Tantric art \b from ritual to visual

Abstract

The contents of Tantric literature can broadly be studied in (i) philosophical and (ii) spiritual contexts. The contents of Tantra work can broadly be divided into four heads, they are: 1.Jnana (wisdom) 2.Yoga (meditation) 3.Kriya (action) and, 4.Carya or siddhi (attainment). These are the general feature which does not apply to each and every Tantric work. The foremost aim of Tantra is to achieve deliverance and siddhi (mysticalpower). To understand its basic ingredients it’s necessary to study its historical background which is very vast and having different schools of thought. The present study clears the concepts, there by its contents are known. The metaphysical art of Tantra has variety of forms, showing different graphic patterns of vivid colours and tones.The reflections of Tantric ideology in the art forms- painting; sculpture and so on,have an aesthetic value besides being powerful in its symbolism, philosophy and worldview of its followers.For broader discussion, these images impart an extraordinary example of how the cognitive faculty of imagination was trained through the careful practice of visualization. These images mean evidential practice, but also finding the meaning of a particular civilization