A DIALOGUE BETWEEN A GOD AND GODDESS

Tantra: enlightenment to revolution 23 April – 26 July 2020

Originating in early medieval India, Tantra had a huge impact on Hinduism and Buddhism from the 6th century onwards Explore the radical philosophy that transformed the religious, cultural and political landscape of India and beyond in this powerful exhibition.

From its inception to the present day, Tantra has challenged religious, cultural and political norms around the world. A philosophy that emerged in India around the sixth century, Tantra has been linked to successive waves of revolutionary thought, from its early transformation of Hinduism and Buddhism, to the Indian fight for independence and the rise of 1960s counterculture.

The Sanskrit word ‘Tantra’ derives from the verbal root tan, meaning ‘to weave’, or ‘compose’, and refers to a type of instructional text, often written as a dialogue between a god and a goddess. 

It is symbolic of the primordial union of wisdom and compassion – this type of representation originated at the outset of Tibetan Buddhism in the 8th and 9th centuries.