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Shiva and the Primordial Tradition: From the Tantras to the Science of Dreams
In Shiva and the Primordial Tradition, Alain Daniélou explores the relationship between Shaivism and the Western world. Shaivite philosophy does not oppose theology, cosmology, and science because it recognizes that their common aim is to seek to understand and explain the nature of the world. In the Western world, the idea of bridging the divide between science and religion is just beginning to touch the edges of mainstream thought.
This rare collection of the late author’s writings, selected and edited by Jean-Louis Gabin, contains several never-before-published articles and offers an extensive examination of the underpinnings of Shaivism. It provides an in-depth look at the many facets of the Samkhya, the cosmologic doctrines of the Shaivite tradition. Daniélou provides important revelations on subjects such as the science of dreams, the role of poetry and sexuality in the sacred, the personality of the great Shankara, and the Shaivite influence on the Scythians and the Parthians (and by extension, the Hellenic world in general). Providing a convincing argument in favor of the polytheistic approach, he explains that monotheism is merely the deification of individualism--the separation of humanity from nature--and that by acknowledging the sacred in everything, we can recognize the imprint of the primordial tradition.
ALAIN DANIÉLOU (1907–1994) spent more than fifteen years in the traditional society of India, using only the Sanskrit and Hindi languages and studying music and philosophy with eminent scholars. He was duly initiated into esoteric Shaivism, which gave him unusual access to texts transmitted through the oral tradition alone. He is the author or translator of more than thirty books on the religion, history, and arts of India and the Mediterranean, including The Complete Kama Sutra, The Myths and Gods of India, and A Brief History of India.
JEAN-LOUIS GABIN, Ph.D., began collecting and editing the various texts in this volume in collaboration with Daniélou while he was still alive. He is working on an additional Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Indology on the subject “Tradition and Modernity in the works of Alain Daniélou.” He also has edited and published five posthumous collections of Alain Daniélou’s work in French as well as serving as editor of the English edition of India: A Civilization of Differences.
This rare collection of the late author’s writings, selected and edited by Jean-Louis Gabin, contains several never-before-published articles and offers an extensive examination of the underpinnings of Shaivism. It provides an in-depth look at the many facets of the Samkhya, the cosmologic doctrines of the Shaivite tradition. Daniélou provides important revelations on subjects such as the science of dreams, the role of poetry and sexuality in the sacred, the personality of the great Shankara, and the Shaivite influence on the Scythians and the Parthians (and by extension, the Hellenic world in general). Providing a convincing argument in favor of the polytheistic approach, he explains that monotheism is merely the deification of individualism--the separation of humanity from nature--and that by acknowledging the sacred in everything, we can recognize the imprint of the primordial tradition.
ALAIN DANIÉLOU (1907–1994) spent more than fifteen years in the traditional society of India, using only the Sanskrit and Hindi languages and studying music and philosophy with eminent scholars. He was duly initiated into esoteric Shaivism, which gave him unusual access to texts transmitted through the oral tradition alone. He is the author or translator of more than thirty books on the religion, history, and arts of India and the Mediterranean, including The Complete Kama Sutra, The Myths and Gods of India, and A Brief History of India.
JEAN-LOUIS GABIN, Ph.D., began collecting and editing the various texts in this volume in collaboration with Daniélou while he was still alive. He is working on an additional Ph.D. in Philosophy of Religion and Indology on the subject “Tradition and Modernity in the works of Alain Daniélou.” He also has edited and published five posthumous collections of Alain Daniélou’s work in French as well as serving as editor of the English edition of India: A Civilization of Differences.
129 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2003
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About the author
Alain Daniélou
63 books57 followersAlain Daniélou :
1935-1948, études du sanskrit, philosophie, théologie, musique dans les écoles traditionnelles hindoues à Bénarès ;
1948-1954, professeur à l'université hindoue de Bénarès ;
1954 1956, directeur de la bibliothèque de manuscrits et des éditions sanskrites d'Adyar à Madras;
1956-1963, membre de l'Institut français d'indologie et de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient ;
1963-1977, directeur de l'Institut international d'études comparatives de la musique à Berlin et Venise.
1935-1948, études du sanskrit, philosophie, théologie, musique dans les écoles traditionnelles hindoues à Bénarès ;
1948-1954, professeur à l'université hindoue de Bénarès ;
1954 1956, directeur de la bibliothèque de manuscrits et des éditions sanskrites d'Adyar à Madras;
1956-1963, membre de l'Institut français d'indologie et de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient ;
1963-1977, directeur de l'Institut international d'études comparatives de la musique à Berlin et Venise.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 19, 2016
This is how a book on religion or theology ought to be written without laying too much importance on historical accuracy & simplistic coherence. The exposition of symbolic nature in the religious development around us is remarkable and is a life-changing experience.
May 18, 2023
Leer a Alain Daniélou resulta muy gratificante, tanto por su estilo apasionadamente místico como por su modo de abrazar el hinduismo más tradicional y esotérico. Te sumerge en el fuego indio y te arrastra a un discurso encarnizadamente carnal, acompañándolo siempre de vibración musical (su gran pasión). De ahí que sea considerado un referente por la gran Chantal Maillard.
Dicho de esto, deben hacerse dos precisiones. Una es que el autor está próximo ideológicamente a la corriente tradicionalista (Schuon, Guenon, Coomaraswamy...), lo que implica ciertos juicios de valor conservadores. Por supuesto, y como Eliade o Corbin, eso no le impide abrazar la sexualidad más exacerbada, la homosexualidad y la bisexualidad (relacionándolas con el shivaismo) e, incluso, mostrar un talante más progresista que Eliade, al establecer puntos de contacto sutiles entre el shivaismo, por un lado, y Baudelaire, Rimbaud o Ginsberg por el otro (tal y como viene a ensayar el autor del prólogo). La segunda es que toma partido, aunque no inflexible, por unas tradiciones hindúes en detrimento de otras (críticas demoledoras al mismísimo Sankara y a la tradición Bakhti -devocional-) y también por ciertos devaneos mágicos (telepatía, profecía...).
No se les puede considerar un conjunto de ensayos de valor rigurosamente académico. Ciertas reflexiones y teorías (tan vehemente afirmadas por él) tienen poca o ninguna base. Pero, sin duda, ello importa poco y, al leerlo, se entiende por qué. Las secciones dedicadas a la música hindú son muy recomendables.
Dicho de esto, deben hacerse dos precisiones. Una es que el autor está próximo ideológicamente a la corriente tradicionalista (Schuon, Guenon, Coomaraswamy...), lo que implica ciertos juicios de valor conservadores. Por supuesto, y como Eliade o Corbin, eso no le impide abrazar la sexualidad más exacerbada, la homosexualidad y la bisexualidad (relacionándolas con el shivaismo) e, incluso, mostrar un talante más progresista que Eliade, al establecer puntos de contacto sutiles entre el shivaismo, por un lado, y Baudelaire, Rimbaud o Ginsberg por el otro (tal y como viene a ensayar el autor del prólogo). La segunda es que toma partido, aunque no inflexible, por unas tradiciones hindúes en detrimento de otras (críticas demoledoras al mismísimo Sankara y a la tradición Bakhti -devocional-) y también por ciertos devaneos mágicos (telepatía, profecía...).
No se les puede considerar un conjunto de ensayos de valor rigurosamente académico. Ciertas reflexiones y teorías (tan vehemente afirmadas por él) tienen poca o ninguna base. Pero, sin duda, ello importa poco y, al leerlo, se entiende por qué. Las secciones dedicadas a la música hindú son muy recomendables.
December 27, 2018
A collection of mostly-short essays published posthumously. Serves as a nice little survey of Danielou's core ideas and good introduction to his work. Start with this one and move on to the much more comprehensive While the Gods Play.
August 20, 2024
Good collection of works.
June 1, 2016
The first half of the book was very interesting. And despite having a degree in religion and a interest in Shiva, the book had new information, rarely found in traditional text books.
He relates the book for almost any audience, spanning most major eastern and western religions.
Towards the end, however, I did become bored with the beauty aspect. And I didn't bother to read the appendix chapter by the translator, which seemed to be a bit to esoteric. Having taken philosophy course I still found it, well mostly I found the last chapters boring.
Disregarding the last 3 chapters (including the appendix chapter) it was a really interesting and light read. And nice dip of the toe in the cosmic ocean that is Shiva centred Hinduism.
He relates the book for almost any audience, spanning most major eastern and western religions.
Towards the end, however, I did become bored with the beauty aspect. And I didn't bother to read the appendix chapter by the translator, which seemed to be a bit to esoteric. Having taken philosophy course I still found it, well mostly I found the last chapters boring.
Disregarding the last 3 chapters (including the appendix chapter) it was a really interesting and light read. And nice dip of the toe in the cosmic ocean that is Shiva centred Hinduism.
December 7, 2008
an interesting exploration of shaivism in the context of modern hinduism, but not what i had hoped for from the title.
April 11, 2010
Fidedigno.
September 25, 2014
nice/interesting/western exploration of shaivism. but almost no detailed explanation about "tantras", and "science of dreams"
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews