Tantric principles in Mahanirvana Tantra emphasize that transformation of thought is transformation of being. The various principles in Mahanirvana Tantra are:

Shiva and Shakti
Shakti exists in Brahman. She is Ananda rupini devi. Shakti exists in the Brahman. Shakti is eternal (Anadi-rupa). She is both viguna and saguna.

Guna
Guna is "quality". The three gunas are Sattva, rajas and tamas. The functions of sattva, rajas, and tamas are to divulge, to make lively and to suppress. Rajas is the dynamic, as sattva and tamas are static principles. These gunas work through mutual repression.

Loka
Earth is the object of the physical senses and of the knowledge. It is one of fourteen worlds or regions placed "above" and "below" it. Six of the upper worlds are threaded. The sphere of earth is the seventh or lowest of the upper worlds. Beneath the earth are the Hells and Nether Worlds.

Human Body
Human body is Brahma-para, the city of Brahman. Ishvara enters into the universe as jiva. There are five sheaths in the body. They are - anna-maya, prana-maya, mano-maya, vij¤ana-maya and ananda-maya. Nadi is an artery. It is considered that there are 31/2 crores of nadi in the human body.

Chakra
Chakras are six in number. They are the muladhara, svadhishthana, mani-pura, anahata, vishuddha and ajna.

Three temperaments of Tantra
The three dispositions are pashu-bhava, vira-bhava and divya-bhava. These are based on modifications of the guna as evident in jiva.

Guru and Shishya
Guru is the spiritual teacher and guide. He is the root of Diksha which is the root of mantra. According to munda mala mantra is born of Guru and the Guru occupies the position of a grandfather to the Ishta-devata.

Diksha
Diksha is the mantra given by the guru. During Diksha the guru must establish first the prana-shakti of the Supreme Guru. Spiritual comes from Initiation and destroys sin.

Abhisheka
There are eight types of Abhisheka. The forms of abhisheka mark greater degrees of initiation. The eight Abhisekas are: shaktabhisheka, purnabhisheka, krama dikshabhisheka, samrajyabhisheka, maha samrajyabhisheka, yoga dikshabhisheka, purna dikshabhisheka and viraja grahanabhisheka

Sadhana
Sadhana is anything that can create Siddhi. One can attain their desires through sadhana. The various ways of doing a sadhana are worship, vedic learning; tapas; the pancha-tattva and mantra.

Achara
There are seven forms of divisions of worshippers. They are Vedachara, Vaishnavachara, Shaivachara, Dakshinachara, Vamachara, Siddhantachara and Kaulachara. The achara is a practice of a particular class of sadhaka.

Mantra
Mantras are all aspects of the Brahman and manifestations of Kula-kundalini.

Yantra
Yantra is an instrument by which anything is accomplished. It is that by which the mind is fixed on an object. According to the Yogini Tantra Devi should be worshipped either in image, mandala or yantra. At a certain stage the sadhaka is qualified to worship a yantra.

Mudra
This term has been derived from the root mud, "to please," and in its upasana form is so called as it gives pleasure to the Devas.

Sandhya
This is a rite that is performed by the twice-born castes thrice a day. The morning sandhya is preceded by the following acts. This is the Vaidhiki Sandhya. Tantriki-sandhya is a simpler rite that can be performed by all. The mantras differ in this differ.

Puja
Puja is worship that is done for the Ishta-devata or the particular Deity worshipped by the sadhaka. For instance in Shakti form of worship it is Devi. Puja is done to gain a particular end.

Yajna
Yajna is "sacrifice." Five great sacrifices are bhuta-yajna, pitri-yajna, Brahma-yajna, Manushyayajna and the Homa sacrifice.

Vrata
Vrata is a part of Naimittika. It is the cause of virtue and is observed to achieve its fruit. There are various kinds of Vrata.

Tapas
Tapa is penance or austerity that includes four monthly fast, sitting between five fires and so on.

Japa
Japa is the repeated recitation of mantra according to rules. According to the Tantra-sara there are three kinds of Japa: Vachika japa, Upangshu-japa and manasa-japa.

Sangskaras
Sangskaras are ten in number. They are purificatory ceremonies which are done in order to aid and purify the jiva in the important events of one`s life.

Purascharana
Purascharana is a form of sadhana which is a repetition of a mantra large number of times. This deals with the time and place of recital, the measurements and decoration of the mandapa and of the altar.

Panchatattva
Panchatattva or panchamakara are madya (wine), mangsa (meat), matsya (fish), mudra (parched grain), and maithuna (coition).