Tantrism is a system of yoni-worship, or female-centered sex-worship, which allegedly began thousands of years ago in India by women of a secret sect called Vratyas, the processors of the devadasis or sacred harlots.
The religion was associated with later written scriptures known as Tantras, therefore, it became known as Tantrism. Its primary objective was the adoration of the lingam-yoni, sign of the male and female principles in conjunction (the god Shiva and the goddess Kali). Tantrism is still practiced in India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet.
The basic tenet of Tantrism is that the woman possesses more spiritual energy than the man; therefore, the man can achieve realization of divinity through sexual and emotional union with a woman.
A fundamental rite was controlled sexual intercourse, maithuna, Latin, coitus reservatus; sex without male orgasm. In theory the man must store up his sexual fluid rather than expelling it by ejaculation. Through Tantric training, he learned to absorb through his penis the fluid engendered by his partner’s orgasm and to prolong sexual intercourse for many hours. In this way he became similar to Shiva, the God in perpetual union with the Goddess.
Theoretically, the concept was that the conserved vital fluids would be stored in the man’s spinal column, working their way up through the chakras to his head, and there flower the inspiration of divine wisdom. The Tantras explains the purposes of the various rites and the philosophy underlying them.
Source:
Walker, Barbara G.
The Woman's Encyclopedia of Myths and Secrets.
New York, Harper Collins, 1983 [ISBN 0-06-250925-X]
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