This article is about the esoteric Hindu texts. For the Buddhist equivalent, seeBuddhist tantric literature. For the esoteric practices called tantra, regardless of religion, seeTantra.
The wordtantra is made up by the joining (sandhi inSanskrit) of two Sanskrit words:tanoti (expansion) andtrayati (liberation). Tantra means liberation of energy and expansion ofconsciousness from its gross form. It is a method to expand the mind and liberate the dormant potential energy, and its principles form the basis of all yogic practices. Hence, the Hindu tantric scriptures refer to techniques for achieving a result.
The Hindu tantras total 92 scriptures; of these, 64[2][3][4][better source needed] are purelyAbheda (literally "without differentiation", ormonistic), known as theBhairava Tantras orKashmir Śaivite Tantras, 18 areBhedābheda (literally "with differentiation and without differentiation"monistic ordualistic), known as theRudra Tantras), and 10 are completelyBheda (literally "differentiated" ordualistic), known as theŚiva Tantras. The latter two (Rudra Tantras andŚiva Tantras) are used by the Śaiva Siddhāntins, and thus are sometimes referred to asShaiva Siddhanta Tantras, or Śaiva SiddhāntaĀgamas.
Tantra are mainly two types: Agama and Nigama. Agamas are those texts in which Goddess asked questions and the God replied. In Nigama texts, God asked questions and Goddess replied. This dialogue between God and Goddess is special feature of Hindu Tantra.
In theNāth Tradition, legend ascribes the origin of tantra toDattatreya, a semi-mythological yogi and the assumed author of the Jivanmukta Gita ("Song of the liberated soul").Matsyendranath is credited with authorship of the Kaulajñāna-nirnāya, a voluminous ninth-century tantra dealing with a host ofmystical andmagical subjects. This work occupies an important position in the Hindu tantric lineage, as well as in Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhism.
In distinction to Vedic ritual, which is traditionally performed out-of-doors without idols or emblems, the Tantric ritual is largely a matter of temples and idols. The tantras are largely descriptions and specifications for the construction and maintenance of temple structures with their resident idols and lingas, for example is theAjita Māhātantra.[5][non-primary source needed]
Another function was the conservation of esoteric texts for the exclusive use of rulers in rituals directed to deities controlling political affairs, for example theŚārada-tilaka Tantra.[6][non-primary source needed]
Tantric texts are usually associated with a particular tradition and deity. The different types of Tantric literature are tantra, Āgama, saṃhitā, sūtra, upaniṣad, purāṇa, tīkā (commentaries), prakaraṇa, paddhati texts, stotram, kavaca, nighaṇṭu, koṣa and hagiographical literature. They are written in Sanskrit and in regional languages. The major textual tantra traditions with some key exemplary texts is as follows:[7]
A Hindu Tantric Painting. India, Pahari, circa 1780-1800. Depicting from top to bottom: Shiva, Sakti, Vishnu with his conch, Brahma sprouting from his navel, and Lakshmi. Below is Harihara and four-headed Brahma. At bottom is Trimurti. All painted against a gold ground forming the stylized seed syllable Om.
Most Hindu Tantras remain untranslated. One widely translated exception is theVijñāna Bhairava Tantra, which according to Christopher Wallis, is atypical of most Tantric scriptures.[8]
Sir John Woodroffe translated theTantra of the Great Liberation (Mahānirvāna Tantra) (1913) into English along with other Tantric texts. Other tantras which have been translated into a Western language include the Malini-vijayottara tantra, the Kirana tantra, and the Parakhya Tantra.[8]
Some translation of Tantra texts
The Kulachudamani Tantra and Vamkehwar Tantra, Louise M. Finn
Kularnava Tantra, Paramhansa Mishra
Kularnava Tantra, Ram Rahim Rai
Yogini Hridaya, Vraj Vallabh Dwivedi
Yogini Tantra by GangaVishnu ShriKrishnadas
Maheshwar Tantra Sarala Hindi Vyakhya Sudhakar Malaviya Chowkambha (Narada Pancrata)
Kamratna Tantra, Hemchandra Goswami
Tantric Texts Series Arthur Avalon (John Woodroffe)
Tantrabhidhanam with Bijanighantu & Mudranighantu - A Tantric Dictionary
Shatchakranirupanam (Serpant Power) with 2 commentaries - Taranatha Vaidyaratna
Prapachasaratantram (reprinted as volumes 18 & 19)
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