Mantra Mahodadhi, compiled by Sriman Mahidhara Bhatta, is a treatise on various aspects of Tantra in accordance with Vedic and Agamic tradition. Mahidhara Bhatta, an ardent devotee of Hanuman was the son Bhanu Bhatta belonging to Vatsa gotra. A resident of Ahichatra, he became averse to worldly pleasures and settled at the sacred place Kashi (Varanasi). He is also said to have been a devotee of Narasimha Avatar, the man-lion manifestation of Bhagavan Vishnu.
Mantra Mahodadhi was composed by Mahidhara Bhatta at the request of his son and other scholars to provide a single source on matters related to tantric worship. The text is a standard reference work for practitioners.
Mantra Mahodadhi has about three thousand verses in the anustup meter. The ten Tantra mahavidya deities are explained here. The work is divided into 25 tarangas (waves) describing a single deity. The work consolidates many previous authentic works on Tantra and Agama, like Sarada Tilaka and Damara Tantra.
- The first Taranga explains the essential points to be observed by the aspirant while sitting, dressing, preliminary meditation, etc.
- In the second, the adoration of Ganesha is explained.
- In the third, the mantras related to Goddess Kali and Sumukhi are given.
- In the fourth and fifth, Goddess Tara and the associated deities are described.
- In the sixth, the most powerful destroyer of enemies – Chinnamasta and Sabari – are described.
- In the seventh, the shaktis Swayamvara, Madhumati, Vata Yakshini, Varahi, Jyestha, Karna Pishachini, Swapneshwari, Matangi etc, are mentioned.
- Tripura in the eighth;
- Annapurna and her attendants in the ninth;
- Bagalamukhi, Varahi and Vartali in the tenth;
- In the eleventh and twelfth, detailed accounts of Sri Vidya, the most secret tradition in the entire Tantra Shastra, in the philosophical spirit of the Advaita (Monistic) School, are given.
- In the thirteenth and the fourteenth, there are mantras related to Hanuman, Gopala and Garuda;
- In the fifteenth are given mantras related to planets and sages.
- In the sixteenth, there are mantras pertaining to Mahamrityunjaya, Rudra and Ganga Manikarnika;
- In the seventeenth, Kartaviryarjuna;
- In the eighteenth and nineteenth, there are mantras respectively devoted to Kalaratri, Chandi, Navara, Satacanda, Sahasra-chandi and Charanayudha, Dharmaja, Asuri Durga;
- In the twentieth section, various types of sketches of yantras are given.
- The twenty-first section explains the mystic significance of various Tantra practices in the light of Vedic philosophy.
- Sections from twenty-second to twenty-five provide the details of Tantra worship, sat-karma, explanation of technical worlds, etc.