Christèle Barois (doctoral student of the Ecole pratique des hautes études) will give a lecture at 4.30 pm on Tuesday, 4th December 2012 at the Library Hall of the EFEO, 19, Dumas Street, Pondicherry.Title: The Vāyavīyasaṃhitā: results and perspectives

Summary:

The Vāyavīyasaṃhitā, literally « Collection [of the god] of the Wind », is a samhitā of the Śivapurāṇa  comprising 4 300 verses, 60 chapters, distributed in  two sections (bhāga). It is singular as much for its belonging to the genre of the Purāṇas (characterised essentially by  mythological narratives) as for its highly āgamic nature (its second section is a treatise on  Śaiva ritual and doctrine). Upon completion of work on my thesis, entitled « La Vāyavīyasaṃhitā. Doctrine et rituels śivaïtes en contexte purāṇique », prepared under the direction of Mrs. Lyne Bansat-Boudon, I will present here the conclusions of that research and the perspectives for further studies related to it. At the end of the presentation, I will briefly introduce the study I am now engaged in: the transmission and the ritual installation of the manuscript in the Śaivasiddhānta tradition.

 lectures