Tantras
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A large body of Shaiva, Shakta, Buddhist and other texts on ritual, mantra, yoga and meditation. They shaped temple worship, Goddess traditions and the philosophy of Kashmir Shaivism.
| Tradition | Hindu (Shaiva, Shakta), also Buddhist and Jain |
|---|---|
| Type | Tantra |
| Language | Sanskrit |
| Period | c. mid-1st millennium CE onwards (scholarly estimate) |
What it contains
- Rituals using mantras, yantras (sacred diagrams) and mudras (gestures).
- Worship of the Goddess as Shakti, divine power.
- Practices of yoga and meditation.
- Philosophical works such as the Tantraloka of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir, c. 10th–11th century CE).
Significance
Tantric ideas influenced temple ritual, Shakta pithas such as Kamakhya, Vajrayana Buddhism and the later traditions of hatha yoga.