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Ideals of Tantra Rites

By Chintaharan Chakravarti

Vol. 10 · No. 3September - 1934pp. 486–492English

Summary

Responding to widespread criticism of Tantric texts, the author presents a sympathetic analysis of Tantric ideals and rituals. Many scholars dismiss the Tantras as manuals of licentious practices; however, the article argues that the ultimate aim of Tantric worship is the realisation of the identity between the individual soul and the Supreme Soul. Tantric rites are structured to lead practitioners towards this goal by encouraging them to identify themselves with the deity they worship. Internal worship (antarayaga) and meditation receive greater emphasis than external ceremonies. The article highlights the philosophical affinities between Tantra and Vedanta: in many texts the supreme Goddess (Sakti) is identified with Brahman and the rituals are intended to cultivate self‑discipline and insight. The author acknowledges the existence of esoteric rites involving meat, wine and sexual symbolism, but stresses that these are prescribed only for a small sect of practitioners and are often interpreted symbolically. Moreover, only a minor portion of the Tantric corpus deals with such practices. The article urges readers to distinguish between sensational descriptions and the deeper spiritual objectives of the Tantras. It draws on examples from the Tantrasāra and commentaries to show how internal worship, mantra repetition and meditation are central practices. The author concludes that a fair assessment of Tantra must consider its philosophical doctrines and its emphasis on realising oneness with the divine rather than fixating on controversial rites.

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Conclusion

The article contends that Tantric rites are fundamentally geared towards achieving union with the divine. It emphasises internal worship and philosophical reflection, arguing that the sensational aspects often criticised are either symbolic or limited to specific sects. A nuanced reading of Tantric texts thus reveals a sophisticated spiritual tradition aligned with broader Vedantic ideals.

Key passages

Chosen by AI from the article's text. Each one is checked word for word against the text before it is shown.

  • “The ideal of the Tantras is the realisation of the identity of the Individual Son] with the Supreme Soul.”
  • “The first principle of Tantric worship is that a worshipper skeuld identify himself with the deity he worships.”
  • “It can thus in no way be supposed, as some well-known schoiars have done, that the Tantias preached licentiousness in the form of these yites—that they were Kamadistra in a garb.”

Works cited in this article

  1. Gandharva Tantra, viii, 2
  2. Lekgmidhara's Commentary on Ananduluhkari, Mysore edition, p. 110
  3. Nilakantha's Comm, on Dectbhagavata, IV. 15.12
  4. Nilakantha op. cit., Introduction, p, 29, (Haricaran Bagu's edition)
  5. oohaed WaT ae a a arate a areatas quoted in Tvatrasdra, P. Sastri's edition, p. 651

Discussed in this article

People

Texts & works

  • Ananduluhkari
  • Vamaksepa
  • Sédhanakal pa-datika
  • Tantrasdra of Krgnananda
  • Dectbhagavata
  • Tantrasti
  • Sydmidpradipa
  • Maratattradidh iti
  • Parinanda sehool
  • Kularnava
  • Gandharva Tantra

Dynasties, sects & groups

  • Kaula sect
  • Saktaism

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Article order

In this issue

Vol. 10 · No. 3
405–430The Great Goddess in India and IranJean Przyluski431–452Old Vrttikaras on the Purva Mimamsa SutrasV. A. Ramaswami Sastri453–472An Unexplored Source of Mughal HistorySri Ram Sharma473–477Baudh Plates of Ranabhanjadeva—year 58Adris Banerji478–485The Subhasitaharavall of Sri Hari Kavi and some Poets enjoying the Patronage of Muslim RulersHaradatta Sharma486–492Ideals of Tantra RitesChintaharan ChakravartiCurrent article493–508The Mahanataka ProblemShiva Prasad Bhattacharya509–522Indo‑Greek Coin‑TypesHarit Krishna Deb523–532The Relations between the Civil and Military Authorities in the early days of British RulePrakash Chandra533–540Age of the BrahmanasPrabodh Chandra Sengupta541–550Location of Krishna's Capital DvaravatiNalini Kanta Bhattasali551–559Taranatha's History of BuddhismNalinaksha Dutt, U. N. Ghoshal560–565VedicaBatakrishna Ghosh566–570Kalidasa in ChinaSten Konow571–574The Scribes of BengalPramode Lal Paul575–576Kosam Inscription of KanishkaAmalananda Ghosh576Vyomasiva, the Author of VyomavatiK. Chattopadhyaya577–581The Tattvasuddhi and SubjectivismS. S. Suryanarayana Sastri582–584Origin of the Pratihara DynastyD. R. Mankad585–592Kuchean or Western ArsiP. C. Bagchi593–604ReviewsPadmanath Buattacharyya605–611Select Contents of Oriental Journals

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