An Introduction to Tantric Sex in Hindu Thought

India is a land of mystery and the Hindu religion is a great wonder by itself. This is the only religion in the world that advocates many paths to achieve god and salvation. You can do it by prayer and penance as well as gyan (knowledge). One of the paths advocated from the Vedic period is the science of tantra that includes sexual awakening. Not many western scholars were aware of tantric thought and its relation to the sex act. For this we are indebted to Sir John Woodruff who died about seven decades back. He was the first western to have written and understood tantric rituals and theory. Tantra is a part of the Hindu philosophy and concerns the act of procreation in a ritual manner as a path to God.

Tantric thought is as old as the Hindu religion and has been passed by one generation to another down the ages. It could be as old as 4500-5000 years and generally refers to two gods of the Hindu pantheon namely Shiva and the goddess Shakti. These gods represent the male and female forms of life.

Hindu tantra philosophy advocates that the sexual union between a man and a woman releases infinite energy and if channelized properly can lead to self realization and by default bliss. The sexual act itself is considered sacred and a path to God. One of the most significant aspects of tantric yoga is the importance of foreplay. Believers in tantric practice spend a long time massaging the partner's body and just exploring it with their lips and tongue. They try and do everything in unison so that the sexual energy is awakened. Tantra teaches that senses, touch, breath, kisses and unabashed exploration of the lover's body creates the energy that can unshackle the bonds of time. It is not uncommon for a male to dwell for long and worship with his tongue and lips the most feminine part of his lover's body - the female sex organ and the clitoris.

Tantric sex is not easily understood and to reject it out of hand just because it does not conform to Christian thought would be a mistake. Tantric sex however is part of ancient Hindu philosophy, animism and even Buddhism. But the road can be fulfilling if one believes in tantric culture and goes into it deeply.

Tantric sex is without any compulsion or self laid barriers. It is something spontaneous and certainly the western world will be better off in understanding tantric sex. However it must be remembered that Tantric sex is essentially a ritual for creation and hence contraceptives of any type are taboo. Tantra denotes slender threads and lines which connect to the four essentials of Hindu thought like Veda (ancient books), Yoga, Mantra (Prayers), and Yantra (Tools). It is a separate aspect of Hindu thought and needs deep study.