Vajrayana Buddhism is also called the path of skilful means, secret path or effect vehicle. It is not limited to the Tantric process only. Its main principle is based on Madhayamika and Vijnanavada doctrine of Mahayana Buddhism. The main goal of Hindu Tantra is to actualize the permanent, eternal Brahma as the realisation of the ultimate truth. In Vajrayana Buddhism, on the other hand, there is the system of meditation of the unity of Samatha and Vipashyana according to the Tantric or Sutra Mahamudra systems. These methods are unknown to Hindu Tantric systems.
The purpose of Vajrayana Buddhist practice is to attain the perfect enlightenment of Buddha where as in Hindu Tantric system, the basis is to realize the Ten Mahavidyas as the highest forms of deities. In Vajrayana Tantricmeditation, the method is the generation and completion stage of the meditation whereas in Hindu Tantric meditation system, the method is limited to the generation stage. As a result of these meditation, the Vajrayana practitioners achieve the state of complete enlightenment whereas in Hindu Tantric system, the attainment is the Brahma realm. Therefore, it is a gross mistake to state that Vajrayana and Hindu Tantra are similar. Furthermore, in Vajrayana Buddhism, there are innumerable methods of meditations on Gurus, Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Istadevatas, Dakinis and Dharmapalas. The Ten Mahavidyas which is considered highest deities in Hindu Tantric system, are relegated to the positions of only protectors of the Dharma (Dharmapala) who can only clear obscurations in a practitioners' practice but not really give enlightenment. The deities in Buddhist Tantras are considered as the manifestation of our mind whereas in Hindu system, it is the ultimate principle itself.
| 
