Ritual and Speculation in Early Tantrism: Studies in Honor of Andre Padoux.

• Author: Gerow, Edwin
• Position: Brief Reviews of Books

Ritual and Speculation in Early Tantrism: Studies in Honor of Andre Padoux. Edited by TEUN GOUDRIAAN. SUNY Series in Tantric Studies. Albany: STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK PRESS, 1992. Pp. xv + 359. $16.95 (paper).

This collection of essays, which was sent out for review soon after its publication, but was never reviewed, is worthy even of a belated note. It brings together the "heavyweights" of tantric studies in a series of well-researched and resoundingly original papers. So broad is its scope, and so penetrating its analysis, that it might even be used as an ancillary text in advanced courses in Indian religiosity--even now. The papers included are as follows: Helene Brunner, "Jnana and Kriya: Relation between Theory and Practice in the Saiva gamas"; Gudrun Buhnemann, "On Purascarana: Kularnavatantra, Chapter 15"; Richard H. Davis, "Becoming a Siva, and Acting as One in Saiva Worship"; V. Dviveda, "Having Become a God, He Should Sacrifice to the Gods"...