Tantric Buddhism

Tantric Buddhism, along with the Hinayana and Mahayana, is one of the Buddhist traditions. This tradition, which consists of a set of beliefs and practices bound up with tantric scriptures, is mainly regarded as intuitional. The tantric texts began to appear since about the third century AD; and the fact that there are a large number of them shows its significance. This tradition is associated with a variety of meditations and rituals which are concerned with the worldly affairs, being a means of achieving salvation and Buddhahood as well. In about the seventh century AD, it was also known as Vajrayana, the diamond way. Mantranaya, the path of mantras, is another term which refers to the tantric Buddhism. This title indicates that the use of mantra is the characteristic aspect of tantric practice. Other features of this tradition are as follows: initiation, incarnation, invocation and worship of gods, use of mandalas, and the presence of the Guru (teacher).