Traditional[edit]
The Tantric tradition offers various definitions of tantra. One comes from the Kāmikā-tantra:
Because it elaborates (tan) copious and profound matters, especially relating to the principles of
reality (tattva) and sacred mantras, and because it provides liberation (tra), it is called a tantra.[2]
A second, very similar to the first, comes from Swami Satyananda.
Tantra embodies two sanskrit words: tanoti (expands) and trayoti (liberates)... It is the system by
which you liberate or separate the two aspects of consciousness and matter - purusha and prakriti or
Shiva and Shakti.[3]