mantra & tantra

there is a lot of

confusion about these

two sanskrit terms

मन्त्र 'mantra' and तंत्र 'tantra'

pronounced without that big 'a' sound

which they like to make in the west

after every sanskrit term


mantra simply means 'mind technique'

'man'= mind 'tra' = technique

mantras are always 'praises of divinities'

or 'words spoken by divinities'

any 'proper praise of divine'

or 'words from divine in its various avatars'

is a mantra

and it doesn't have to be in sanskrit

mantras are to be repeated verbally & mentally

to focus the mind on divine


tantra means 'body technique'

'tan' = body 'tra' = technique

the use of body

in service to divine

is tantra

one surrenders one's body to

the higher & divine

for purification/ascension


mantra and tantra

are always done in conjunction

one doesn't work without the other