🇮🇳 Magic in India

123 entries from India, best known first, across 80 places of magic.

Tantra is an esoteric yogic tradition from the Indian subcontinent, initially within Shaivism and Shaktism, later in Buddhism and Vaishnavism. It views the body as divine and uses mantras and rituals to achieve spiritual goals like liberation or supernatural power.

Tantra means loom or weave in Sanskrit
It began in India around the 1st millennium CE
Mantras are central to tantric practice
Sexual practices are rare and restricted
Vajrayana Buddhism uses tantric ideas

Overview

Tantra developed in India around the middle of the first millennium CE. It began in Shaivism and Shaktism before spreading to Buddhism and Vaishnavism. The word means loom or weave, suggesting a system that interlaces different teachings. Practitioners see the human body as a reflection of the cosmos. They aim for union with the divine through complex cosmologies. This path is also called the Path of Mantra. It shares influences with Jainism, Taoism, and Shinto. Western views often wrongly link it to sex, but scholars say sexual practices are rare and restricted.

Practices and beliefs

Practitioners use mantras, rituals, and yoga to transform the self. Goals include siddhi, supernatural accomplishment, and kundalini ascent. Texts describe systems for worship and meditation. Deities, both male and female, are central to ritual worship. Magic, sorcery, and divination appear in these texts. The subtle body is mapped to cosmic elements. Geometric patterns called mandalas guide meditation. Initiation by a teacher is required for many advanced techniques.

Rites and charms

Rites focus on sādhanā, which includes initiation and daily practice. Puja, or ritual worship, honors deities and icons. Meditation helps awaken inner energy. Physical purification techniques cleanse the body and mind. Specific gestures and sounds assign meaning to sacred spaces. The house is swept and salt is thrown at the door in some folk contexts, though Tantra focuses more on internal transformation. These rites are said to protect against negative forces and aid spiritual progress.

Who practises

Tantrikas are adepts who follow specific tantric lineages. They undergo diksha, or initiation, to receive knowledge. Teachers guide students through complex practices. Scholars note that living traditions are often secretive. Ethnography of these groups remains scarce due to this secrecy. Practitioners view their path as a way to realize non-duality. They mix tantric elements with other religious aspects freely.

Regions and communities

Tantra spread across South and East Asia. In Tibet, it influenced Vajrayana Buddhism. Japan has Shingon Buddhism, which uses tantric ideas. China developed Esoteric Buddhism based on Indian tantras. Nepal has Newar Buddhist traditions with tantric roots. Southern Esoteric Buddhism parallels tantric ideas without direct reference. These regional variations show how the tradition adapted to local cultures while keeping core concepts.

The calendar

The text does not specify particular festivals or seasonal events for tantric rites. Practices are often tied to personal sadhana rather than public calendars. Life events may involve tantric rituals for protection or blessing. However, no detailed calendar of ceremonies is provided in the source material.

Law and the state

No information is given about legal status or persecution. The text mentions colonial-era definitions but not modern laws. Western scholarship historically labeled tantra as occult or secret. This was a construction by 19th-century Indologists. There is no mention of state treatment or witch-hunts in the provided article.

Today

Modern views often misrepresent tantra as erotic. Scholars work to correct this by studying texts and living traditions. Anthropological study is difficult due to the secretive nature of practitioners. Some researchers try to demystify the myth of secrecy. The tradition continues to influence Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain practices globally.

Where this page comes from

The facts in this overview come from the Wikipedia article "Tantra", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence. EveryJaadu rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.

Market Oracle Sacred site Trial site or memorial School or museum Town known for a tradition Centre of practice

Places of magic in India

Gaya 2 Haridwar 2 Khajuraho 2 Mathura 2 Ujjain 2 Varanasi 2 West Bengal 2 Ahmedabad 1 Anand district 1 Anandpur Sahib 1 Bhedaghat 1 Charkhi Dadri 1 Chidambaram 1 Delhi 1 Deo Sun Temple 1 Dharanikota 1 Gangotri 1 Gorakhpur 1 Griddhraj Parvat 1 Gujarat 1 Guwahati 1 Hastinapur 1 Hirapur 1 Jodhpur 1 Kalighat 1 Kamakhya 1 Kesariyaji Tirth 1 Kolkata 1 Kottarathil Bhagavati temple 1 Kulpakji Tirth 1 Kulu 1 Kumbakonam 1 Kurukshetra 1 Mahendra Mountains 1 Malabar Coast 1 Malliyor Temple 1 Mataoli 1 Mumbai 1 Nalanda 1 Nashik 1 Oddiyana 1 Omkareshvara Shiva temple 1 Palani Hills 1 Palitana Temples 1 Parkham 1 Patna 1 Prayagraj 1 Rameshwaram 1 Ranakpur Jain temple 1 Ranipur Jharial 1 Rewalsar Lake 1 Solapur 1 Tara Tarini 1 Thanjavur district 1 Thiruparankundram 1 Thiruvananthapuram 1 Tiruvannamalai 1 Trichy 1 Vadukku Poigainallur 1 Vidisha 1 Vikramashila 1 Vimala 1 Vrindavan 1 Western Ghats 1 Adyar Ahobilam Amona Barasat Bhagalpur Bodh Gaya Byadgi Dakshineswar Kali Temple Dattatrya Mandir Erode Guntur Gurgaon Idukki Jetavana Monastery Kalighat Temple Kamakhya Temple

KindTradition Rite Charm Oracle Substance Being Figure Text Illusion Belief

PurposeProtection Healing Seeing and foretelling Luck and prosperity Love and attraction Cursing and harm Cleansing and purification Speaking with spirits and the dead Change and initiation Binding and oaths Power and authority Wonder and entertainment

WhoShamans Folk healers Priests and ritual specialists Witches, sorcerers and cunning folk Diviners and readers Mediums and the possessed Ceremonial magicians and alchemists Households and ordinary people Stage magicians Scholars and sceptics

BeliefHindu and Tantric Buddhist Jain Muslim and Sufi Jewish Christian Sikh Zoroastrian Shinto and Taoist Indigenous and shamanic African and Afro-diasporic Pagan and Neopagan Esoteric and occult Folk and village custom Secular and stage Other traditions

OccasionWeddings and betrothal Festivals Birth and childhood Death and remembrance Harvest, farming and weather New year Initiation and coming of age Illness and misfortune Journeys and voyages Everyday use

StandingLiving Revived Fading Historical Legendary Performed

OrderBest known A to Z Newest Living first

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreAstrology A divinatory practice that reads human fate through the positions of celestial bodies.Belief · Seeing and foretelling · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 2 morePalmistry A divination method that interprets the lines and shapes of the hand to predict fate or reveal character.Oracle · Seeing and foretelling · Power and authority Living

🇮🇳 IndiaChakraचक्र Meditation points in the subtle body used in Hindu and Buddhist yogaTradition · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Change and initiation Living

🇹🇷 Turkey and 5 moreEvil eye A curse believed to be cast by a jealous glare and the charms used to stop itBelief · Protection Living

🇮🇳 IndiaTheyyam A ritual dance from Kerala where performers embody deities through elaborate costume and songRite · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Protection Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreSpirit possession A global belief that spirits or demons can take control of a person's body and mindBelief · Cursing and harm · Power and authority Living 🇮🇳 IndiaAlakshmiदेवी अलक्ष्मी A Hindu goddess of misfortune and the shadow opposite to LakshmiBeing · Cursing and harm Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreKolamகோலம் A daily geometric floor drawing made with rice flour at the home entrance in South IndiaTradition · Protection · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreTantraतन्त्र An esoteric yogic tradition from India focusing on ritual, mantra, and body-based spiritual practices.Tradition · Power and authority · Change and initiation Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreRangoliरंगोली Floor art made with coloured powders and flowers to welcome guests and deitiesTradition · Protection · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreLakshmiलक्ष्मी A Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, and beauty, worshipped as the consort of Vishnu.Being · Luck and prosperity · Power and authority Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreNavagrahaनवग्रह A group of nine celestial deities in Hinduism that govern fate and astrologyTradition · Protection · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 IndiaHindu astrologyज्योतिष (Jyotiṣa) A traditional Hindu system of astrology and timekeeping rooted in the VedasTradition · Seeing and foretelling · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreHomaहोम A fire ritual found across Asian religions where offerings are burned as a votive exchange with the divine.Rite · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇷 Iran and 7 moreNowruzنوروز A spring equinox festival marking the new year across Persianate culturesTradition · Luck and prosperity · Cleansing and purification Living

🇮🇳 IndiaBhuta KolaBhūta Kōla A Tulu folk dance and ritual where spirits are channelled into human performersTradition · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇸🇩 Sudan and 5 moreIncense Aromatic plant materials burned to release fragrant smoke for ritual, scent, or timekeeping.Substance · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreAncestor worship Rites of respect for the dead that maintain family bonds and seek spiritual guidanceTradition · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇸🇳 Senegal and 5 moreAncestor veneration Rituals of respect and offerings for the dead across many culturesTradition · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇪 Ireland and 5 moreBonfire A large outdoor fire used in seasonal festivals and religious feasts across many culturesRite · Cleansing and purification · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇷 Iran and 2 moreBibliomancy Divination by opening a book at random and reading the first passage foundOracle · Seeing and foretelling · Power and authority Living

🇮🇱 Israel and 1 moreShimon bar Yochaiשמעון בר יוחאי A second-century sage of the Land of Israel and a central figure in Kabbalistic tradition.Figure · Power and authority Historical

🇮🇳 India and 5 morePretaप्रेत A suffering spirit of insatiable hunger found in Asian religious traditionsBeing · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇨🇳 China and 5 moreSky lantern天燈 A paper hot air balloon lifted by flame to carry wishes and blessingsRite · Luck and prosperity · Protection Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreHoliहोली A Hindu spring festival marked by coloured powders and bonfires to celebrate love and virtue.Tradition · Love and attraction · Cursing and harm Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreDiyaदीया A small oil lamp used in prayers and festivals across the Indian subcontinentTradition · Protection · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 IndiaKaliकाली A fierce Hindu goddess of time and destruction, worshipped as a protective mother.Being · Protection · Cursing and harm Living

🇮🇳 India and 3 moreMaha Shivaratriमहाशिवरात्रि A Hindu night of fasting and vigil dedicated to the deity ShivaTradition · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreShivaशिव A principal Hindu deity of destruction and yoga, worshipped across South and Southeast AsiaBeing · Power and authority · Change and initiation Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreGarba A Gujarati circle dance performed around a central symbol during NavaratriIllusion · Power and authority · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreDurga Pujaদুর্গাপূজা A ten-day autumn festival honouring the goddess Durga and her victory over evil.Tradition · Protection · Luck and prosperity Living

🇲🇦 Morocco and 5 moreWild rueاسپند A desert plant whose seeds hold psychoactive alkaloids and serve as incense in the Middle East.Substance · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇳 India and 7 moreMakar Sankrantiमकरसङ्क्रान्ति A solar festival marking the sun's northward shift and the winter harvest across South Asia.Tradition · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 morePitru Pakshaपितृ पक्ष A sixteen-day Hindu period for honoring ancestors through food offerings and death ritesTradition · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreŚrāddhaश्राद्ध A Hindu rite of ancestor worship involving food offerings and fire ritualsRite · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Cleansing and purification Living

🇮🇳 IndiaTarpanaतर्पण A Vedic offering of water and seeds to gods, sages, and ancestorsRite · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Power and authority Living

🇮🇳 IndiaAkshaya Tritiyaअक्षय तृतीया A Hindu and Jain spring festival marking a day of inexhaustible merit and new beginnings.Tradition · Luck and prosperity · Protection Living 🇮🇳 IndiaMuhurtamuhūrta A Hindu unit of time used to select auspicious moments for rituals and daily practiceBelief · Power and authority · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

🇮🇳 IndiaParashuramaपरशुराम (Paraśurāma) The warrior sage of Hinduism who wields a divine axe to restore cosmic balance.Being · Power and authority · Cursing and harm Legendary

🇮🇳 IndiaKamakhya Templekamakhya mondir A Hindu temple in Assam known for its yoni shrine and the Ambubachi Mela festivalTradition · Protection · Healing Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreShakta pithasशाक्त पीठ (Śākta Pīṭha) Sacred shrines in Shaktism marking where parts of the goddess Sati fell to earth.Tradition · Speaking with spirits and the dead · Power and authority Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreSnake worship Veneration of serpents as divine or ancestral beings across global culturesTradition · Protection · Healing Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreSnake charming A street performance using a gourd flute to make snakes swayIllusion · Wonder and entertainment · Luck and prosperity Fading

🇮🇳 IndiaKautuka A red or yellow ritual thread worn for protection in South Asian traditionsCharm · Protection Living

🇮🇳 India and 5 moreKartikeyaKārttikeya Hindu god of war and victory, son of Shiva and ParvatiBeing · Power and authority · Protection Living

🇮🇳 India and 1 moreSantoshi Mataसंतोषी माता A Hindu goddess of contentment worshipped through a Friday ritual fast.Being · Protection · Luck and prosperity Living

🇮🇳 India and 2 moreSuryaसूर्य The sun as a Hindu deity and the source of light and knowledgeBeing · Power and authority · Healing Historical

🇮🇳 India and 4 moreBonབོན། The indigenous religion of Tibet and the Himalayas, preserving ancient rituals alongside Buddhist teachings.Tradition · Protection · Speaking with spirits and the dead Living

Photo credits on this page

The small pictures above come from Wikimedia Commons under free licences. Some are cropped to fit.

Kolam: mckaysavage, CC BY 2.0, source
Homa: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source
Wild rue: Yuriy75, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Garba: anurag agnihotri, CC BY 2.0, source
Holi: Jitenderasingh, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Kamakhya Temple: JyotiPN, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Chakra: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Palmistry: Pietro della Vecchia, Public domain, source
Preta: Temple, Richard Carnac, Sir, Public domain, source
Evil eye: FocalPoint, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Astrology: Wilfredor, CC0, source
Incense: nakimusi, CC BY 2.0, source
Theyyam: Shagil Kannur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Tantra: William Clark, Public domain, source
Hindu astrology: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source
Navagraha: Kiran891, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bhuta Kola: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Rangoli: SreeramKalyan, CC0, source
Lakshmi: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Spirit possession: Unknown author, CC BY 4.0, source
Nowruz: Katzenfee50, CC0, source
Ancestor worship: Lyn Gateley, CC BY 2.0, source
Ancestor veneration: Thang Nguyen, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Bonfire: S Marshall, CC BY 3.0, source
Bibliomancy: Albert Robida, Public domain, source
Shimon bar Yochai: איתי פרץ, Attribution, source
Sky lantern: Richy, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Diya: Suyash Dwivedi, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Maha Shivaratri: Navneesh Ramessur, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Shiva: Indianhilbilly, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Kali: Raja Ravi Varma, Public domain, source
Durga Puja: Subhrajyoti07, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Makar Sankranti: Saloni Desai, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Śrāddha: Billjones94, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Tarpana: Biswarup Ganguly, CC BY 3.0, source
Pitru Paksha: Firoz Shakir, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Akshaya Tritiya: Fgndgndgnr, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Parashurama: Unknown author, Public domain, source
Shakta pithas: Abhishek Chandra, Public domain, source
Kautuka: Aditya.Asopa, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Snake worship: Alexandermcnabb, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Snake charming: Paris75000, Public domain, source
Kartikeya: Dassmahen, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Santoshi Mata: Nishu0246, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
Bon: Jialiang Gao (peace-on-earth.org), CC BY-SA 3.0, source
Surya: Ravi Varma Press, Public domain, source