Tantra occupies a unique position in Western understandings of Hindu spirituality. Its carnal dimension has made its name instantly recognizable, but this popular fascination with sex has obscured its philosophical depth and ritual practices, to say nothing of its overall importance to Hinduism.   This book offers a clear, well-grounded overview of Tantra that offers substantial new insights for scholars and practitioners. André Padoux opens by detailing the history of Tantra, beginning with its origins, founding texts, and major beliefs. The second part of the book delves more deeply into key concepts relating to the tantric body, mysticism, sex, mantras, sacred geography, and iconography, while the final part considers the practice of Tantra today, both in India and in the West. The result is an authoritative account of Tantra’s history and present place in the world.  

The Hindu Tantric World: An Overview

History

Padoux, André

Asia

University of Chicago Press

Tantra occupies a unique position in Western understandings of Hindu spirituality. Its carnal dimension has made its name instantly recognizable, but this popular fascination with sex has obscured its philosophical depth and ritual practices, to say nothing of its overall importance to Hinduism. This book offers a clear, well-grounded overview of Tantra that offers substantial new insights for scholars and practitioners. André Padoux opens by detailing the history of Tantra, beginning with its origins, founding texts, and major beliefs. The second part of the book delves more deeply into key concepts relating to the tantric body, mysticism, sex, mantras, sacred geography, and iconography, while the final part considers the practice of Tantra today, both in India and in the West. The result is an authoritative account of Tantra’s history and present place in the world.

Tantric Mantras (Routledge Studies in Tantric Traditions)

Providing a systematic and complete overview of the highest scholarly quality on Tantric mantras in Hinduism, this book presents a summary on the nature of Tantric mantras, their phonetic aspect, structure and classifications. Additionally, it explains the metaphysical-theological nature of Tantric mantras and gives an introduction to their beliefs and practices. In individual chapters, Andre Padoux discusses the extraction and examination of mantras, certain characteristics such as their "perfect nature" and their imperfections, and he describes certain mantrics practices. For the first time, Andre Padoux' work on Tantric mantras is made accessible to an English-speaking readership. This book will be of great interest to scholars of Religious Studies, Theology, Indology, South Asian Studies, and Asian Religion.

Reference

Routledge

This book is about the power of the Word conceived as the main and most effective aspect of divine energy. It is the only systematic study in English of notions concerning the Word (Vac) as these are expounded in the shaiva tantras of Kashmir and in related texts. Padoux first describes the Vedic origins of these notions, then their development in texts of different tantric traditions. He shows how different levels of the Word abide in humans, how these levels are linked to the kun, and how they develop into articulate speech and discursive thought. He also describes how the universe is created out of the letters of the alphabet. The last two chapters explain the powers of mantras as sacred ritual utterances. These powers are described as magical as well as religious, because they can achieve supernatural results as well as lead to salvation. Their uses are linked to yogic mental and bodily practices.

Vac: The Concept of the Word in Selected Hindu Tantras (S U N Y SERIES IN THE SHAIVA TRADITIONS OF KASHMIR)

Religion & Spirituality

Hinduism

State Univ of New York Pr

This book is about the power of the Word conceived as the main and most effective aspect of divine energy. It is the only systematic study in English of notions concerning the Word (Vac) as these are expounded in the shaiva tantras of Kashmir and in related texts. Padoux first describes the Vedic origins of these notions, then their development in texts of different tantric traditions. He shows how different levels of the Word abide in humans, how these levels are linked to the kun, and how they develop into articulate speech and discursive thought. He also describes how the universe is created out of the letters of the alphabet. The last two chapters explain the powers of mantras as sacred ritual utterances. These powers are described as magical as well as religious, because they can achieve supernatural results as well as lead to salvation. Their uses are linked to yogic mental and bodily practices.

Vac: The Concept of the Word in Selected Hindu Tantras (Suny Series in the Shaiva Traditions of Kashmir)

Comprendre le tantrisme (Espaces Libres - Spiritualités Vivantes)

ALBIN MICHEL

In Tantra, André Padoux, an expert on India and Hinduism, dispels the common myths and stereotypes of tantrism—including its reputation for indulging extravagance, excess, and hedonism—and reveals instead the richness of Tantra’s rituals, symbols, and philosophies. The author discusses Tantra’s importance to some of the most fundamental aspects of Hinduism, including goddess worship, the science of mantras, ritual sexuality, mandalas, and more, but also illuminates Tantra’s relevance in Western culture. This is an essential guide to the myriad aspects of the practice of Hindu tantrism. En El tantra, André Padoux, un experto en la India y el hinduismo, desvanece los mitos y estereotipos comunes del tantrismo—incluyendo su reputación de permitir extravagancias, excesos y hedonismo—y revela más bien la riqueza de los rituales, los símbolos y las filosofías del tantra. El autor discute la importancia del tantra a algunos de los aspectos más fundamentales del hinduismo, incluyendo el culto de la diosa, la ciencia de los mantras, la sexualidad ritualizada, mandalas y más, pero ilumina también la relevancia del tantra en la cultura occidental. Ésta es una guía esencial a los aspectos variados de la práctica del tantrismo hindú.

El tantra: La tradición hindú (Sabiduria Perenne) (Spanish Edition)

Politics & Social Sciences

Philosophy

Editorial Kairos

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Books by Padoux, André

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Padoux, André. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Hindu Tantric World: An Overview

The Hindu Tantric World: An Overview

Tantric Mantras (Routledge Studies in Tantric Traditions)

Vac: The Concept of the Word in Selected Hindu Tantras (S U N Y SERIES IN THE SHAIVA TRADITIONS OF KASHMIR)

Vac: The Concept of the Word in Selected Hindu Tantras (Suny Series in the Shaiva Traditions of Kashmir)

Tantric Mantras (Routledge Studies in Tantric Traditions)

Comprendre le tantrisme (Espaces Libres - Spiritualités Vivantes)

El tantra: La tradición hindú (Sabiduria Perenne) (Spanish Edition)