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tantra definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: any of a fairly recent class of Hindu or Buddhist religious literature concerned with ritual acts of body and speech and mind
2: doctrine of enlightenment as the realization of the oneness of one's self and the visible world; combines elements of Hinduism and paganism including magical and mystical elements like mantras and mudras and erotic rites; especially influential in Tibet [syn: Tantra, Tantrism]

Merriam Webster's

noun Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Sanskrit, literally, warp, from tanoti he stretches, weaves; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin Date: 1799 one of the later Hindu or Buddhist scriptures dealing especially with techniques and rituals including meditative and sexual practices; also the rituals or practices outlined in the tantra • tantric adjective, often capitalized • Tantrism noun • Tantrist noun

Britannica Concise

In some Indian religions, a text that deals with esoteric aspects of religious teaching. There is considerable tantric literature and practice in Hinduism, Buddhism, and, to a lesser extent, Jainism. Because tantric practices typically represent teachings of relatively late development and incorporate elements of different traditions, they are often eschewed by orthodox practitioners. In Hinduism, tantras deal with popular aspects of the religion, such as spells, rituals, and symbols. Buddhist tantric literature, believed to date from the 7th cent. or earlier, has reference to numerous practices, some involving sexual activity, that have no basis in canonical literature.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. any of a class of Hindu or Buddhist mystical and magical writings. Derivatives: tantric adj. tantrism n. tantrist n. Etymology: Skr., = loom, groundwork, doctrine f. tan stretch

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Tantra Tan"tra (t[a^]n"tr[.a]; t[u^]n"-), n. [Skr.] (Hinduism) A ceremonial treatise related to Puranic and magic literature; esp., one of the sacred works of the worshipers of Sakti. -- Tan"tric (-tr[i^]k), a.