The Persistence of Religion : An Essay on Tantrism and Sri Aurobindo's Philosophy 9789004377998

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of Thealeas at Clar

“Toililiit

SERIES —

Theology

Library

SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY AT CLAREMONT California

THE PERSISTENCE

OF RELIGION

STUDIES IN THE HISTORY OF RELIGIONS (SUPPLEMENTS TO NUMEN) VIII KEES W. BOLLE THE PERSISTENCE OF RELIGION

LEIDEN

E. J. BRILL 1965

THE PERSISTENCE

(._ OF RELIGION }

AN ESSAY

Sed

oY

AND

ON TANTRISM

SRI AUROBINDO’S

PHILOSOPHY

BY

KEES W. BOLLE WITH A PREFACE BY MIRCEA ELIADE

LEIDEN

E. J. BRILL 1965

Copyright 1965 by E. J. Brill, Leiden, Netherlands. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or translated in any form, by print, photoprint, micofilm or any other means without written permission from the publisher.

PRINTED

IN THE

NETHERLANDS

IN MEMORY OF MY FATHER WILLEM ADRIAAN BOLLE

227839

TABLE

OF CONTENTS

Preface. by Mircea Eliade aise ighhee pest me iia, is es” A IX TOOWONG. 2 AiG eye) nigh kM SD, oa Ae XIII I. Introduction: Tantrism within the Perspective of the aostory of Religiogs "Pa ae St POs eee 1 i Wastness of the Subject... ty Sey ae ee 1 errtacneral Pearares: nee we a0 Pept Lee 2 Spemrenicligte” herein e E Stia SPE ee Lomerads FE 6 Ree! Me Ci nodax, PIaeistorTy a) ea. ue ee ee te d, De EOOUCHO HS ue re ae ee ee ie 7 2. Practicality. No Absolute Beginning of Vedic Reli9 25.54% ui . « Peoenuneers sion Demonstrable.. 10 3. Early Religious Incorporations. ........., a . ... .

11 13

“Ritualism’? Not Applicable as a Conclusive Theory 0G VC, IO BU at speceh and Brakes, MABIES 4 Guanes 2, Seat, MI ae F Syllables, in Ritualismand Realization ...... Dynamics of Ritual Continuesina New Way... .

15 16 iif 18 20

HY” The “Unerthodox’’ Prachistory 107 Ree ty QM 9.5 S S ; teAryansiand “Non-Aryans” JR ae 2: Vedie and Non-Vedic Elements 1028 2808 So. 3. Fusions of Ritualisticand LocalSymbols ..... 4. Continuation and Rebirth of Old Symbols in Hin-

Bees 22 24 25

oid.) Sho, weet ’s SiiteRiteL Aucationt. /Lurom ndy .... . 5. Symbolic and Mythical Transformations bt rxcursusva Draupadiinuss (2eees as se 7. Cultural Complexities and Cross-currents .....

at 30 34 36

a a. Kitualistic Orientatio., « .. « . 5. Ritualistic Reality in Symbols and Myths.

6. 72 BV 9. 10.

ees es eka Nes sence Nol arcane Tatitic deeNature and Persistence of Symbols... 5 = + 5 6 > ssw es) Ze cultural Matton Lamttisii: Sree ALUrae on e ae ee eS e ere e EC SECLCCUt CT erent erts te eae hs eek ae eae eee 5. Divine Reality andIts Appropriation. ...... 6. The Setting of Tantric Appropriation. ......

39 oo 41 42. 43 44 46

VIII

TABLE OF CONTENTS 7. 5. 9; 10. {it} 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17.

Micto-and Mactoscosmos