Tantra is a special manifestation of Indian feeling art and religion. It may really be understood, in the last resort by people, who are prepared to undertake inner meditative action. Indeed, tantra is one thread, which can guide us through the labyrinth, all the different manifestations of tantra can be strung on it. This thread in the idea that tantra is a cult of ecstasy, focused on a vision of cosmic sexuality, life-styles, ritual magic, myth, philosophy and a complex of signs and emotive symbols converge upon the vision. The basic texts in which these are conveyed are also called tantras. Tantra does also include images and ideas from the oldest strata of Indian religion, many from the Veda and Upanis•ad, often reinterpreting them in visual terms by diagrams and personification. Thus the tantra is the only divine revelation, which throws open the gates of arcane nature of these, who have the coverage to pear into it, self-culture, according to the tantric method develops the will and endows the Sâdhaka (worshiper) with some love powers (siddhis), within a comparatively short time. Indeed, there is no úâstra superior to tantra, no guru superior to tantras, no path superior to tantra, no method superior to tantra.
The present work entitled; Tantra, Tantricism and Tantric Tradition, an attempt has been made by Dr. Srivastava to define, to explain the traditions, modern concept of tantra and to focus and enlighten the tantracism, evolution, development and to describe tantric tradition in simple explanation and lucid manner.
This monograph consists of eight chapters, i.e., (i) Introduction (ii) Tantra, Tradition and Modern concept (iii) Mother goddess (úakti) in Hindu and Buddhist tantras (iv) Devî as the great goddess (v) Tantra in Mahâyâna Buddhism (vi) Tantricism, early medieval economic and social factors (vii) Tantricism - Early history and theoretical concept and (viii) Tantric tradition with special reference to Mahâvidyâs, apart from a detailed bibliography and relevant illustrations.
The present book ensures the fascination to the art-lovers, especially tantric art and readers of tantric tradition.

About the Author

Dr. Kamal Shankar Srivastava, IAS, born in Varanasi (U.P.)., Indian Eminent Scholar, Indologist, Museologist, Journalist, Art Historian and Academician turned Administrator. Obtained the Post-Graduate degrees (M.A.s) in 15 (fifteen) different disciplines (i) Ancient Indian History, culture and Archaeology (ii) History (iii) Museology (iv) English Literature (v) Mass-Communication (vi) Public Administration (vii) Sociology (viii) Hindi Literature (ix) Sanskrit Literature (x) Philosophy & Religion (xi) Political Science & (xii) Social work, (xiii) Economics, (xiv) Defence Studies & (xv) Linguistics, apart from Master of Business Administration (MBA-HRM) and Master of Law (LL.M.). Awarded B.H.U. Gold Medal in 1981. In 1985, Awarded Ph.D. degree in AIHC & Archaeology, Museology from BHU, Varanasi. Also awarded post-graduate diplomas in 11 (Eleven) different disciplines i.e. Business Administration, Tourism Administration, Human Rights Law, Corporate law and Management, Environmental Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Intellectual property rights Law, labour Law, Sustainable Rural Development and Tribal Development Management. In 2003, awarded Doctor of Literature (D. Litt.) degree in History. In 2007, awarded LL.B. & Master of Law (LLM) Degree in 2010. Author of more than 99 (Ninety Nine) published and under publication books concerning different fields of Indian History, Art, Religion and Culture, Iconography, Museology,Tourism, Journalism, Painting, Indology, Heritage and Law etc. Life-fellow of numismatics society of India, Museums Association of India, Bihar Puravid Parishad, Patna, Institute of Constitutional and Parliamentary Studies, New Delhi, Indian Social Science Academy and Executive Member of Baudh Sanskriti Kendra, Patna, and Museum Association of India, New Delhi. Presented several papers and articles more than 79 (Seventy Nine) in the fields of Art, Indology, Museology and Law. Attended two weeks training programme on SAARC Countries in Bangla Desh, Dhaka. Presently, he is an Officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) of Jharkhand Cadre and posted as Additional Director Shri Krishna Institute of Public Administration (SKIPA) i.e., (Administrative Training Institute), Govt. of Jharkhand, Ranchi.