Born in Rome, Italy, in 1965, Francesco Sferra studied philosophy and Indology at the University of Rome “La Sapienza” under the guidance of Prof. Raniero Gnoli, Prof. Raffaele Torella and Prof. Corrado Pensa. He was awarded a Doctorate in Sanskrit by the same University in 1999.
After holding provisional positions in teaching Sanskrit at the Istituto Universitario Orientale di Napoli from 1998 to 2001, he was appointed Associate Professor of Sanskrit and Indology in the Department of Asian Studies, at the same University, in November 2002. He is presently Director of the Dipartimento di Studi Asiatici, Università degli Studi di Napoli “L’Orientale”.
His main research areas are: tantric traditions in pre-13th century South Asia, especially Vajrayāna Buddhism; Śaivism; and classical Indian philosophy of language.
Ongoing Research in Tantric Studies
- Critical Edition and Translation of the Sekanirdeśapañjikā (with Harunaga Isaacson)
- Critical Edition and Translation of the Cittaviśuddhiprakaraṇa (with Harunaga Isaacson)
Official Site
Dipartimento di Studi Asiatici (with full list of publications)
Selected Monographs
The Ṣaḍaṅgayoga by Anupamarakṣita, with Raviśrījñāna’s Guṇabharaṇīnāmaṣaḍaṅgayogaṭippaṇī. Text and annotated translation. Serie orientale Roma 85. Roma: Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente, 2000.
The Sekoddeśaṭīkā by Nāropā (Paramārthasaṃgraha). Nāropā. Critical edition of the Sanskrit text by Francesco Sferra. Critical edition of the Tibetan translation by Stefania Merzagora. Serie orientale Roma 99. Roma: Istituto Italiano per l’Africa e l’Oriente, 2006.
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