"The tantric tradition of Buddhism emphasizes ritual and yogic practices organized as praxes constellated around a variety of buddhas, bodhisattvas, and guardian deities. Its earliest beginnings trace to about the sixth century in South Asia. From there it spread throughout the Buddhist cosmopolis-the network of interconnected locales and institutions that has supported the living tradition for two and a half millenia. Tantric Buddhism spread pervasively to Southeast Asia, Inner Asia, East Asia, and today globally. Although often rendered invisible, the tantric traditions form a coherent, loosely integrated whole-a movement"-- Provided by publisher.