Tantra, a word often associated with exoticism and sensuality, carries a much deeper and more nuanced meaning than commonly perceived. To truly understand “What Is Tantra,” we must delve into its history, philosophy, and practices, separating fact from fiction and dispelling widespread misconceptions. This exploration will guide you through the authentic essence of Tantra.
The vibrant era of Tantric practice faced a devastating blow during the Mogul and Islamic invasions of Kashmir and India from the 12th to 14th centuries. Invaders systematically plundered and destroyed goddess temples and monasteries, decimating countless texts and manuscripts. For nearly nine centuries, with only a brief respite during British colonization, the Kashmiri Tantrik tradition was forced underground. Tantrik families safeguarded the remaining texts, copying and rewriting them, regardless of their comprehension.
Imagine being entrusted by your grandmother to protect a 900-year-old religious text, passed down through generations, that you couldn’t even decipher. This was the reality for many. Consequently, numerous texts were lost. Christopher Wallis estimates that as much as 75% of the original body of work may be irretrievably gone. Fortunately, in the last 50 years, a few dedicated scholars have begun the crucial work of preserving the surviving texts, a true miracle.
Moving into the early 1900s, Sir John Woodruff, known as Arthur Avalon, began translating some of the surviving texts, including The Shat Chakra Nirupana. Unbeknownst to him, this was a later Hatha text drawing upon older Tantrik sources. Lacking comparable texts for reference, his work contained mistranslations and inaccuracies. He compiled his findings in The Serpent Power – The Secrets of Tantric and Shaktic Yoga, which, despite its flaws, became a primary reference point for Westerners like Carl Jung and others. Unable to access or read the original Sanskrit texts, they relied on Avalon’s work as the definitive source, leading to a century of misinformation. These incorrect interpretations, including inaccurate mantras, spread not only in the West but also back to India. This was further compounded by Western yoga teachers creatively innovating practices around the Tantrik energy body and chakras that lacked grounding in classical manuals. This distorted version of Tantra persists in many chakra yoga classes and Yoga Teacher Training programs worldwide.
Other Western occultists, like Pierre Bernard, also explored Tantra in the early 20th century, gravitating towards Kaula Tantra. This stream of Tantra emphasizes a sensual, sexualized worldview, portraying the cosmos as a pulsating, sexual, creative union between the God and Goddess. The notion that sexual energy was celebrated within a spiritual practice resonated deeply. However, the resulting teachings incorrectly portrayed Tantra as being all about sex, rather than recognizing that this was just one perspective within a larger framework.
Tantra embraced the life of the householder, naturally including lovemaking, as an accepted and beautiful aspect of life. While some lineages did utilize meditations on the divine union of the God and Goddess in sacred and intimate creation, the primary focus was not solely on sexual acts to recreate this idea.
In conclusion, the answer to “what is Tantra” is complex and multifaceted. It involves a rich history of both preservation and misinterpretation, a philosophical depth that extends beyond superficial understandings of sexuality, and a range of practices aimed at realizing the interconnectedness of all things. Recognizing and correcting these misconceptions is crucial for a genuine understanding and appreciation of Tantra’s true potential.
