The Ubiquitous Siva: Somananda's Sivadrsti and His Tantric Interlocutors (AAR Religions in Translation) - Brossura

Nemec, John

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0199795460 ISBN 13: 9780199795468

Casa editrice: Oxford University Press, 2011

Riassunto

John Nemec examines the beginnings of the non-dual tantric philosophy of the famed Pratyabhijña or "Recognition [of God]" School of tenth-century Kashmir, the tradition most closely associated with Kashmiri Shaivism. In doing so it offers, for the very first time, a critical edition and annotated translation of a large portion of the first Pratyabhijña text ever composed, the Sivadrsti of Somananda. In an extended introduction, Nemec argues that the author presents a unique form of non-dualism, a strict pantheism that declares all beings and entities found in the universe to be fully identical with the active and willful god Siva. This view stands in contrast to the philosophically more flexible panentheism of both his disciple and commentator, Utpaladeva, and the very few other Saiva tantric works that were extant in the author's day. Nemec also argues that the text was written for the author's fellow tantric initiates, not for a wider audience. This can be adduced from the structure of the work, the opponents the author addresses, and various other editorial strategies. Even the author's famous and vociferous arguments against the non-tantric Hindu grammarians may be shown to have been ultimately directed at an opposing Hindu tantric school that subscribed to many of the grammarians' philosophical views. Included in the volume is a critical edition and annotated translation of the first three (of seven) chapters of the text, along with the corresponding chapters of the commentary. These are the chapters in which Somananda formulates his arguments against opposing tantric authors and schools of thought. None of the materials made available in the present volume has ever been translated into English, apart from a brief rendering of the first chapter that was published without the commentary in 1957. None of the commentary has previously been translated into any language at all.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

This praiseworthy work will guide many scholars in this field. (Religious Studies Review)

The Ubiquitous Siva is a wonderful addition to Saiva and Tantric studies. (Caleb Simmons, Religion)

L'autore:

Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Virginia

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Oxford University Press
• Data di pubblicazione: 2011
• ISBN 10: 0199795460
• ISBN 13: 9780199795468
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero di pagine: 454