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| tantric deities list: The Goddess in Hindu-Tantric Traditions Anway Mukhopadhyay, 2018-04-20 The Great Goddess, in her various puranic and tantric forms, is often figured as sitting on a corpse which is identified as Shiva-as-shava (God Shiva, the consort of the Devi and an iconic representation of the Absolute without attributes, the Nirguna Brahman). Hence, most of the existing critical works and ethnographic studies on Shaktism and the tantras have focused on the theological and symbolic paraphernalia of the corpses which operate as the asanas (seats) of the Devi in her various iconographies. This book explores the figurations of the Goddess as corpse in several Hindu puranic and Shakta-tantric texts, popular practices, folk belief systems, legends and various other cultural phenomena based on this motif. It deals with a more intricate and fundamental issue than existing works on the subject: how and why is the Devi – herself - figured as a corpse in the Shakta texts, belief systems and folk practices associated with the tantras? The issues which have been raised in this book include: how does death become a complement to life within this religious epistemology? How does one learn to live with death, thereby lending new definitions and new epistemic and existential dimensions to life and death? And what is the relation between death and gender within this kind of figuration of the Goddess as death and dead body? Analysing multiple mythic narratives, hymns and scriptural texts where the Devi herself is said to take the form of the Shava (the corpse) as well as the Shakti who animates dead matter, this book focuses not only on the concept of the theological equivalence of the Shava (Shiva as corpse) and the Shakti (Energy) in tantras but also on the status of the Divine Mother as the Great Bridge between the apparently irreconcilable opposites, the mediatrix between Spirit and Matter, death and life, existence-in-stasis and existence-in-kinesis. This book makes an important contribution to the fields of Hindu Studies, Goddess Spirituality, South Asian Religions, Women and Religion, India, Studies in Shaktism and Tantra, Cross-cultural Religious Studies, Gender Studies, Postcolonial Spirituality and Ecofeminism. |
| tantric deities list: Guide to the Deities of the Tantra Vessantara, 2013-09-27 Vessantara explains the key characteristics of the Tantra, introduces its many Deities, and explores its symbolism. This guide provides the foundations for a gradual and thorough understanding of Tantric Buddhism, encouraging confidence in the exploration of its many themes and lavish forms. Mantra recitation and colourful visualizations of the Deities lie at the heart of the Tantric practice and Vessantara provides beautiful meditations on each of the key figures while also explaining the reasoning, theory and history behind each practice. |
| tantric deities list: Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine David Kinsley, 2023-07-28 The Hindu pantheon is rich in images of the divine feminine—deities representing a wide range of symbolic, social, and meditative meanings. David Kinsley's new book documents a highly unusual group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, many of whom are strongly associated with sexuality and violence. What is one to make of a goddess who cuts her own head off, or one who prefers sex with a corpse? The Mahavidyas embody habits, attributes, or identities usually considered repulsive or socially subversive and can be viewed as antimodels for women. Yet it is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas seem to function as awakeners—symbols which help to project one's consciousness beyond the socially acceptable or predictable. Drawing on a broad range of Sanskrit and vernacular texts as well as extensive research in India, including written and oral interpretations of contemporary Hindu practitioners, Kinsley describes the unusual qualities of each of the Mahavidyas and traces the parallels between their underlying themes. Especially valuable are the many rare and fascinating images he presents—each important to grasping the significance of the goddesses. Written in an accessible, engaging style, Kinsley's book provides a comprehensive understanding of the Mahavidyas and is also an overview of Hindu tantric practice. The Hindu pantheon is rich in images of the divine feminine—deities representing a wide range of symbolic, social, and meditative meanings. David Kinsley's new book documents a highly unusual group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, many of w |
| tantric deities list: Gods & Goddesses Trilok Chandra Majupuria, Rohit Kumar, 1998 |
| tantric deities list: Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses David Frawley, 1996 Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses is an excellent book introducing the essence of Hindu Tantrism. the book discusses all the major concepts and offers valuable corrections for many existing misconceptions. It also introduces the reader to the core |
| tantric deities list: Ruthless Compassion Robert N. Linrothe, 1999 The historical development of Esoteric Buddhism in India is still known only in outline. A few verifiably early texts do give some insight into the origin of the ideas which would later develop and spread to East and Southeast Asia, and to Tibet. However, there is another kind of evidence which can be harnessed to the project of reconstructing the history of Esoteric Buddhist doctrines and practice. This evidence consists of art objects, mainly sculpture, which survive in significant numbers from the 6th to the 13th century. |
| tantric deities list: Tibetan Sacred Dance Ellen Pearlman, 2002-12 From the time Buddhism entered the mythical land of the snows, Tibetans have expressed their spiritual devotion and celebrated their culture with dance. This book--lavishly illustrated with color and rare historic photographs depicting the dances, costumes, and masks--is the first to explore the significance and symbolism of the sacred and secular ritual dances of Tibetan Buddhism. |
| tantric deities list: Buddhist Goddesses of India Miranda Shaw, 2015-08-25 The Indian Buddhist world abounds with goddesses--voluptuous tree spirits, maternal nurturers, potent healers and protectors, transcendent wisdom figures, cosmic mothers of liberation, and dancing female Buddhas. Despite their importance in Buddhist thought and practice, these female deities have received relatively little scholarly attention, and no comprehensive study of the female pantheon has been available. Buddhist Goddesses of India is the essential and definitive guide to divinities that, as Miranda Shaw writes, operate from transcendent planes of bliss and awareness for as long as their presence may benefit living beings. Beautifully illustrated, the book chronicles the histories, legends, and artistic portrayals of nineteen goddesses and several related human figures and texts. Drawing on a sweeping range of material, from devotional poetry and meditation manuals to rituals and artistic images, Shaw reveals the character, powers, and practice traditions of the female divinities. Interpretations of intriguing traits such as body color, stance, hairstyle, clothing, jewelry, hand gestures, and handheld objects lend deep insight into the symbolism and roles of each goddess. In addition to being a comprehensive reference, this book traces the fascinating history of these goddesses as they evolved through the early, Mahayana, and Tantric movements in India and found a place in the pantheons of Tibet and Nepal.--Publisher's website. |
| tantric deities list: Inner Tantric Yoga David Frawley, 2009-12 Inner Tantric yoga presents the deeper tradition of Tantra, its multidimensional vision of the Divine and its transformative practices of mantra and meditation that take us far beyond the outer models of how Tantra is usually presented today. The book can expand your horizon about masculine and feminine energies, Self and world, universe and the Absolute into a living experience of the Infinite and Eternal both within and around you. |
| tantric deities list: Buddhist Tantras Wayman, 2020-03-26 First published in 1995. The volume is divided into four sections: The introduction places the position of the Buddhist Tantras within Mahayana Buddhism and recalls their early literary history, especially the Guhyasamahatantra; the section also covers Buddhist Genesis and the Tantric tradition. Next is the he foundations of the Buddhist Tantras are discussed and the Tantric presentation of divinity; the preparation of disciples and the meaning of initiation; symbolism of the mandala-palace Tantric ritual and the twilight language. The third section explores the Tantric teachings of the inner Zodiac and the fivefold ritual symbolism of passion. The bibliographical research contains an analysis of the Tantric section of the Kanjur exegesis and a selected Western Bibliography of the Buddhist Tantras with comments. |
| tantric deities list: Goddess Traditions in Tantric Hinduism Bjarne Wernicke Olesen, 2015-09-16 Hinduism cannot be understood without the Great Goddess and the goddess-orientated Śākta traditions. The Goddess pervades Hinduism at all levels, from aniconic village deities to high-caste pan-Hindu goddesses to esoteric, tantric goddesses. Nevertheless, the highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship have only recently begun to draw scholarly attention. This book addresses the increasing interest in the Great Goddess and the tantric traditions of India by exploring the history, doctrine and practices of the Śākta tantric traditions. The highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship form a major part of what is known as ‘Śāktism’, and is often considered one of the major branches of Hinduism next to Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism and Smārtism. Śāktism is, however, less clearly defined than the other major branches, and the book looks at the texts of the Śākta traditions that constitute the primary sources for gaining insights into the Śākta religious imaginative, ritual practices and history. It provides an historical exploration of distinctive Indian ways of imagining God as Goddess, and surveys the important origins and developments within Śākta history, practice and doctrine in its diversity. Bringing together contributions from some of the foremost scholars in the field of tantric studies, the book provides a platform for the continued research into Hindu goddesses, yoga, and tantra for those interested in understanding the religion and culture in South Asia. |
| tantric deities list: Deity Yoga Tsong-kha-pa Blo-bzang-grags-pa, Dalai Lama XIV Bstan-ʼdzin-rgya-mtsho, Jeffrey Hopkins, 1987 Teaches the meditative techniques of Action and Performance Tantras the basis of all higher tantric practices. |
| tantric deities list: The Iconography of Hindu Tantric Deities Gudrun Bühnemann, 2022-11-28 While Volume I of this two-volume monograph focuses on the deity pantheon of the sixteenth-century Mantramahodadhi, this volume compares for the first time deity descriptions extracted from two earlier and closely related texts, the anonymous Prapañcasāra (ca. tenth century) and Lakṣmaṇadeśika’s Sāradātilaka (tenth/eleventh centuries). The latter work, though based on the Prapañcasāra, treats the topics independently and incorporates new deity descriptions while omitting others. Both texts are still influential and are frequently cited. The Sanskrit text of the 78 deity descriptions extracted from the Prapañcasāra and the 101 descriptions from the Sāradātilaka is based on a comparison of different printed editions of these texts, as well as citations found in other works. The Sanskrit text is presented with a literal translation and remarks on the iconography. The introductory section addresses basic questions related to these two works. In addition, a new edition and translation of the important chapters I (on cosmogony) and 25 (on yoga) of the Sāradātilaka are presented in two appendices. A large number of illustrations of deities complement the volume. The print edition is available as a set of two volumes (9789069801193). |
| tantric deities list: The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Robert E. Buswell, Jr., Donald S. Lopez, Jr., 2013-11-24 The most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of Buddhism ever produced in English With more than 5,000 entries totaling over a million words, this is the most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of Buddhism ever produced in English. It is also the first to cover terms from all of the canonical Buddhist languages and traditions: Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Unlike reference works that focus on a single Buddhist language or school, The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism bridges the major Buddhist traditions to provide encyclopedic coverage of the most important terms, concepts, texts, authors, deities, schools, monasteries, and geographical sites from across the history of Buddhism. The main entries offer both a brief definition and a substantial short essay on the broader meaning and significance of the term covered. Extensive cross-references allow readers to find related terms and concepts. An appendix of Buddhist lists (for example, the four noble truths and the thirty-two marks of the Buddha), a timeline, six maps, and two diagrams are also included. Written and edited by two of today's most eminent scholars of Buddhism, and more than a decade in the making, this landmark work is an essential reference for every student, scholar, or practitioner of Buddhism and for anyone else interested in Asian religion, history, or philosophy. The most comprehensive dictionary of Buddhism ever produced in English More than 5,000 entries totaling over a million words The first dictionary to cover terms from all of the canonical Buddhist languages and traditions—Sanskrit, Pali, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean Detailed entries on the most important terms, concepts, texts, authors, deities, schools, monasteries, and geographical sites in the history of Buddhism Cross-references and appendixes that allow readers to find related terms and look up equivalent terms in multiple Buddhist languages Includes a list of Buddhist lists, a timeline, and maps Also contains selected terms and names in Thai, Burmese, Vietnamese, Lao, Khmer, Sinhalese, Newar, and Mongolian |
| tantric deities list: Kashmir Shaivism John Hughes, 2007 |
| tantric deities list: Tantra, Ritual Performance, and Politics in Nepal and Kerala Matthew Martin, 2020 Introduction: Methodology and context -- Introducing the southern case study : Teyyāṭṭam, Northern Malabar, Kerala -- Introducing the northern case study : Navadurgā, Bhaktapur, Nepal -- Dancer-medium communities and ritual kinship -- History and assimilation in Tantric cosmology -- Sacrifice, earth cycles, and self-reflexive affect -- Politics, ritual performance, and caste. |
| tantric deities list: Vajrayogini Elizabeth English, 2002-06-15 Sixteen pages of stunning color plates not only enhance the study but bring the goddess Vajrayogini to life.--BOOK JACKET. |
| tantric deities list: Tantra in Practice David Gordon White, 2018-06-26 As David White explains in the Introduction to Tantra in Practice, Tantra is an Asian body of beliefs and practices that seeks to channel the divine energy that grounds the universe, in creative and liberating ways. The subsequent chapters reflect the wide geographical and temporal scope of Tantra by examining thirty-six texts from China, India, Japan, Nepal, and Tibet, ranging from the seventh century to the present day, and representing the full range of Tantric experience--Buddhist, Hindu, Jain, and even Islamic. Each text has been chosen and translated, often for the first time, by an international expert in the field who also provides detailed background material. Students of Asian religions and general readers alike will find the book rich and informative. The book includes plays, transcribed interviews, poetry, parodies, inscriptions, instructional texts, scriptures, philosophical conjectures, dreams, and astronomical speculations, each text illustrating one of the diverse traditions and practices of Tantra. Thus, the nineteenth-century Indian Buddhist Garland of Gems, a series of songs, warns against the illusion of appearance by referring to bees, yogurt, and the fire of Malaya Mountain; while fourteenth-century Chinese Buddhist manuscripts detail how to prosper through the Seven Stars of the Northern Dipper by burning incense, making offerings to scriptures, and chanting incantations. In a transcribed conversation, a modern Hindu priest in Bengal candidly explains how he serves the black Goddess Kali and feeds temple skulls lentils, wine, or rice; a seventeenth-century Nepalese Hindu praise-poem hammered into the golden doors to the temple of the Goddess Taleju lists a king's faults and begs her forgiveness and grace. An introduction accompanies each text, identifying its period and genre, discussing the history and influence of the work, and identifying points of particular interest or difficulty. The first book to bring together texts from the entire range of Tantric phenomena, Tantra in Practice continues the Princeton Readings in Religions series. The breadth of work included, geographic areas spanned, and expert scholarship highlighting each piece serve to expand our understanding of what it means to practice Tantra. |
| tantric deities list: SAIVISM AND THE TANTRIC TRADITIONS , 2024 |
| tantric deities list: Early Tantric Medicine Michael Slouber, 2017 Early Tantric Medicine explores the mantra-based systems for healing snakebite found in the ancient Hindu texts called the Garuda Tantras. It engages with broader questions of medical efficacy, and describes a worldview in which powerful gods and goddesses are available to anyone who learns the secret methods of propitiating them. |
| tantric deities list: The Treasury of Knowledge: Book One Jamgon Kongtrul, 2003-06-05 In Tibetan religious literature, Jamgön Kongtrül's Treasury of Knowledge in ten books stands out as a unique, encyclopedic masterpiece embodying the entire range of Buddhist teachings as they were preserved in Tibet. In his monumental Treasury of Knowledge, Jamgön Kongtrül presents a complete account of the major lines of thought and practice that comprise Tibetan Buddhism. This first book of The Treasury which serves as a prelude to Kongtrul's survey describes four major cosmological systems found in the Tibetan tradition—those associated with the Hinayana, Mahayana, Kalachakra, and Dzogchen teachings. Each of these cosmologies shows how the world arises from mind, whether through the accumulated results of past actions or from the constant striving of awareness to know itself. |
| tantric deities list: Tantra Georg Feuerstein, Ph.D., 1998-07-28 A leading yoga researcher offers a clear and lively introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of the Tantric spiritual tradition Tantra—often associated with Kundalini Yoga—is a fundamental dimension of Hinduism, emphasizing the cultivation of “divine power” (shakti) as a path to infinite bliss. Tantra has been widely misunderstood in the West, however, where its practices are often confused with eroticism and licentious morality. Tantra: The Path of Ecstasy dispels many common misconceptions, providing an accessible introduction to the history, philosophy, and practice of this extraordinary spiritual tradition. The Tantric teachings are geared toward the attainment of enlightenment as well as spiritual power and are present not only in Hinduism but also Jainism and Vajrayana Buddhism. In this book, Georg Feuerstein offers readers a clear understanding of authentic Tantra, as well as appropriate guidance for spiritual practice and the attainment of higher consciousness. |
| tantric deities list: Masters of Mahamudra Abhayadatta, 1985-01-01 In Tibetan Buddhism, Mahamudra represents a perfected level of meditative realization: it is the inseparable union of wisdom and compassion, of emptiness and skillful means. These eighty-four masters, some historical, some archetypal, accomplished this practice in India where they lived between the eighth and twelfth centuries. Leading unconventional lives, the siddhas include some of the greatest Buddhist teachers; Tilopa, Naropa, and Marpa among them. Through many years of study, Keith Dowman has collected and translated their songs of realization and the legends about them. In consultation with contemporary teachers, he gives a commentary on each of the Great Adepts and culls from available resources what we can know of their history. Dowman's extensive Introduction traces the development of tantra and discusses the key concepts of the Mahamudra. In a lively and illuminating style, he unfolds the deeper understandings of mind that the texts encode. His treatment of the many parallels to contemporary psychology and experience makes a valualbe contribution to our understanding of human nature. |
| tantric deities list: The Iconography of Hindu Tantric Deities: The pantheon of the Mantramahodadhi Gudrun Bühnemann, 2000 Volume I: The Pantheon of the Mantramahodadhi; Volume II: The Pantheons of the Prapañcasāra and the Śāradātilaka. With illustrations. |
| tantric deities list: Depicted Deities M.L.B. Blom, 2023-08-07 This book deals with the rules of art. More specifically, it treats of the unwritten rules of Nepalese religious art as laid down in ‘model books’. These can be seen as manuals for the artists, in which they can find the correct way to represent, in visual art, any of some 2000 godly figures. The representation of these gods, all of them with their particular attributes, was (and is) subject to more or less strict rules. These books, the kind of which is also found in Europe in the early Middle Ages, have developed into a special tradition in Nepal, where a unique number of model books was found to be in existence, the oldest of them going back to the 15th century. The author of this study (the first in its kind) has traced the development in time of some 150 popular Hindu deities to determine the meaning of these model books for the artists using them, and also to see if the representation of these gods is in any way related to changes in society. |
| tantric deities list: Tantric Revisionings Geoffrey Samuel, 2017-09-08 Tantric Revisionings presents stimulating new perspectives on Hindu and Buddhist religion, particularly their Tantric versions, in India, Tibet or in modern Western societies. Geoffrey Samuel adopts an historically and textually informed anthropological approach, seeking to locate and understand religion in its social and cultural context. The question of the relation between 'popular' (folk, domestic, village, 'shamanic') religion and elite (literary, textual, monastic) religion forms a recurring theme through these studies. Six chapters have not been previously published; the previously published studies included are in publications which are difficult to locate outside major specialist libraries. |
| tantric deities list: Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls June McDaniel, 2004-08-05 The Indian state of West Bengal is home to one of the world's most vibrant traditions of goddess worship. The year's biggest holidays are devoted to the goddesses Durga and Kali, with lavish rituals, decorated statues, fireworks, and parades. In Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls, June McDaniel provides a broad, accessibly written overview of Bengali goddess worship. McDaniel identifies three major forms of goddess worship, and examines each through its myths, folklore, songs, rituals, sacred texts, and practitioners. In the folk/tribal strand, which is found in rural areas, local tribal goddesses are worshipped alongside Hindu goddesses, with an emphasis on possession, healing, and animism. The tantric/yogic strand focuses on ritual, meditation, and visualization as ways of experiencing the power of the goddess directly. The devotional or bhakti strand, which is the most popular form, involves the intense love and worship of a particular form of the goddess. McDaniel traces these strands through Bengali culture and explores how they are interwoven with each other as well as with other forms of Hinduism. She also discusses how these practices have been reinterpreted in the West, where goddess worship has gained the values of sexual freedom and psychological healing, but lost its emphases on devotion and asceticism. Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls takes the reader inside the lives of practicing Shaktas, including holy women, hymn singers, philosophers, visionaries, gurus, ascetics, healers, musicians, and businessmen, and offers vivid descriptions of their rituals, practices, and daily lives. Drawing on years of fieldwork and extensive research, McDaniel paints a rich, expansive portrait of this fascinating religious tradition. |
| tantric deities list: Tantric Traditions Gwendolyn Taunton, 2018-03-21 Tantra. The word conjures forth a million images - including sex, transgressive practices, and the occult. But how accurate are these portrayals, and how do they compare to actual Tantric practices in India? To the casual observer, Tantra appears to partake of an oppositional role in regard to Vedic teachings, but this conceals a much more conservative core, for the Tantric traditions actually strive to reinforce their Vedic heritage. The Tantras are believed to be the appropriate teaching in the Kali Yuga, and understanding the role that the Kali Yuga plays in Tantric traditions is absolutely vital to interpreting the nature of Tantra itself. Contrary to being opposed to Vedic teachings, Tantra is actually an extension of them - it is a reinterpretation of the Vedas for the modern era.In addition to explaining the complex role Tantra plays within the larger corpus of Hinduism, Tantric Traditions also examines the way in which Tantra is linked to sacred geographical locations, and provides explanations on the nature of Siva, the Devi, the role of the Traditionalist School in the export of Tantric traditions to the West, and reveals secret mantra techniques.Furthermore, Tantric Traditions provides details on magical and esoteric practices from authentic Tantric occult texts such as the Mantramahodadhi of Mahidara (c.1588 CE) and the Vinasikhatantra, both of which make even the most infamous European Grimoires look totally harmless by comparison.CONTENTSIntroductionPART I Gods, Sacred Sites, & the Kali YugaShiva: Naṭarāja, Śankara, & Higher ConsciousnessNataraja - Shankara - Yoga - ShamanismThe Devi: From Satī to KālīSati - Parvati - Durga - Kali - DraupadiTopographical ReligiosityKashi - Tirtha-Yatra - Shakta PithasTantra, the Kali Yuga, and the Occidental TraditionalistKali Yuga - Yuga Sastra - Traditionalism PART II Origins, Rituals, & Esoteric TeachingsThe Point of OriginDefinition - History - Rta - Dharma - Kali YugaSacred TransgressionPower - Impurity - Left Hand Path - Right Hand Path Lexicographical GnoseologyBhaskararaya - Abhinavagupta - Mantra Encryption - Formulas - Rasa - Philosophy of SoundMagico-Religious PracticesCharms - Siddhi - Mantramahodadhi of Mahidhara - Vinasikhatantra - Alchemy - Magical PracticesAppendix IOccult FormulaAppendix IITables of Correspondences |
| tantric deities list: Hindu Tantrism Gupta, 1979 |
| tantric deities list: Tantra Tashi Tsering, 2012-07-10 In this sixth and final volume in the Foundation of Buddhist Thought series, Geshe Tashi Tsering brings his familiar, helpful approach to the esoteric practices of Buddhist tantra. Anticipating the many questions Westerners have upon first encountering tantra's colorful imagery and veiled language, Tantra uses straight talk to explain deities, initiations, mandalas, and the body's subtle physiology of channels and chakras. Tantric Buddhism provides a quick avenue to buddhahood by means of dissolving the body's wind energies into the central channel at the heart, mimicking the transformations of consciousness that occur at the time of death. Guiding readers systematically from tantra's generation stage through to the full enlightenment of the completion stage, Geshe Tashi Tsering even unpacks a simple compassion practice composed by the Dalai Lama, using it to illustrate the building blocks common to all such visualization techniques. Tantra is a fitting conclusion to this accessible and practical series. |
| tantric deities list: The Circle of Bliss John C. Huntington, Dina Bangdel, 2003 This publication is issued in conjunction with the exhibition The circle of bliss - Buddhist meditational art, co-organized by the Columbus Museum of Art and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art; Los Angeles County Museum of Art, October 5 - January 11, 2003, Columbus Museum of Art, February 6 - May 9, 2004. |
| tantric deities list: Transformations and Transfer of Tantra in Asia and Beyond István Keul, 2012-01-27 The essays in this volume, written by specialists working in the field of tantric studies, attempt to trace processes of transformation and transfer that occurred in the history of tantra from around the seventh century and up to the present. The volume gathers contributions on South Asia, Tibet, China, Mongolia, Japan, North America, and Western Europe by scholars from various academic disciplines, who present ongoing research and encourage discussion on significant themes in the growing field of tantric studies. In addition to the extensive geographical and temporal range, the chapters of the volume cover a wide thematic area, which includes modern Bengali tantric practitioners, tantric ritual in medieval China, the South Asian cults of the mother goddesses, the way of Buddhism into Mongolia, and countercultural echoes of contemporary tantric studies. |
| tantric deities list: Awakening Shakti Sally Kempton, 2015 |
| tantric deities list: A Garland of Forgotten Goddesses Michael Slouber, 2020-12-22 Imagining the divine as female is rare—even controversial—in most religions. Hinduism, by contrast, preserves a rich and continuous tradition of goddess worship. A Garland of Forgotten Goddesses conveys the diversity of this tradition by bringing together a fresh array of captivating and largely overlooked Hindu goddess tales from different regions. As the first such anthology of goddess narratives in translation, this collection highlights a range of sources from ancient myths to modern lore. The goddesses featured here battle demons, perform miracles, and grant rare Tantric visions to their devotees. Each translation is paired with a short essay that explains the goddess’s historical and social context, elucidating the ways religion adapts to changing times. |
| tantric deities list: Renowned Goddess of Desire Loriliai Biernacki, 2007-10-11 Tantra is a family of rituals modeled on those of the Vedas and their attendant texts and lineages. These rituals typically involve the visualization of a deity, offerings, and the chanting of his or her mantra. Common variations include visualizing the deity in the act of sexual union with a consort, visualizing oneself as the deity, and transgressive acts such as token consumption of meat or alcohol. Most notoriously, non-standard or ritualized sex is sometimes practiced. This accounts for Tantra's negative reputation in some quarters and its reception in the West primarily as a collection of sexual practices. Although some today extol Tantra's liberating qualities, the role of women remains controversial. Traditionally there are two views of women and Tantra. Either the feminine is a metaphor and actual women are altogether absent, or Tantra involves the transgressive use of women's bodies to serve male interests. Loriliai Biernacki presents an alternative view, in which women are revered, worshipped, and considered worthy of spiritual attainment. Her primary sources are a collection of eight relatively modern Tantric texts written in Sanskrit from the 15th through the 18th century. Her analysis of these texts reveals a view of women that is generally positive and empowering. She focuses on four topics: 1) the Kali Practice, in which women appear not only as objects of reverence but as practitioners and gurus; 2) the Tantric sex rite, especially in the case that, contrary to other Tantric texts, the preference is for wives as ritual consorts; 3) feminine language and the gendered implications of mantra; and 4) images of male violence towards women in tantric myths. Biernacki, by choosing to analyse eight particular Sanskrit texts, argues that within the tradition of Tantra there exists a representation of women in which the female is an authoritative, powerful, equal participant in the Tantric ritual practice. |
| tantric deities list: The Origins of Yoga and Tantra Geoffrey Samuel, 2008-03-27 Yoga, tantra and other forms of Asian meditation are practised in modernized forms throughout the world today, but most introductions to Hinduism or Buddhism tell only part of the story of how they developed. This book is an interpretation of the history of Indic religions up to around 1200 CE, with particular focus on the development of yogic and tantric traditions. It assesses how much we really know about this period, and asks what sense we can make of the evolution of yogic and tantric practices, which were to become such central and important features of the Indic religious scene. Its originality lies in seeking to understand these traditions in terms of the total social and religious context of South Asian society during this period, including the religious practices of the general population with their close engagement with family, gender, economic life and other pragmatic concerns. |
| tantric deities list: Glimpses of Tantric Studies Bidyutlatā Rāẏa, 2006 On the fundamentals of Tantrism and Buddhist Tantrism; contributed articles. |
| tantric deities list: Tantric Visual Culture Sthaneshwar Timalsina, 2015-11-19 Indian culture relies greatly on visual expression, and this book uses both classical Indian and contemporary Western philosophies and current studies on cognitive sciences, and applies them to contextualize Tantric visual culture. The work selects aspects of Tantric language and the practice of visualization, with the central premise to engage cognitive theories while studying images. It utilizes the contemporary theories of metaphor and cognitive blend, the theory of metonymy, and a holographic theory of epistemology with a focus on concept formation and its application to the study of myths and images. In addition, it applies the classical aesthetic theory of rasa to unravel the meaning of opaque images. This philosophical and cognitive analysis allows materials from Indian culture to be understood in a new light, while engaging contemporary theories of cognitive science and semantics. The book demonstrates how the domains of meaning and philosophy can be addressed within any culture without reducing their intrinsic cultural significance. By addressing these key aspects of Tantric traditions through this approach, this book initiates a much-needed dialogue between Indian and Western theories, while encouraging introspection within the Indic traditions themselves. It will be of interest to those studying and researching Religion, Philosophy and South Asian Culture. |
| tantric deities list: Introduction to Tantra Thubten Yeshe, 2001-06-15 This introduction recognizes and explains how to channel the powerful energies aroused by human desires, and how to transform lives with them. |
| tantric deities list: Tools for Tantra Harish Johari, 1988-11-01 Tantric yantras are precise geometric forms that have been used for centuries as tools for self-realization and the attainment of mystical powers. In Tools for Tantra, Tantric practitioner and scholar Harish Johari has re-created the exact colors and proportions of the primordial yantras along with step-by-step instructions for their accurate construction, coloring, and use. |
What is tantric sex? Definition and how to practice - Medical News Today
Aug 6, 2024 · Tantric sex is a meditative form of sex. The aim is to be present in the moment to achieve a sensual and fulfilling sexual experience. Tantric sex originates from ancient …
Tantric Sex: Everything You Need to Know - WebMD
Jul 2, 2023 · Tantric sex is meant to be slow and satisfying, and sessions are typically quite long. Many people aim at putting off orgasm to enjoy the closeness and intimacy as long as possible.
Tantric sex - Wikipedia
Tantric sex refers to a range of practices in Hindu and Buddhist tantra that utilize sexual activity in a ritual or yogic context. Tantric sex is associated with antinomian elements such as the …
Tantric Masturbation: What It Is, How to Do It, and the Benefits
Oct 10, 2019 · In simpler terms, tantra is a pleasure-centric practice that encourages self-exploration and mindfulness. It’s similar to meditation and can have benefits both in and out of …
What Is Tantric Sex and How Does Tantra Build Intimacy? - The Knot
Jun 30, 2023 · What is tantra and its benefits? Here's how to perform tantric sex and tantra massage to build intimacy with your partner and better your sex life.
What Is Tantric Sexuality? | Tantra Guide - sacrederos.com
May 25, 2025 · Tantric sexuality isn’t just about sex, it’s about connecting your body, mind, and spirit in a meaningful way, beyond quick thrills or awkward routines. You learn to sync breath, …
Tantra: What It Is and Why It Matters — Simply Put Psych
Mar 3, 2025 · Tantra, at its core, represents a diverse collection of spiritual, ritual, and philosophical practices. Its origins can be traced to the Indian subcontinent, yet its influence is …
What Is Tantra? A Guide to Understanding This Sacred Tradition
Jul 5, 2024 · Tantric love is a transformative approach to intimacy and relationships, rooted in the principles of Tantra. It goes beyond the physical expression of love, encompassing a holistic …
What Tantric Sex Is & Why You Should Try It - SheKnows
Jul 18, 2020 · The truth about tantric sex — a practice of slow, sensual sex focused on breathing, attention to your partner and lasting pleasure.
Tantra - Wikipedia
Tantra (/ ˈtʌntrə /; Sanskrit: तन्त्र, lit. 'expansion-device, salvation-spreader; loom, weave, warp') is an esoteric yogic tradition that developed on the Indian subcontinent from the middle …
What is tantric sex? Definition and how to practice - Medical News Today
Aug 6, 2024 · Tantric sex is a meditative form of sex. The aim is to be present in the moment to achieve a sensual and fulfilling sexual experience. Tantric sex originates from ancient …
Tantric Sex: Everything You Need to Know - WebMD
Jul 2, 2023 · Tantric sex is meant to be slow and satisfying, and sessions are typically quite long. Many people aim at putting off orgasm to enjoy the closeness and intimacy as long as possible.
Tantric sex - Wikipedia
Tantric sex refers to a range of practices in Hindu and Buddhist tantra that utilize sexual activity in a ritual or yogic context. Tantric sex is associated with antinomian elements such as the …
Tantric Masturbation: What It Is, How to Do It, and the Benefits
Oct 10, 2019 · In simpler terms, tantra is a pleasure-centric practice that encourages self-exploration and mindfulness. It’s similar to meditation and can have benefits both in and out of …
What Is Tantric Sex and How Does Tantra Build Intimacy? - The Knot
Jun 30, 2023 · What is tantra and its benefits? Here's how to perform tantric sex and tantra massage to build intimacy with your partner and better your sex life.
What Is Tantric Sexuality? | Tantra Guide - sacrederos.com
May 25, 2025 · Tantric sexuality isn’t just about sex, it’s about connecting your body, mind, and spirit in a meaningful way, beyond quick thrills or awkward routines. You learn to sync breath, …
Tantra: What It Is and Why It Matters — Simply Put Psych
Mar 3, 2025 · Tantra, at its core, represents a diverse collection of spiritual, ritual, and philosophical practices. Its origins can be traced to the Indian subcontinent, yet its influence is …
What Is Tantra? A Guide to Understanding This Sacred Tradition
Jul 5, 2024 · Tantric love is a transformative approach to intimacy and relationships, rooted in the principles of Tantra. It goes beyond the physical expression of love, encompassing a holistic …
What Tantric Sex Is & Why You Should Try It - SheKnows
Jul 18, 2020 · The truth about tantric sex — a practice of slow, sensual sex focused on breathing, attention to your partner and lasting pleasure.
Tantra - Wikipedia
Tantra (/ ˈtʌntrə /; Sanskrit: तन्त्र, lit. 'expansion-device, salvation-spreader; loom, weave, warp') is an esoteric yogic tradition that developed on the Indian subcontinent from the middle …
