Tantric Knowledge
Philosophy, History, Practice
Mandala Publishing · Print & ebook · May 6, 2025
In this book, distinguished scholar of Hinduism and Comparative Religion Gavin Flood provides a general introduction to the subject of Tantra: what it is, where it fits into the history of South Asia and beyond, what its links are to Hinduism and Buddhism, and how contemporary Tantra transforms the older tradition.
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- Who it’s for
- Explore Hindu Tantra’s history, practices, and ideas about the universe and human life.
- Genres
- Hinduism - General, Comparative Religion, Hindu Rituals & Practice
- Published
- Mandala Publishing, May 6, 2025
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Start with this bookAbout this book
In this book, distinguished scholar of Hinduism and Comparative Religion Gavin Flood provides a general introduction to the subject of Tantra: what it is, where it fits into the history of South Asia and beyond, what its links are to Hinduism and Buddhism, and how contemporary Tantra transforms the older tradition. Tantra has become a topic of wide interest, associated in the popular imagination with improving one’s love life or with sensational magic and nefarious goings on.
Continue reading
Both have a tenuous link with the historical reality of Tantra, its long history and traditions of practice and belief. In Tantric Knowledge, Gavin Flood sets out to correct these common misrepresentations, offering a balanced and engaging thematic introduction to the ideas, practices, and history of Hindu Tantra. Tantric Knowledge explores what the Tantric traditions are, their origin and formation, and what they mean for us today. Tantric traditions claim to possess knowledge about the nature of the universe, the nature of ourselves as human beings, and how we fit into the wider cosmos around us. This book is about this Tantric knowledge in the texts and traditions that profess it. The study of these traditions raises important questions of both historical and existential importance.
Tantric Knowledge Traditions
Explore Hindu Tantra’s history, practices, and ideas about the universe and human life.
Come here for
- How Tantra fits into South Asian history and beyond
- Its links to Hinduism and Buddhism
Expect
- A thematic introduction to Hindu Tantra’s ideas, practices, and history
- Discussion of how contemporary Tantra transforms older traditions
Where it sits
| Hinduism - General | 52% |
|---|---|
| Hindu Rituals & Practice | 38% |
| Comparative Religion | 35% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Sacred Sexuality
- Hindu History
- Hindu Rituals & Practice
- Authors
- Gavin Flood, The Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, Gavin D. Flood
- Publisher
- Mandala Publishing
- Published
- May 6, 2025
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Sacred Sexuality