Tantra - definitions

"Tantra is that Asian body of beliefs and practices which, working from the principle that the universe we experience is nothing other than the concrete manifestation of the divine energy of the Godhead that creates and maintains that universe, seeks to ritually appropriate and channel that energy, within the human microcosm, in creative and emancipatory ways."

- David Gordon White, 'Tantra in Practice'

Tantras as 'scriptures' and 'Tantra' as 'technique':

Tantras ("Looms" or "Weavings") refers to numerous and varied scriptures pertaining to any of several esoteric traditions rooted in Hindu and Buddhist philosophy.

The Hindu Tantras total ninety-two scriptures.

The word 'Tantra' means literally 'weave', but it has also come to mean 'technique' or 'method'. Hence the Hindu Tantra scriptures refer to techniques for achieving a result, which in most cases is Self-realisation.