In this thorough text, Hindu Studies scholar Gavin Flood provides an introduction to 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.
The most misrepresented of all Hindu traditions, Tantra is a complex interweaving of teachings and practices that pervades Vai?nava, Saiva, Sakta, and Smarta traditions. Its roots can be traced back to Vedic times and its influence has spread to Jainism, Buddhism, and beyond.
In Tantric Knowledge, Gavin Flood demystifies tantra, illustrating how it is more than just esoteric teachings, but is in fact the very fabric of the Hindu worldview. While sex and secret ritual are an element of some practices, tantra encompasses much more than that. Tantric ideas have shaped core Hindu practices such as temple building, worship, mantra, yoga, ayurveda, meditation, and guru-disciple relationships. It is a part of everyday life.
Tantric Knowledge also highlights how 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. Tantric knowledge is what the texts and traditions profess. The study of these traditions raises interesting questions of both historical and existential importance.
“Tantric Knowledge is a rich and comprehensive study that brings a much-needed perspective on the informed understanding of the Tantric religion ... This is an essential reading that will dispel misunderstandings about Tantra for those smitten by the consumer-oriented, market-driven Tantric spirituality in the West.”
“In addition to his own insights from decades of deep study of the Tantric traditions, Professor Flood neatly incorporates and summarises the great advances made in recent years by other scholars. An essential resource for all those interested in the subject.”
“A lucid exposition, Tantric Knowledge is indispensable for a serious student of the Tantras, a complex religious phenomenon about which many misconceptions persist in popular imagination.”
“With this book, Professor Flood has rendered a great service by providing a much-needed overview of the entire Tantric tradition. Though short, this book covers the vast territory of Tantra with scholarly precision, summarising huge amounts of evidence in an accurate yet accessible manner.”
