

         Considering above evidences , original of Sri Vidya can be located at or near Swat valley ( Present Pakistan ) in 8th century