Gods and Goddesses in Tantric Art

To the Western eye, the figures in Tantric art are, at the very least, vaguely disturbing. On a superficial level, they appear to be engaged in scenes of violence, insanity and eroticism. But the images of Tantra are not what they appear to be - underneath each image is a story steeped in symbolism. The deeper meanings behind Tantric art involve transformation, ego death, the destruction of old, fetid ideas and hurtful actions... and the path to enlightenment. In other words, the profound meanings of Tantric art are even more unnerving than the surface scenes.

Strange as they appear, the gods and goddesses of Tantric art are also fascinating and striking to behold. The following Hindu and Tantric artworks - paintings, sculptures and jewelry - are steeped in symbols. We don't expect our capsule interpretations to do them justice, but they will give you a taste of what these gods and goddesses have to offer. All these beautiful images come from the Exotic India site, which also offers more in-depth information. Click on the images that have titles in bold, and you will find Exotic India's commentary. The non-bold links will take you to larger images. You can also read the following articles about Tantric Art:

The Citipati (The Lord of the Cemetery)

The Dance of Shiva and Kali

Next page >> Shiva >> Page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7

All artwork is from Exotic India and many items are available for purchase.