Any kind of commentary, whether it's on a text or a lecture is referred to as Bhashya.
Most writings on Hindu philosophy, as well as the secret ritual practice known as tantra, assumed the need for commentary.
- Philosophical writings were often little more than compilations of pithy aphorisms, which were deliberately short to aid memorizing but obviously required further explanation.
- Because tantra writings were written in coded language to keep their meanings hidden from the uninitiated, commentary was required.
This may have been in the form of sandhabhasha, which often employs sexual terminology to signify religious activity, or it could have simply been a technical language with contextual meanings for common terms.
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