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Siva: The Erotic Ascetic / Edition 1

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ISBN-10:: 0195202503
ISBN-13:: 9780195202502
Pub. Date:: 05/28/1981
Publisher:: Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:: 0195202503
ISBN-13:: 9780195202502
Pub. Date:: 05/28/1981
Publisher:: Oxford University Press

Siva: The Erotic Ascetic / Edition 1

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Overview

Originally published under the title Asceticism and Eroticism in the Mythology of Siva, this book traces the development of an Indian approach to an enduring human dilemma: the conflict between spiritual aspirations and human desires. The work examines hundreds of related myths and a wide range of Indian texts—Vedic, Puranic, classical, modern, and tribal—centering on the stories of the great ascetic, Siva, and his erotic alter ego, Kama.

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Table of Contents

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780195202502
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	05/28/1981
Series:	Galaxy Books
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	693,900
Product dimensions:	5.76(w) x 8.72(h) x 0.97(d)

	List of Illustrations	xiii
	Guide to Pronunciation	xiv
I.	Introduction: The Interpretation of Hindu Mythology	1
A.	The Challenge of Hindu Mythology	1
B.	The Central Paradox of Saiva Mythology	4
1.	The Resolution within the Texts	6
2.	The Iconic Resolution of the Paradox: The Ithyphallic Yogi	8
C.	Problems and Methods	11
1.	Various Methods of Mythological Analysis	11
2.	Variants and Multiforms	16
D.	Motifs of Hindu Mythology	21
1.	Chart of Motifs	22
2.	Explanation of Motifs	23
3.	Interconnections between Motifs	27
4.	The Saiva Cycle Analysed by Motifs	30
5.	The Value of Motifs and Variants	32
E.	The Nature of Mythological Contradiction	33
1.	The Equivalence of Opposites	33
2.	The Resolution of Mythological Contradictions	35
3.	The Failure to Resolve Mythological Contradictions	36
4.	The Irrational Solution: Bhakti	38
II.	Asceticism and Eroticism in Early Indian Mythology	40
A.	The Importance of Chastity and Creative Tapas	40
B.	The Seduction of the Ascetic by the Prostitute: Rsyasrnga	42
C.	Chastity and the Loss of Chastity: Agastya	52
D.	The Erotic Powers of the Ascetic	55
E.	The Rejuvenation of the Ascetic: Cyavana	57
F.	Sexual Pleasures as the Reward for Asceticism / the False Ascetic	64
G.	The Importance of Procreation	68
H.	The Prajapati and His Ascetic Sons	70
I.	Narada and the Sons of Daksa	74
J.	The Two Forms of Immortality	76
K.	The Attempt to Reconcile the Householder and Ascetic in Society	78
L.	The Forest-Dweller: an Inadequate Compromise	79
III.	The Vedic Antecedents of Siva	83
A.	Rudra, God of Destruction	83
B.	Indra	84
1.	Indra as Phallic God of Fertility	85
2.	Indra versus the Ascetic	87
C.	Agni, the Erotic Fire	90
1.	Agni and the Pine Forest Sages	93
2.	The Seven Sages and their Wives	98
3.	Siva and Parvati as the Parents of Skanda	103
4.	The Golden Seed of Fire	107
5.	The Birth of Skanda and the Birth of the Maruts	108
IV.	Siva and Brahma: Opposition and Identity	111
A.	Siva as Sexual Creator	111
B.	The Incest of Siva	112
C.	Siva Opposes the Incest of Brahma	114
D.	Brahma Versus Kama	117
E.	Siva Versus Brahma at the Wedding of Sati/Parvati	121
F.	The Beheading of Brahma by Siva	123
G.	The Beheading of Daksa by Siva	128
H.	The Castration of Siva	130
I.	The Competition Between Siva and Brahma	136
J.	The Complementarity of Brahma and Siva	138
V.	Siva and Kama	141
A.	The Chastity of Siva--and Its Contradiction	141
B.	The Burning of Kama--and Its Reversal	143
C.	The Lust of the Chastiser of Kama	145
D.	The Victory of Kama Implicit in the Burning of Kama	148
E.	The Seduction of Siva by Parvati	151
F.	The Revival of Kama by Parvati	155
G.	Kama Reborn as a Tree--Rebirth From Fire	158
H.	The Revived Kama's Power Over Siva	162
I.	The Erotic Appeal of the Chastiser of Kama	164
J.	Kama and Agni Transposed	166
K.	The Partial Identity of Siva and Kama	169
VI.	Siva in the Pine Forest	172
A.	Siva, the False Ascetic, Seducer of the Sages' Wives	173
B.	Siva, the Passive Ascetic, Unmoved by the Sages' Wives	175
C.	The Apparent Lust of the Ascetic Siva	178
1.	The Destruction of the Sages' Powers by the Seduction of their Wives	178
2.	The Transference of the Sages' Powers to Siva: The Pasupata Cult	182
D.	The Sexual Destruction of Demons by Siva	184
1.	The Sexual Death of Adi	186
2.	The Death and Transfiguration of Andhaka	190
E.	The Enlightenment of the Pine Forest Sages	192
1.	Siva opposes the Forest-dwellers' kama	193
2.	The Temptation of the Devotee by God	196
3.	Siva opposes the Forest-dwellers' tapas	199
4.	The Balance: Santi and Linga-worship	201
F.	Enlightenment by Sexual Impersonation	204
VII.	Siva as Ascetic and Householder	210
A.	Siva's Failure to Reconcile His Two Roles	210
B.	Siva's Trouble with his Parents-in-Law	213
C.	The House of the Ascetic Siva	218
D.	Parvati's Conflict with the Unconventional, Ascetic Siva	221
E.	The Quarrels of Siva and Parvati	224
F.	The Adultery of Siva	226
G.	The Reconciliation of Siva and Parvati	233
H.	The Horrible and the Erotic	236
I.	The Transformation of Siva's Ornaments	238
1.	Snakes and Nakedness	243
2.	The Ashes of Siva	245
3.	The Third Eye	247
J.	Siva as Ascetic and House Holder: the Reconciliation	251
VIII.	The Control and Transformation of Desire	255
A.	Sexual Satiety: the Linga in the Yoni	256
B.	Yoga and Bhoga	258
C.	The Transformation of Desire by Self-Temptation	259
D.	The Retention of the Seed	261
1.	The Separation of Fertility and Eroticism	262
2.	The Unnatural Creation of Siva's Son	267
3.	Creation by Blood, Sweat, and Tears	271
4.	The Drinking of the Seed	273
E.	The Seed as Soma and Poison	277
F.	Food and Sex	279
G.	The Control of Excess	282
H.	The Distribution of Siva's Tejas	283
I.	Siva as Fire Under Water	286
J.	Siva as the Submarine Mare	289
IX.	Cycles of Asceticism and Sexuality	293
A.	The Danger of Siva's Excessive Chastity	294
B.	The Danger of Siva's Excessive Sexuality	296
C.	The Interruption of Sexual Activity	302
D.	Quiescence and Energy	310
X.	Conclusion: the Pendulum of Extremes	314
Appendix A.	Connections Between Episodes in the Saiva Cycle	319
Appendix B.	Major Occurrences of the Main Episodes	321
I.	Sanskrit Texts	321
A.	Siva and Kama	321
B.	The birth of Skanda	321
C.	The Pine Forest	322
II.	Non-Sanskrit Texts	322
Appendix C.	Glossary	323
Appendix D.	Bibliography	326
I.	Abbreviations	326
II.	Sanskrit Texts and Translations	326
III.	Secondary Sources	330
Appendix E.	Bibliographic Notes	341
Appendix F.	Index of Motifs	375
Appendix G.	Index of Characters	381

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