तन्त्र

तन्त्र

See also: तन्त्री

Sanskrit

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-Aryan *tántram, from Proto-Indo-Iranian *tántram, from Proto-Indo-European *tén-tlo-m, from *ten- (“to stretch, extend”). Cognate with Persian تار‎‎ (târ), Latvian tìkls.

Pronunciation

• (Vedic) IPA^(key): /t̪ɐ́n̪.t̪ɽɐ/
• (Classical) IPA^(key): /ˈt̪ɐn̪.t̪ɽɐ/

Noun

तन्त्र • (tántra) n

1. a loom.
2. the warp.
3. the leading or principal or essential part, main point, characteristic feature, model, type, system, framework.
4. doctrine, rule, theory, scientific work, chapter of such a work.
5. a class of works teaching magical and mystical formularies (mostly in the form of dialogues between शिव and दुर्गा and said to treat of 5 subjects, 1. the creation, 2. the destruction of the world, 3. the worship of the gods, 4. the attainment of all objects, especially of 6 superhuman faculties, 5. the 4 modes of union with the supreme spirit by meditation.
6. a spell.
7. oath or ordeal.
8. N. of a सामन् (also called ‘ that of विरूप ’).
9. an army.
10. a row, number, series, troop.
11. a means which leads to two or more results, contrivance.
12. a drug (esp. one of specific faculties).
13. wealth.
14. a house.
15. happiness.

Borrowed terms

• English: tantra
• → Malay: tentera
• → Indonesian: tentara
• Telugu: తంత్రము (tantramu)

Descendants

• Assamese: তাঁত (tãt)

References

• Monier William's Sanskrit-English Dictionary, 2 nd Ed. 1899