Understanding Tantrism

André Padoux's book "Understanding Tantrism" is currently the best summarizing work dedicated to the theme of Hindu Tantras. The author, a world-renowned French Indologist, effectively summarizes a century and a half of study on the phenomenon of Tantrism in Western scholarship. Previously, this book was translated into English, Spanish, Italian, and Romanian, and now Russian-speaking readers can also become acquainted with it. Padoux's work is characterized by clear, simple, and accessible language, as well as a logically structured presentation. The author addresses almost all questions related to the worldview and practice of various forms of the Tantric tradition, highlighting both their common features and specificities. At the end of the book, he discusses the current state of Tantra in India and the perception of Tantrism in Western countries. This latter aspect is especially relevant, considering that the phenomenon of so-called "neo-Tantrism" has gained popularity in recent years, including in our country.