Prof. Shaman Hatley - On the Devīpurāṇa’s Tantric Sources and Adaptations of Tantric Ritual

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"On the Devīpurāṇa’s Tantric Sources and Adaptations of Tantric Ritual"
Prof. Shaman Hatley
Unique among first-millennium purāṇas, the circa 8th-9th century Devīpurāṇa reveals deep familiarity with Tantric Śaivism. This lecture analyzes the Devīpurāṇa’s engagement with tantric rituals and sources, particularly the goddess-oriented Bhairavatantras, and argues that its
integration of these is integral to its construction of a Śākta civic religion. The paper first outlines evidence for the Devīpurāṇa’s familiarity with Tantric Śaivism, including its first-hand knowledge of specific early tantras. The second section examines its re-purposing of tantric mantras for public ritual. Section three concerns the Devīpurāṇa’s blending of civic religion and esoteric ritual in its genre-bending descriptions of pilgrimage to Nandā and Sunandā, the Himalayan mountain-goddesses. The final section concerns how the Devīpurāṇa transformed the propitiation of yoginīs, tantric goddesses of the cremation grounds, into calendrical rituals for the benefit of the state. Far more than a collection of demon-slaying narratives, the Devīpurāṇa proves crucial for understanding the early-medieval religious landscape, and in particular, the roles of Śaiva tantric rituals and sources in the making of public Śāktism.

[@jpp1023]

Thanks to Professor Hatley and all involved for posting this groundbreaking study. It is the perfect companion to The Brahmayamala or Picumata volumes I&II, both monumental achievements bringing light on this often misunderstood profoundly sacred subject matter. 🕉🔱🔯

[@sagnik3556]

just to be clear, the devi purana is the mahabhagavata purana, right? not the devi bhagavata purana?

[@vanvibes2022]

😊🙏

[@OnlineMD]

I am disappointed in your use of DIACRITICS! For instance, you use Ā for the 'aa' sound pronounced as in far, father. This was started by the British in the IAST dictionary, the International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, established in 1894. But check virtually all current dictionaries, and the diacritic Ā is used as the letter itself is pronounced, such as Able, Ate, and such. Same with the letter I. Ī is used as in Ice, Ivy, and such, where the I is pronounced as the letter itself. But you use it for the 'ee' sound! By in the word Devi, it is pronounced Day-vi. The 'vi' is NOT extended as in Day-vee! :) And it is often the 'e' that confuses westerners: is it deevi? dayvi? devi as in devil? Very confusing for the average Joe!!! The reason I'm bringing this up, is that the IAST is ANCIENT! And too, the letter C, is pronounced Ch as per the IAST; who would know? Well, except for maybe Europeans who know how to pronounced Cello as Chello...:) I've seen diacritics like Ç or Č used for this. Time to move on! Time to stop the confusion! I'd appreciate any comments on this please!