Tantric Paintings

Tantra is an esoteric pagan tradition in Hinduism, which includes extensive use of the mantra or symbolic speech and mandala, symbolic diagrams, to attain enlightenment. The mother goddess is of vital importance in the tradition of Tantra. Hindu Tantric rituals include things like meditation on cremation grounds and corpses, ritualistic use of wine, meat and sexual intercourse. These worldly means will help in unifying the soul with the supreme power. Tantra art exists in Hindu, Buddhist and Jain forms. Tantra in its various art forms exists in South Asia, China, Japan, Tibet, Korea, Cambodia, Burma, Indonesia and Mongolia. According to tantric principles, there is a total parallelism between the microcosm of physical reality and the macrocosm of the universe, the revelation of these dynamic forces in the human body is said to lead to the comprehension of universal reality.

Tantra is that Asian body of beliefs and practices which, working from the principle that the universe we experience is nothing other than the concrete manifestation of the divine energy of the Godhead that creates and maintains that universe. Tantra Paintings are a study of the analogy between the physical body (microcosm) and the universe (macrocosm). The philosophy behind these paintings is same as that of the Tantric philosophy– meditation and disciplined bodily behavior can equip with the power to control the outer world. Tantra tradition is an integral part of Hinduism and it includes usage of mantra. Tantra paintings are quite unique in the sense that the theme and images are very contrasting in nature. The tantric paintings are abstract and are normally very complex. Tantra paintings are known to be obscure.

Tantric paintings abound in abstract, multivalent and oblique images. The obscurity of these paintings can be attributed on them being meditations on paintings. When a Tantra painting is worshipped it becomes the symbolic representation of the deity and it abounds in energy. Every such painting is the dwelling place of the deity who is being represented. The best part about tantra art paintings is the spiritual aura surrounding them. It is not just a form of art. It’s a form of meditation and manifestation of supreme power