Tantra is practiced in various forms, including Vaisnava, Shakta, and Shaiva forms. It is popularly known as a fast route to spiritual enlightenment and self-realization by some However, a majority of the orthodox Hindus are wary of the left-hand tantric rites as they consider it very dangerous. The famous perception of Hindus about Tantra is that the practice has an association with black magic as could be seen in Indian journalism.
There are also many tantra applicants who see Tantra as a union that is internally achieved with spiritual beings of different kinds. This is why a large portion of tantric writing features gross, subtle, and deeper meaning. Unfortunately, this thoughts and beliefs undermine the true and deeper meaning of various passages for individuals who do not have the background that is critical to Tantra. A union in the real sense of the word may mean the real performance of sexual intercourse, uniting of ritual concepts through sacrifice and chanting, or true self-realization in the celestial uniting of the divine ideology of Shakti and Shiva in Para Shiva.
John Woodroffe, a leading Western scholar in the field of Tantra and a translator of Tantra greatest works (like Mahanievana Tantra), explains that the Indian Tantras, known as Shastra, makes up the Scripture of Kaliyuga. Therefore, they have a large source of the current and practical conventional Hinduism. Tantra Shastra, as well as its historical foundation, is a development of Vaidika Karmakanda which was propagated to meet the specific needs of that particular age.
Although Hinduism is perceived to be Vedic, Tantras are not seen as part of the traditional Vedic/Hindu scriptures. They are believed to work together. The Agamas of Tantra on one side and the Vedas of traditional Hinduism on the other. Nevertheless, the ideas, mantras, and practices of Atharva Veda are distinctively different and reflect the signs of prevailing non-Aryan control. In fact, Atharva Veda is often quoted in various Tantra texts as a foundation of powerful knowledge. It is important to note that all through Tantras, like Mahanirvana Tantra, there is an alignment which indicates the natural progressions of Vedas. No doubt, Tantra is purely for individuals seeking for spirituality during the age of the Kaliyuga; a period where Vedic practices do not apply to the current state of morality and the performance of Tantra happens to be the most direct route to self-realization. Therefore, apart from the Vajrayana Buddhism, a lot of Tantric thoughts and ideology are Hindu Tantra, most especially those of council worship of the Divine Mother, Kali, and Lord Shiva.
Tantra usually comes in the form of dialogues between Hindu gods, Shakti/Parvati and Shiva. It is important to mention that Shiva is recognized in Hinduism as Yogeshwara or Yogiraj, God of Yoga, or King of Yoga. His companion is believed to be his perfect female equal.