A scripture, sacred text, or treatise concerning Tantric teachings and/or rituals
Sacred scriptures containing spiritual and psycho-physical teachings concerned with the transmutation of energy, liberation of the mind, attainment of (supernatural) skills and other more or less esoteric (secret) practices.
These texts form the base for what is generally known as Tantra in the sense of a spiritual tradition.
There is a number of both Hindu and Buddist Tantra's that have meanwhile been translated and published in Western languages. yet by far the most texts are still available only in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Bengali, Chinese or Japanese. The linked texts are further discussed in these pages.
Some of these texts do not have the name Tantra in their title, but they contain Tantric teachings nevertheless.
| name | approx. time | orientation |
|---|---|---|
| Mahavidya Tantra | 300 | Oldest Hindu Tantra |
| Guhyasamaja Tantra | 350 | Oldest Buddhist Tantra |
| Mahavairocana Tantra | 650 | Buddhist |
| Chandamaharosana Tantra | 700 | Buddhist |
| Prajnopaya-viniscaya Siddhi | 700 | Buddhist |
| Chakrasamvara Tantra | 750 | Buddhist |
| Hevajra Tantra | 750 | Buddhist |
| Kalachakra Tantra | 750 | Buddhist |
| Brahma Yamala | 900 | Hindu |
| Jayadratha Yamala | 900 | Hindu |
| Kaulajnana Nirnaya | 900 | Hindu |
| Kubjikamata | 900 | Hindu |
| Malinivijayottara Tantra | 900 | Hindu |
| Netra Tantra | 900 | Hindu |
| Tantrasadbhava | 900 | Hindu |
| Kalivilasa Tantra | 950 | Hindu |
| Kumari Tantra | 1000 | Hindu |
| Lakshmi Tantra | 1000 | Hindu |
| Mahamaya Tantra | 1000 | Buddhist |
| Niruttara Tantra | 1000 | Hindu |
| Nila Tantra | 1030 | Hindu |
| Tantraloka | 1050 | Hindu |
| Vajrayogini Tantra | 1050 | Buddhist |
| Naro Chos-Drug | 1080 | Buddhist |
| Nigu Chos-Drug | 1090 | Buddhist |
| Mila Gnubum | 1100 | Buddhist |
| Gupta-Sadhana Tantra | 1100 | Hindu |
| Sutra of Secret Bliss | 1100 | Buddhist, Japanese |
| Jewel Ornament of Liberation | 1150 | Buddhist |
| Kalika Purana | 1150 | Hindu |
| Padma Kathang Sanglingma | 1175 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Kurukulla Tantra | ? | Buddhist |
| Mahakala Tantra | ? | Buddhist |
| Manjushri Mula Tantra | ? | Buddhist |
| Samvarodaya Tantra | ? | Buddhist |
| Seventeen Mannagde Tantras | ? | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Vajrapatala Tantra | ? | Buddhist |
| Mahachinacara Tantra | ? | Mixed - Hindu & Buddhist |
| Tantraraja Tantra | ? | Hindu |
| Manthanabhairava Tantra | 1200 | Hindu |
| Yoginihridaya Tantra | 1200 | Hindu |
| Parasurama-kalpa Sutra | 1250 | Hindu |
| Kulacudamani Tantra | 1300 | Hindu |
| Kularnava Tantra | 1300 | Hindu |
| Rudrayamala Tantra | 1300 | Hindu |
| Saradatilaka | 1300 | Hindu |
| Bardo Thödol | 1350 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Kali Tantra | 1350 | Hindu |
| Kamakhya Tantra | 1350 | Hindu |
| Kamaratna Tantra | 1350 | Hindu |
| Nyingtig Yabshi | 1350 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Seven Treasures | 1350 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Yogini Tantra | 1350 | Hindu |
| Padma Kathang Sheldrakma | 1375 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Kaulavali Nirnaya Tantra | 1600 | Hindu |
| Mahanirvana Tantra | 1600 | Hindu |
| Yoni Tantra | 1650 | Hindu |
| Longchen Nyingtig | 1750 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |
| Rinchen Terzö Chenmo | 1850 | Buddhist, Dzogchen |