The African Roots of Tantra

It is commonly accepted that the pre-Vedic roots of what we now call “Tantra” can be traced back several thousand years to an area known as “The Indus Valley”. 

Archaeological evidence indicates that the Indus Valley Civilization thrived along the Indus and Saraswati rivers from 3300 BCE to 1300 BCE. The Indus Valley was a “cradle of civilisation”, along with other regions such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Peru, China, and Mexico. It is believed that the cultures of South Asia, Tibet, Mainland Southeast Asia (except Vietnam), and maritime Southeast Asia can trace their civilisations (though not necessarily their languages or bloodlines) back to the Indus Valley. Recent genetic studies, including analyses of ancient DNA from sites such as Rakhigarhi, have linked the Indus Valley population to groups that migrated out of Africa and through the Middle East. 

According to geneticist Dr. Spencer Wells, “The Indus Valley culture, which according to some archaeologists is at least 6,000 years old, was not a Vedic civilization but primarily a Tantra-based civilization”, which, according to historical record, was established by a group of people referred to as the Dravidians.

Who were the Dravidian people who cultivated the roots of this ancient, powerful, and controversial spiritual tradition?  

Described as “tall, slender, and very dark-skinned”, recent genetic, linguistic, and archeological evidence all indicate that the Dravidian people were originally African people who migrated from the areas now known as Nubia, Ethiopia, and Sudan.

According to archaeological records, pre-Vedic Indus Valley Tantra began as a matricentric, goddess-worshipping spiritual belief system centered on agriculture and the rhythms and cycles of life. Indus Valley Tantra, by all reports, was shamanistic, animistic, and female-centric. Archaeological research on the Indus Valley civilization indicates that this society possessed no weapons, only farming tools and implements, suggesting it was peaceful and matrilineally organized.

There is little doubt that the roots of Tantra were firmly planted in the fertile soil of the Indus Valley. According to archaeological, genetic, and linguistic evidence, the Indus Valley was established by people who shared genetic markers with individuals from diverse regions of Africa. These areas were home to rich and diverse cultures, each contributing distinct elements to the spiritual and cultural landscape. In short, it is a historical fact that pre-Vedic Tantra was developed by people who originated from diverse African cultures.

Where does Vedic Tantra come from?

Archaeological, genetic, and historical evidence, such as the Rig Veda, indicates that the Vedas were introduced to the Indus Valley nearly 5000 years ago and merged with the region’s indigenous practices, developing into what we now understand as Vedic Tantra. One example of this syncretism is the incorporation of the indigenous Indus practice of yoga, which focused on breath control and meditation, into the Vedic framework. This integration led to the development of specific yoga postures, which were later associated with various Vedic rituals and spiritual practices. 

Vedic Tantra also introduced patriarchy and anti-black racism into that region. With the introduction of the Vedas, we see the emergence of the caste system in India. The caste system originated as a hierarchical system of oppression that values light skin over darker, more melanated skin. As economic and political structures evolved, this hierarchical system became more entrenched, linking social status to skin color and legitimizing the racial hierarchy. This system of oppression was introduced to the Indus Valley in conjunction with the Vedas approximately 5000 years ago, giving rise to the methods and traditions we now refer to as “Tantra.” As these mechanisms of power were established, economic and political shifts further solidified the connection between caste, skin color, and social inequality.

Other Branches of Pre-Vedic Tantra

Another form of pre-Vedic Tantra is Tibetan 5 Element Tantra. According to Lama Tenzin Wangyal Rinpoche, the Tibetan 5 Element teachings were introduced to Tibet by Buddha Tonpa Shenrab more than 17,000 years ago. 

Some theorists suggest that Budha Tonpa Shenrab was himself a Dravidian, given the genetic evidence of Dravidian presence in that region. 

Genetic testing of “The Loulan Mummy,” found in Xiaole, China, concluded that the Loulan mummy was of Dravidian origin, based on DNA from Xiaole that corresponds to Dravidian and African DNA.

“The Dravidians were called Yueh and Qing in the Chinese literature. The Yueh people founded the Dongson culture of Southeast Asia. In Southeast Asia, the Dravidians were called Yakshas or Kamboja (Winters,1986). In China, the Yueh people founded the Shang Dynasty.”

The Dynamics of Modern Tantra

It’s interesting to note that the dynamics surrounding modern Western Tantra reflect a pattern similar to its Vedic origins, with the most respected and visible voices in the field being those represented by men and women with light skin (aka white), while, in contrast, the voices of Black and other women of color are often marginalized, discredited, and dismissed

This is one of the reasons the focus of our work is oriented towards pre-Vedic Tantra. Pre-Vedic Tantra allows us to access the animistic roots of our shared humanity, before the tradition of Tantra became infected with the poison of misogyny and the anti-black caste system in India.

Tantra originated as a pathway of celebration and honor for the Mother, the creator who manifests in every aspect of life. Pre-Vedic Tantra holds the keys to reawakening this ancient wisdom encoded in our bones.

Please review our sources and learn more about the African Roots of Tantra. 

Learn more about awakening the wisdom encoded in your bones with Tibetan 5 Element Tantra