Shiva And The Primordial Tradition: From The Tantras To The Science Of Dreams

Shiva and the Primordial Tradition The Linga of Gudimallam, second century C.E. (Photograph copyright the French Institute of Pendicherry, used by permission.) Shiva and the Primordial Tradition FROM THE TANTRAS TO THE SCIENCE OF DREAMS AlainDanielou with Jean-Louis Gabin Translated from the French by Kenneth F. Hurry Inner Traditions Rochester, Vermont Inner Traditions One Park Street Rochester, Vermont 05767 www.InnerTraditions.com Copyright © 2003 by Alain Danielou English translation copyright © 2007 by Jean-Louis Gabin Originally published in French under the title Shivaisme et Tradition primordiale by Kailash Editions, Paris, Pondicherry First U.S. edition published in 2007 by Inner Traditions Calligraphy on page v copyright © 2007 by Hiralal Prajapati All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Danielou, Alain. [Shivaisme et tradition primordiale. English] Shiva and the primordial tradition: from the tantras to the science of dreams / Alain Danielou with Jean-Louis Gabin; translated from the French by Kenneth F. Hurry. - 1st U.S. ed. p. cm. Originally published: Paris: Kailash, © 2003. Edited conference presentations and journal articles, 1938-1991. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-59477-141-5 (pbk.) ISBN-10: 1-59477-141-3 (pbk.) 1. Saivism. 2. Hinduism - Rituals. I. Gabin, Jean-Louis. II. Title. BL1280.522.D3613 2007 294.5'513 - dc22 2006028258 Printed and bound in the United States by Lake Book Manufacturing 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 Text design and layout by Priscilla Baker This book was typeset in Sabon, with Juliana and Avenir used as display typefaces Note: Because classical Sanskrit diacritical marks were handled inconsistently in the original publication of essays included in this collection, the American editor has decided to dispense with them for all U.S. editions of this book. This decision in no way reflects upon Alain Danielou's mastery of Sanskrit. J - In a world where everything changes [where nothing is permanent] the divine is everywhere present [in flowers, birds, animals, in forests, in man]. II - Enjoy fully what the god concedes to you and never covet what belongs to others [neither their goods, nor their talent, nor their success]. ISHA UPANISHAD, TRANSLATED BY ALAIN DANIELOU Contents AN INTRODUCTION TO ALAIN DANIELOU AND THE DISCOVERY OF THE D I V I N E ix EDITOR'S PREFACE: T H E FERRYMAN'S TASK OF ALAIN DANIELOU BY JEAN-LOUIS G A B I N SHAIVITE C O S M O L O G Y AND POLYTHEISM xvii 1 THE SHAIVITE REVIVAL F R O M THE THIRD TO THE TENTH CENTURIES C.E. 6 THE SYMBOLISM OF THE LINGA 28 THE THREE D O O R S 38 SHAIVISM AND T H I R D NATURE 40 INSIGHTS INTO INITIATION 45 THE SCIENCE OF DREAMS 61 POETRY AND METAPHYSICS 64 THE C O C K 67 THE NATURE OF BEAUTY ACCORDING TO THE SAMKHYA 69 M U S I C : T H E LANGUAGE OF THE G O D S 76 T H E SECRET OF THE TANTRAS 85 SHAIVISM AND THE PRIMORDIAL TRADITION 97 APPENDIX: L I G H T ON SAMKHYA AND POETRY BY J E A N - L O U I S GAB-IN 107 NOTES 116 O R I G I N OF THE TEXTS 121 RELATED W O R K S BY ALAIN DANIELOU 123 INDEX 125 An Introduction to Alain Danielou and the Discovery of the Divine A lthough on the one hand we may consider Alain D