The unfoldment of sakti, the power inherent in the core of our being, is the key to all worldly and spiritual success. All spiritual traditions, particularly tantra, aim at awakening this dormant power within us. Because it is so vital to our inner growth, without having an in-depth knowledge of the role of sakti, the study and practice of any spiritual tradition is like farming barren ground. The subject matter of this work, while seemingly focused only on sakti, nevertheless opens doors to a vast range of tantric philosophy and practices. It clarifies how tantric philosophy and practice unify the concepts of yantra, mandala, mantra, chakra, kundalini, deities, and ritualistic and meditative practices. It also explains the relationship among the different branches of tantra and tackles the controversial issues concerning the right- and left-handed tantric practices.

About the Author:

Pandit Rajmani Tigunait, Ph.D., the spiritual head of the Himalayan Institute, is the successor of Swami Rama of the Himalayas. Lecturing and teaching worldwide for more than a quarter of a century, he is a regular contributor to Yoga International magazine, and the author of eleven books, including the best-selling, At the Eleventh Hour: The Biography of Swami Rama of the Himalayas.

Pandit Tigunait holds two doctorates: one in Sanskrit from the University of Allahabad in India, and another in Oriental Studies from the University of Pennsylvania. Family tradition gave Pandit Tigunait access to a vast range of spiritual wisdom preserved in both the written and oral traditions. Before meeting his master, Pandit Tigunait studied Sanskrit, the language of the ancient scriptures, of India, as well as the languages of the Buddhist, Jaina, and Zorastrian traditions. In 1976, Swami Rama ordained Pandit Tigunait into the 5,000-year-old lineage of the Himalayan masters.

Reviews:

• "… It is a serious and scholarly work concerning an important but little-understood aspect of the teachings of India… His book will make it easier for people to see Tantra as a path to God, rather than seeing it trivialized, as it has been… Congratulations to Pandit Rajmani… for making this worthwhile contribution available."
  Swami Kriyananda
• "… Panditji masterfully translates the secret language of the tantric scriptures to reveal their hidden meaning and make its wisdom more accessible to the sincere student."
  Sri Swami Satchidananda
• "Sakti: The Power of Tantra is not only useful to scholars but to anyone who wants a deeper view of Tantra and its unfoldment of the secrets of both psyche and cosmos. Such scholarship is badly needed and clears away many misconceptions about this important and beautiful system."
  David Frawley, author of Ayurveda and the Mind, Tantric Yoga, and the Wisdom Goddesses