Vāmācāra[
pronunciation?] is a
Sanskrit term meaning "left-handed attainment" and is synonymous with "
Left-Hand Path" or "Left-path" (Sanskrit:
Vāmamārga).
[1][2][3] It is used to describe a particular mode of worship or
sadhana (spiritual practice) that is not only "
heterodox" (Sanskrit:
nāstika) to standard
Vedic injunction, but extreme in comparison to the
status quo.
These practices are often generally considered to be
Tantric in orientation. The converse term is
dakṣiṇācāra "Right-Hand Path", which is used to refer not only to "orthodox" (
Āstika) sects but to modes of spirituality that engage in spiritual practices that not only accord with Vedic injunction but are generally agreeable to the status quo.
Left-handed and right-handed modes of practice may be evident in both orthodox and heterodox schools of
Indian religions such as
Hinduism,
Jainism,
Sikhism and
Buddhism and is a matter of taste, culture, proclivity, initiation,
sadhana and dharmic "lineage" (
parampara).