| Titre | Dieux du sol et démons dans les religions himalayennes | |
|---|---|---|
| Auteur | Gérard Toffin | |
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Revue | Etudes rurales |
| Numéro | no 107-108, 1987 Paysages | |
| Rubrique / Thématique | Paysages et divinités en Himalaya |
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| Page | 85-106 | |
| Résumé anglais |
Earth Gods and Demons in Himalayan Religions
In most Himalayan pantheons, terrestrial gods have an intermediate position between celestial divinities and chtonic demons. They have friendly as well as terrifying aspects, and are simultaneously masculine and feminine. Among the Thamang of western Nepal, they are worshipped by a category of exorcist priests, the lambu, who concentrate in themselves not only life forces but also dark powers and death forces. In general, there is an affinity between earth gods and demons. Among the Newar for instance, Bhairava, the god in the pantheon who is most directly linked to underworld forces, is sometimes imagined to have been a demon. His pacification and transformation into a protecting divinity are attributed to a tântrika expert in magic. This dialectical relationship between telluric powers and demons reflects the wariness of Himalayans about setting up a categorical opposition between order and disorder, light and darkness. The societies in the area under study tend to see divine spirits as being complementary aspects of opposite values. Source : Éditeur (via Persée) |
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| Article en ligne | http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/rural_0014-2182_1987_num_107_1_3204 |
