Is Tantra Pseudoscience? Is Tantric Sex Real?

“How to practice Tantric sex? Can Tantrics kill people using their powers? Is it true that we can create wealth using Tantric rituals? How to use Tantra to perform miracles? Are Indian temples built based on Tantra? Where can I learn Tantra Yoga to invoke my Kundalini power? How to bring up Kundalini to Sahasrara Padma (the top chakra)? Is Vedic Tantra powerful as they project?” – I have been getting many such questions from readers in the various part of the world.

Let me reproduce a discussion I had with my friend on the same subject few years ago.

Ratnakar Shenoy asked me: “Uday, what’s Tantra? Is it related to Vedic scriptures?”

“Tantra means technique or technology. According to many learnt sages, Tantra is developed almost same time as Veda – some 5000-7000 years ago. But it is not classified as Veda.”

“Were there any authentic sources of Tantra during that time?”

“Just like Veda, Tantra was also Sruti ( =that which is heard). It was not recorded or written down during that time. The first mention of Tantra was by Kulluka Bhatta in Manu Samhita (interpretation of manusmriti) while he was quoting Harita Samhita (one of the structuring dynamics of Rig Veda) saying that there are two types of Sruti – (1) Vaidikam (2) Tantrikam. Apart from that I don’t know if there are any references…”

“What does Tantra stands for? Some people say Tantra is used mainly related to sex. Others say it is all about sorcery and black magic. Yet another version of Tantra is used in building temples…”

“Could be – Only if you take the literal meaning of Tantra. There may be lot of techniques used in sex. Temple building is also based on some technology, right? Sorcery and black magic come under classification of frauds and fake, so I cannot comment on that…”

“Uday, I know you go by logic only. So, if we cut away the Superstitious part, what really is Tantra? Is it really scientific? How is it useful for us?”

“Since Tantra is developed by ancient Indian sages, it MUST be scientific and rational. And it is useful for us, if we practise it properly. Like all other things (yoga, pranayama etc) People mis-use Tantra just to exploit others and for making money. Tantra will be useful for entire mankind only if But one understands the real meaning and practice of it” I said.

“Can you explain about Tantra?”

“According to experts in Vedic Sanskrit there are two meaning for Tantra. (1) Tantra is that which expands your body (Tanuyathe vistarade idi tantra) and (2) Tantra is that which protects your body. In both cases it clearly says that it is related to body, as Tanu means body…”

“So you mean to say that Tantra is for the body only…”

“I didn’t say that. What can you expand in the body? Only your tummy! You can expand your tummy from six pack to family pack with 2-3 extra tyres around. You can’t expand your nose, ears or any other organs…”

“Probably, the word ‘expansion’ was co-related to male sexual organ by some people…”

“How-much-ever you learn Tantra, if you are weak in the ‘pick-up’ activity or if you have a dysfunction, you won’t enoy normal sex. In such case, you better consult a good medical practitioner and OFCOURSE, not a Tantric.”

“But Tantric methods are useful in sex, right?”

“I don’t think sex requires any religious beliefs, all it matters is a normal body, patience, and a loving partner. You don’t have to learn or practice Tantra for sex…Let’s don’t deviate from the subject,” I curtly said.

“Okay, it is about expanding body…”

“Obviously it was not about expanding the physical body…”

“Is it about expanding mind, Uday? It is also part of body, right?”

“Mind is limited by conditioning, brain capacity and species reality. So, it is not just about body and mind…”

“Then what?”

“Well, our ancestors found that all living things have three constituent bodies: Sthoolam (Physical), Sookshmam (Astral) and Kaaranam (Causal). It would be difficult to explain these aspects in today’s context, so let us make simple to understand. You have a physical body which is called manifestation. And you have…”

Ratnakar interrupted and said: “Yes, I know aura…Kirlian photography proved it…”

“Ratnakar, such things are contestable. I thought we were having scientific discussion. Aura and Kirlian photography are NOT yet proved by science. When we have real facts and figures by proven science with us, why should we depend on unproven or fake science?”

“Ok. So what are the other constituents?”

“Apart from physical body we have a mind or brain. Brain and mind are mostly the same, though it cannot be well-defined that way. Then the third part – consciousness. The existence of consciousness is the hot topic of research in he modern quantum physics. In short, the existence has provided us three tools – the body, imaginative mind and the consciousness.”

“That’s right”

“The technique (Tantra) is used on these three constituents’ tools to expand ourself up to the universe. Tantra is all about using these three tools effectively to expand such a way that we break our limitation and become the pure consciousness. In Star Wars movies, they use a word “The Force”. The Force is defined as “an energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together.” Tantra all about, as far as I know, becoming one with the force!”

“Very interesting Uday. How is it done?”

“Our sages said that the first tool is body. The body has trillions of cells and microbes in it. Each has memories in it DNA. The only external way to change the memories in those cells is using certain sounds in certain frequencies. We know that, according to modern science, DNA can be restructured using the sounds.”

“Oh, that’s why we use some mantras with specific frequency…”

“Right. But you need to learn the actual pronounciation and voice modulation of ancient Sanskrit. You have a unique body structure. Our ancestors found that there are 330 million (33 crores) types of unique bodies in this planet. They called it Devathas. So, your body is similar to one among the 33 crores of Devathas (Gods). This is the most difficult issue in practising the Tantra. You should know which God’s body is in sync with you. Then you will use the mantra specific to that Devatha to invoke your body cell memories…To make it faster you touch your brain too…”

“Touching the brain? How’s it possible?”

“They say there are 51 places in your body where if you touch it while reciting the mantra – it will invert to skin brain which will overt to brain skin. I have not learnt much about it, but it is the way, they say. In short, your body cells wills invoke the memories of the real Devatha body and in turn you will become (or will have the power) of the respective Devatha…”

“Bit confusing Uday, but okay to understand. And the second is mind…”

“Yes, the imagination is used to invoke the mind. Our ancestors say that human or anything in this universe are made up of Pancha Bhootas (five elements). The base (aadharam) is these five elements. So sitting quiet and imagine the bases of your body is the next stage…You sync yourself with the five elements through the five aadharams – Mooladharam (Earth) (where you sit), Swadisthanam (Water), Manipoorakam (Fire), Anahatam (Air) and Vishuddha (Space or Sky)”

“But there are six aadharams…”

“I am coming to that. Once you imagine yourself as the five basic elements, you will cross over it and reach the next stage – Ajna Chakram (brumadhyam) – this part is dissolving yourself. In physics it is similar to the hard/solid (earth) to fluid state (water), then to molecular or atomic (fire) state. From atomic you go to sub-atomic particles which are also known as energy. From gaseous (Air) nature the subatomic particles transform into clear energy (sudha energy) – in Sanskrit it is called visudhi chakram. In short, you move from sthoola (mass) to sookshma (energy) – its Ajna chakram.”

“Wow! It’s difficult to believe our ancestors had so much of nuclear physics in them…”

“Oh, they didn’t believe in anything. They went by facts and figures!”

“Oh, what’s the next stage?”

“This is something ONLY a tantric practitioner will experience. After dissolving yourself as pure energy, what will happen next? I can’t tell you. It’s up to you to experience. Our enquiry ends there. I guess you will find everything is the same – Ellam Siva Mayam. It’s Brahmam.”

“Can’t tell you how much happiness I am getting by just hearing this…So how much a person can get ecstasy if he/she practices this?”

“Yes, you can expand into the “Force” (Sakthi). Who wanted to expand? Me! Sadasivan. What do you want to? Many – So Eshwar! Sadasiva to Eashwara. From ordinary human being you become the cosmic consciousness. That’s what Tantra is all about!”