Tantrism has a long-illustrated history in India, Tibet and Nepal. Once widely celebrated, it acquired during the British Raj a notoriety that led to its suppression and almost complete disappearance in India.

Tantra still remains one of the least understood of the yogic traditions. The spiritual and meditational side of Tantra has not been explained in detail or in depth, particularly from the standpoint of Sanatan Hindu tradition. Tantra can perhaps best be defined as an energetic approach to the spiritual path, using various techniques. It contains a way of knowledge, directing us to self-realization and the realization of the absolute.

Tantra contains teachings dealing with the whole spectrum of human concerns; for the stages of life from youth to old age, for the different classes of society, rituals for public welfare, rules for temple worship, sacraments of various kinds and, most importantly Yogic practices. Tantra has a universal approach that uses all available methods and rejects nothing.

To understand the philosophy of Tantra, a Self-Learning Conceptual Modules has been designed in a simplified manner for all the classes of society.

Tantra: A Historical Perspective

The emergence of ‘Tantra’ as a term for the applied or practical tool for psycho-physical-yogic sciences (abyasavigyana), has been ascertained within the period of 2nd Century B.C. to 2nd Century A.D. as the term appeared in the first textbook of Tantra Guhyasamāja by Nagārjuna.

Practice of Tantra in its pure form is still predominant in limited quarters of esoteric Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.

Tantra in Geographical Context

According to geographical conditions and the structure of anthropological races, Tantric India or Jwambudvipa has been divided into three distinct zones for practices under suitable geographical contexts:

• Sri Kula — school of Aesthetics (zone: Rathakranta)
• Kali Kula — school of Transcendence (zone: Vishnukranta)
• Tara Kula — school of Wisdom-Compassion (zone: Ashwakranta)

Tantra and the Body

Tantra affirms the importance of the body as a temple for Divine and grants it a sacred reality. It views our psycho-physical organism as a microcosm in which the individual soul can understand the workings of the entire universe. Tantric Yoga looks upon the body as a temple for the Divine and as a mirror of the universe.

Tantra and Emotions

Traditional Tantra does not encourage mere emotional expression, which only causes greater attachment to emotions and through them to the outer world. Tantra regards emotions as trapped energy and seeks the release of that energy, in which the form of the emotion subsides like a wave into the sea of awareness.

Tantra and the Worship of Goddesses

Tantra is associated with the worship of the Goddesses, the feminine aspect of Divinity, and this is one of its prime features. Tantra provides a whole spiritual science for the worship of the Divine Mother, not merely as a set of beliefs or dogmas but as a practical way of developing our higher awareness through Her wisdom and Her grace.

Tantra and Kundalini

Kundalini literally means a coiled-up energy or the power that dwells in a Kunda. For any transformation to be possible, an energy is needed to bring it about and for the transformation of consciousness a special and powerful energy is needed; and that is Kundalini.

Tantra and Science

Tantra is a kind of science, a way of knowledge both for understanding the outer world and the inner psyche. Tantra is based on and closely allied with the various traditional sciences of India, of which two most notable are Ayurveda and Astrology.

Right and Left-handed Tantra

Right-handed Path – Dakshinchara: emphasizes meditational and spiritual disciplines, insists on high degree of purity.

Left-handed Path – Vamachara: employs use of five forbidden elements (five ‘m’s).

Tantric Yoga is the comprehensive yogic system described in the Tantras, combining physical postures, breathwork, mantra, visualization, and deep meditative practices for psycho-physical transformation. Unlike purely physical yoga, Tantric Yoga works with subtle energy (prana), chakras, and the awakening of Kundalini Shakti.

The Kulachara Tantra Marga of Kamakhya preserves an authentic and unbroken lineage of Tantric Yoga practices that have been transmitted through the Guru-Shishya Parampara (teacher-student tradition) for centuries.

The Dasa Mahavidyas (Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses) are a group of ten tantric goddesses in the Hindu religious tradition. The ten Mahavidyas are considered tantric in nature and are usually identified as: Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari (Sodasi), Bhuvaneshvari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala.

The Kamakhya Temples’ Complex is the only sacred site in the world where all ten Dasa Mahavidyas have their temples and peethas located adjacent to or in close proximity to each other, making it uniquely significant for Tantric practitioners worldwide.

The worship of the Dasa Mahavidyas at Kamakhya follows the exclusive tradition of the Kulachara Tantra Marga, which combines Vedic and Tantric elements under the Vamachara Shakta tradition.