Yoga in Tantraism

Tantraism or Tantra is a form of religious philosophy that considers Shakti as their main deity. Followers of this school of thought believe that the universe is a combination of Shiva and Shakti. Tantra does not discriminate people on the basis of caste, creed, or colour. In this school of thought, there are materialistic barriers in order to obtain knowledge and wisdom, followed by salvation or the liberation of the soul.

According to Tantric beliefs, the world is an illusion. The followers practice several forms of meditation in order to transcend from this illusionary world to salvation. Yoga is practiced by Tantra followers to attain the path to salvation. Chakra meditation technique is practiced by the Tantra followers in large numbers.

The objective of tantric Yoga is to broaden the perception of the individual, irrespective of his state of consciousness. It helps tantrics (practitioners of Tantra) control and regulate the flow of thoughts as well as feelings in their minds. A practitioner of this form of Yoga, therefore, goes beyond mere emotions such as attachment, intolerance, and greed. Instead, he attains a feeling of complete peace and harmony inside himself.

According to Tantric Yoga, the sense organs in the human body are veritable windows through which various kinds of desires enter the human mind. These desires are mainly related to the physical body. The mind desires for the physical body to be comfortable. It is due to such feelings that people behave in a certain manner, because their desires overpower them. This induces a host of emotions in them, ranging from selfishness, to sadness, to dissatisfaction. Tantrics make use of Yoga to control and eliminate such overwhelming desires from the mind.