Christopher Wallis, PhD
Ph.D. in South Asian Studies (Sanskrit), UC Berkeley
M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions, Oxford
M.A. in South Asian Studies (Sanskrit), UC Berkeley
Supervisors: Alex Rospatt, Robert Goldman, Somadeva Vasudeva, and Alexis Sanderson
M.Phil. in Classical Indian Religions, Oxford
M.A. in South Asian Studies (Sanskrit), UC Berkeley
Supervisors: Alex Rospatt, Robert Goldman, Somadeva Vasudeva, and Alexis Sanderson
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Samāveśa is important to all forms of Shaivism, whether dualistic and ritualized (the Siddhānta) or nondual subitist charismatic forms (the Kaula). This thesis further contends that a philological study of samāveśa and related terms like śaktipāta demonstrates that religious experience (or evidence thereof) was considered central and indispensable to initiatory Shaivism throughout the medieval period. Śaktipāta was requisite to receive the basic level of initiation, and in the Kaula branch of the tradition, samāveśa denoted forms of religious experience that were necessary for aspirants to demonstrate in order to receive higher-level initiations. The former term is still commonly used in many Hindu communities today to designate a “spiritual awakening” or initiatory experience that is transmitted by a qualified guru.
Part One of this work is a comprehensive overview of the nature and structure of the Śaiva religion, providing important context to what follows. Part Two studies the key terms of (sam)āveśa, śaktipāta, etc. in a) early Sanskrit literature generally, b) Śaiva scriptures, and c) the abundant exegetical literature based on those scriptures.
Samāveśa is important to all forms of Shaivism, whether dualistic and ritualized (the Siddhānta) or nondual subitist charismatic forms (the Kaula). This thesis further contends that a philological study of samāveśa and related terms like śaktipāta demonstrates that religious experience (or evidence thereof) was considered central and indispensable to initiatory Shaivism throughout the medieval period. Śaktipāta was requisite to receive the basic level of initiation, and in the Kaula branch of the tradition, samāveśa denoted forms of religious experience that were necessary for aspirants to demonstrate in order to receive higher-level initiations. The former term is still commonly used in many Hindu communities today to designate a “spiritual awakening” or initiatory experience that is transmitted by a qualified guru.
Part One of this work is a comprehensive overview of the nature and structure of the Śaiva religion, providing important context to what follows. Part Two studies the key terms of (sam)āveśa, śaktipāta, etc. in a) early Sanskrit literature generally, b) Śaiva scriptures, and c) the abundant exegetical literature based on those scriptures.