Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses: Spiritual Secrets of Ayurveda

by David Frawley

"Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses is an excellent introduction to the essence of Hindu Tantrism. The author discusses all the major concepts and offers valuable corrections for many existing misconceptions. He also introduces the reader to the core Tantric practices of meditation and mantra recitation, focusing on the ten Wisdom Goddesses". --Georg Feuerstein

Genres: Spirituality, Hinduism, Philosophy, Mysticism, India, Goddess, Nonfiction

260 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1994

About the author

David Frawley (or Vāmadeva Śāstrī वामदेव शास्त्री), b. 1950, is an American Hindu teacher (acharya) and author, who has written more than thirty books on topics such as the Vedas, Hinduism, Yoga, Ayurveda and Vedic astrology, published both in India and in the United States. He is the founder and director of the American Institute of Vedic Studies in Santa Fe, New Mexico, which offers educational information on Yoga philosophy, Ayurveda, and Vedic astrology. He works closely with the magazine Hinduism Today, where he is a frequent contributor.[1] He is associated with a number of Vedic organizations in several countries. He is a Vedic teacher (Vedacharya), Vaidya (Ayurvedic doctor), and a Jyotishi (Vedic astrologer).

Reviews

[Rodrigo d'Orey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a great resource for those with a keen interested in the Tantra of the right-hand path, Dakshinachara or the path of peace. The book delves into other interesting topics such as Chakras and the relationship between Ayurveda and Tantra a but it centres mainly on the Dasha Mahavidyas or the Ten Wisdom Goddesses. More theoretical than practical.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

My wee brain is not ready for this yet. Will reread in a few months.

[Britt · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fantastic explanation of the different goddesses, their meditations and forms. I turn to it again and again for comfort and guidance.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

My wife is doing her teacher training so I thought I would check out some books on Yoga. She had attended some yoga practice involving various goddesses which I found interesting so this one caught my eye. Essentially Frawley covers a wide range of Hindu theory, which he does a pretty good job of summarizing but which remains confusing. The wisdom goddesses are pretty interesting but overlap with one another a great deal. Overall I came away rather less enlightened than I hoped I would.

[Nicole Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Starts off going super deep into the Maha Vidyas and then ends up with plenty of discussion on Ayurveda and teachings on the vital essences. Awesome book.

[Nithya Sastry · Rating 5 out of 5]

super interesting concepts with beautiful language to help convey them. the book describes the ten wisdom goddesses as ten paths to liberation, which gave me a more nuanced perspective of what i’ve been learning recently. using archetypes as approaches to moksha is pretty similar to what tarot does as well (and I will be investing in a hindu goddesses oracle deck)

my mom told me to look into advaita vedanta a while ago. this book mentions shakta vedanta, the distinction being that shakta vedanta emphasizes the divinity in form as well as the formless. instead of discounting maya as unreal, it says that the worldly illusions are simply the expression of shakti and her divine play. this seems like a better way to live for me. embracing my life tends to be harder than retreating from it, so my answer is most likely in the former.

the book also expanded on my previous knowledge of ayurveda, which only included the three doshas. the elaboration w prana, tejas, and ojas puts more of a focus on balancing the three rather than focusing on the dominant forces.

tldr: shoutout to the divine feminine

edit: I mentioned divinity in form as well as the formless, but I feel like that leaves out how much the book emphasizes the formless as a part of traditional vedanta. a fair number of the wisdom goddesses were destructive in nature, but they contain the fire which burns away our attachments and allows us to see the truth. this seems really cool in theory, but I don’t think I’m ready to walk that path yet. searching for divinity in everyday life just feels more realistic.

[Kay Baird]

this looks good but I don't have time for all the good ones! Mention it in a "to read" list?

[Utkrisht Fella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deeply immersive and illuminating experience for any spiritual seeker, David Frawley’s “Tantric Yoga and the Wisdom Goddesses” is nothing short of a guided pilgrimage into the heart of Shakta Tantra. Think of it as discovering a hidden temple, rich with the sacred echoes of the 10 Mahavidyas - each chapter like entering a sanctum sanctorum dedicated to one of the divine aspects of the Goddess.

The book does a brilliant job demystifying Tantra - removing the layers of pop culture misinterpretation and reintroducing it as a deeply spiritual, meditative, and transformative path. The iconography, mantras, and sadhanas of the Mahavidyas - Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshwari and the others are detailed with reverence and clarity. Each goddess is presented not just as a deity to be worshipped, but as an archetype to be meditated upon, integrated, and realized.

The Ayurvedic lens adds an enriching dimension, showing how Tantra, Yoga, and Ayurveda are interconnected paths leading to self-realization and healing. Frawley doesn’t just explain, he guides, almost like a learned priest or teacher walking you through a powerful yantra.

This is not a casual read, it is more like visiting a spiritual center that demands your full attention, respect, and inner stillness. Highly recommended for serious sadhaks, spiritual aspirants, and those looking to understand the feminine divine in all her fierce, beautiful, and transformative glory.

This book is a must read for practitioners of Tantra, Yoga, Ayurveda, seekers of Shakti, and admirers of India’s esoteric wisdom traditions.

📚 Tip: Keep a journal alongside - this is more than reading, it’s a spiritual dialogue.

[mikki jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book to have in your library.
Perfect book for someone interested in tantra.
It goes through the different mantra’s and yantra’s for the wisdom goddesses. Plus the different meditations on the goddesses.

It was easy to read however you will need some insights into the eastern philosophy to understand this book.

[Hakim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introduction to the 10 Mahavidyas and tantric concepts, but I would like more practical advice. Also, as the real work with these entities requires initiation, some advice for Westerners as to how go about and get there would be great.

[Valerie Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Frawley clearly demonstrates the attributes of the 10 Mahavidyas in a way that is easily understood. I especially appreciate the chapters about the Shakti Bijas and the Goddess Bagalamukhi.