Shiva and the Primordial Tradition : From the Tantras to the Science of Dreams

Foreword: Alain Daniélou and the discovery of the divine / Jacques E. Cloarec -- Editor's preface: The ferryman's task of Alain Daniélou / Jean-Louis Gabin -- Shaivite cosmology and polytheism -- The Shaivite revival from the third to the tenth centuries C.E. -- The symbolism of the Linga -- The three doors -- Shaivism and third nature -- Insights into initiation -- The science of dreams -- Poetry and metaphysics -- The cock -- The nature of beauty according to the Samkhyas -- Music: the language of the gods -- The secret of the tantras -- Shaivism and the primordial tradition -- Appendix: Light on Samkhya and poetry. An extensive examination of the underpinnings of the Shaivite Tradition • Reveals the influence of Shaivism on the Western world • Discusses Shaivism’s understanding of sacred sexuality • Presents the connections between Vedic poetry and metaphysics 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 contains several never-before-published articles and offers 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. An extensive examination of the underpinnings of the Shaivite Tradition Reveals the influence of Shaivism on the Western world Discusses Shaivism's understanding of sacred sexuality Presents the connections between Vedic poetry and metaphysics In Shiva and the Primordial Tradition, Alain DaniElou 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 contains several never-before-published articles and offers an in-depth look at the many facets of the Samkhya, the cosmologic doctrines of the Shaivite tradition. DaniElou 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 This rare collection of the late author's writings contains several never-before-published articles and offers an in-depth look at the many facets of the Samkhya, the cosmologic doctrines of the Shaivite tradition. Daniélou provides revelations on subjects such as the science of dreams, the role of poetry and sexuality in the sacred, and the Shaivite influence on the Scythians and the Parthians. 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. RELIGION / HINDUISM 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...