WOODROFFE, John George (pen-name Arthur Avalon). Calcutta 13.2./15.12. 1865 — Beausoleil (Alpes-Maritimes), France 16/18.1.1936. Sir. British Lawyer and Indologist in India. Son of of James Tisdall Woodroffe (1838–1908), later Advocate-General of Bengal (1899-1904), and Florence Hume. Educated in England, at Woburn Park Catholic public school, studies at University College, Oxford (B.C.L. 1888, M.A.). In 1889 admitted to the Bar at Inner Temple and from 1890 barrister at Calcutta High Court. In 1904-22 Puisne Judge at Calcutta High Court (Chief Justice 1915). Also Fellow and Tagore Law Professor at University of Calcutta (from 1897). Knighted 1915. Retired in 1922 and returned to England. In 1923-30 Reader in Indian Law at Oxford. From 1933 living in France in retirement. Married 1902 Ellen Elizabeth Grimson (1877–1941), a concert pianist who then wrote as Ellen Avalon. They had at least one son.
Woodroffe was a pioneer of the study of Hindu Tantras, who defended them against the poor and condescent opinion of many Indologists. He knew Sanskrit remarkably well. His works were written in close collaboration with Atal Behari Ghose, a practising Śākta.
Publications: The Law Relating to Receivers in British India. 18+335 p. Calcutta 1903; Criminal Procedure in British India. 24+827 p. Calcutta & Simla 1926; The law relating to injunctions in British India. 37+480 p. Tagore Law Lectures1897. Calcutta & Simla 1929.
– With Syed Ameer Ali: The law of evidence applicable to British India. 105+1060 p. Calcutta 1915; and similar works.
– A.A. with Ellen A.: Hymns to the Goddess. 12+335 p. L. 1913.
– A.A.: Edited (with Indian scholars): Tantrābhidhāna with Vījanighantu and Mudrānighantu. 8+130 p. Tantrik Texts 1. Calcutta 1913; The Serpent Power, Being the Ṣaṭcakranirūpaṇa and the Pādukāpañchaka. Tantrik Texts 2. 1913, 2nd ed. Madras 1924; Prapañcasāra Tantra. Tantrik Texts 3. Calcutta & L. 1914; Kulacūḍāmaṇi Tantra. 14+357 p. Tantrik Texts 4. 1915; Kulārṇava Tantra. 14+357 p. Tantrik Texts 5. 191?; Mahānirvāṇatantra. Tantrik Texts 13. 1929.
– A.A.: Translated: Mahānirvāṇa Tantra: the Great Liberation. 14+384 p. L. 1913, 2nd ed. 454 p. 1927; Introduction to Tantraśāstra. 1913; The serpent Power Being the Shat-Chakra-Nirupana and Paduka-Panchaka; Two works on tantrik yoga. 8+183 p. L. 1919.
– A.A.: Principles of Tantra. The Tantratattva of Śrīyukta Śiva Candra Vidyārṇava Bhaṭṭācārya. 1-2. 81+393+??? p. L. 1914-16.
– J.W.: Shakti and Shākta. Essays and Addresses on the Shākta Tantrashāstra. L. 1918, 2nd ed. Madras & L. 1920, 3rd ed. Madras & L. 1929; Tantrarāja Tantra and Kāmakalāvilāsa. 19??.
– Garland of letters (varṇamālā). Studies in the Mantra-śāstra. 11+294 p. Madras & L. 1922.
Sources: *K. Taylor, Sir J.W., Tantra and Bengal. An Indian Soul in a European Body? 319 p. 2001; Who Was Who 1929–1940; *Oxford D.N.B.; tititudorancea.com; Wikipedia with portrait. Photo in the Indian ed. of his Garland.
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