Tantra

Tantra (; Sanskrit: तन्त्र, lit. 'loom') is an esoteric yogic tradition. It was developed in the Indian subcontinent, beginning in the middle of the 1st millennium CE; initially within Shaivism and Shaktism practices, and subsequently in Buddhism and Vaishnavism. Tantra presents complex cosmologies, viewing the body as divine and typically reflecting the union of Shiva and Shakti. Tantric goals include siddhi (supernatural accomplishment), bhoga (pleasure), and kundalini ascent; while also addressing states of possession (āveśa) and exorcism. The term tantra in the Indian traditions also refers to a set of texts describing systems, methods, instruments, techniques and practices. The tantras focus on sādhanā, encompassing dīkṣā, rituals and yoga. A key feature of tantric traditions is the use of mantras, thus they are commonly referred to as Mantramārga ('Path of Mantra') in Hinduism, Mantrayāna ('Mantra Vehicle') in Mahayana Buddhism. In Buddhism, the Vajrayana traditions focuses on tantric ideas and practices, which are based on Indian Buddhist Tantras. They include Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, Chinese Esoteric Buddhism, Japanese Shingon Buddhism and Nepalese Newar Buddhism. Although Southern Esoteric Buddhism does not directly reference the tantras, its practices and ideas parallel them. Tantric Hindu and Buddhist traditions have also influenced other Eastern religious traditions such as Jainism, the Tibetan Bön tradition, Taoism, and the Japanese Shintō tradition. Though Western views often equate Tantra with sex, scholars emphasize that sexual practices in tantric traditions are rare, highly restricted to initiated adepts, and serve as a means of spiritual transcendence rather than an end in themselves.