Which form of Buddhism is known for its tantric rituals, mantras and mandalas?

Vajrayana is the form of Buddhism known for its tantric rituals, use of mantras (sacred chants), mudras (hand gestures) and mandalas (sacred diagrams).

About Vajrayana:

• "Vajra" means "thunderbolt" or "diamond", symbolising something indestructible and powerful.
• It is also called "Tantric Buddhism" or "Mantrayana".
• It developed in India, especially in eastern India (Bengal, Bihar and Odisha), from about the 6th-7th century CE onwards, as a development of Mahayana.
• It was taught at great monastic universities such as Nalanda and Vikramashila.

Its practices:

• Use of mantras, such as "Om mani padme hum".
• Visualisation of deities and meditation on mandalas.
• Use of ritual objects, such as the vajra (thunderbolt) and the bell (ghanta).
• Initiation by a guru (lama), who is considered very important.
• It aims to achieve enlightenment quickly, even within a single lifetime.
• Female deities, such as Tara, are important.

Spread to Tibet:

• Vajrayana was taken to Tibet in the 8th century by Padmasambhava (called "Guru Rinpoche"), and later by scholars such as Atisha Dipankara (11th century) from Vikramashila.
• Tibetan Buddhism has four main schools: Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya and Gelug.
• The Dalai Lama is the head of the Gelug school.
• Vajrayana is also practised in Bhutan, Mongolia, Ladakh, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh.

Other forms of Buddhism:

• "Theravada": the older form, based on the Pali canon.
• "Zen" (Chan): a Mahayana school stressing meditation, popular in Japan and China.
• "Pure Land": a Mahayana school based on devotion to Amitabha Buddha, popular in East Asia.

Monasteries in India:

Tawang Monastery (Arunachal Pradesh), Hemis and Thiksey (Ladakh), Rumtek (Sikkim) are important centres of Tibetan Buddhism.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Theravada is based on the Pali canon.
• ✗Zen stresses meditation.
• ✗Pure Land stresses devotion to Amitabha Buddha.