Yoginī and goddess possession in early śaiva tantras

Judit Törzsök (1)

1 Mondes Iranien et Indien - UMR 7528

This paper examines the phenomenon of possession said to be caused by female spirits called yoginis, in early śaiva Tantras (mainly of the 7th-8th centuries CE). It shows that the earliest śākta Tantras, in particular the Siddhayogeśvarīmata, already describe this phenomenon in a śākta context. The paper also considers the testimony of the Brahmayāmala, another early śākta Tantra, which, however, speaks of possession by Bhairava and not by female spirits in most cases. It is suggested in the conclusion that possession as a ritual act was perhaps borrowed from the pre-tantrci sect of the Kāpālikas (skull-bearers).

Domaines: Religions

Judit Törzsök. Yoginī and goddess possession in early śaiva tantras. Yogini -- History, Polysemy, Ritual, 2010, Trondheim, Norway. ⟨hal-00710905⟩