Meaning of Tantra

When I say 'Tantra,' you’re probably thinking of tantric sex, black magic, blood, meat, hypnotism, and superstition. But there’s a lot more to it, and here’s the real story.

Tantra comes from the Sanskrit words tanoti (to expand) and trayati (to liberate), meaning it’s about expanding your awareness with the goal of spiritual liberation. At the heart of Tantra is ‘tan,’ which metaphorically means ‘to weave.’ Tantra weaves together the physical and spiritual worlds through rituals to awaken a dormant energy within you, known as kundalini, by working with energy centers in your body called nadis and chakras.

In simple terms, while the Nigamas - like the Vedas - focus on theoretical and philosophical knowledge, the Agamas, one of the literatures on which Tantra is built, are more about applied science. The Agamas are scriptures believed to be divine revelations, offering practical guidance on rituals and spiritual practices. On the other hand, the Vedas, also considered divinely revealed, contain eternal truths and cosmic laws rather than direct commands from a deity.

At the core of Tantra is the guru-disciple relationship, where a legitimate guru initiates you into the practice through diksha (the giving of a mantra), ensuring proper guidance and spiritual growth.

You can choose different paths within Tantra: Shakta worship focuses on female deities like Kali and Durga, Shaiva worship centers around Shiva as the supreme being, Vaishnava Tantra involves Vishnu and his avatars, and Smartha combines various deities in a more balanced approach. Even Buddhism has its Tantric aspect known as Vajrayana, which integrates similar practices for rapid spiritual enlightenment.

What sets Tantra apart is its use of sound vibrations (mantra), symbolic diagrams (yantra), and physical objects in your home for rituals, contrasting with Vedic rituals typically performed in open spaces.

Now, about that 'sex' part - it’s practiced by very few Tantric sects and is far from being just about physical pleasure. It’s seen as a sacred transfer of energy and a path to spiritual liberation, not something done mindlessly.

The darker side of Tantra, like voodoo, vashikaran (hypnosis), and abhichara/kritya (harmful spells), represents abuses or distortions of Tantra, not the essence of it. So, Tantra itself isn’t bad - it's these misuses that give it a negative reputation.

If you want to dive deeper, check out key texts like Tantraloka by Abhinavagupta, Rudra Yamala Tantra, and Devi Bhagavata Purana for insights into the profound philosophy and practices of Tantra.