Contenu du sommaire

Sacred "versus" profane. A critical view of the origin and evolution of an « operative » concept in the history of religion As a conceptual tool which enables to isolate and analyze certain phenomena in the history of religion, the sacred/profane couple is recent in origin and, in its written form, can be dated back to the publication of Durkheim's work on "The prohibition of incest and its origins" (1898). This article endeavours to show where it originated from and how it was immediately accepted — and for a long time uncritically — as evident not only in the field of phenomenological and theological studies but also in investigations which claim the sociological heritage.

Mithras and Porphyry : when sculpture and philosophy meet In this article, a bas-relief from a Mithras temple in Osterburken and of early third century AC is considered in the light of a neoplalonist philosophical treatise of Porphyry, "The Gave of Nymphs". The sculptor and the philosopher evoke by different means, similar philosophical and astronomical concept well known in their era. Furthermore, reading Porphyry's treatise allows us to explain much of the complexity and apparent inconsistencies of the German bas-relief. We understand for instance why Mithras, a bull thief and mediating god, is represented as an intermediary between the Moon and the Wind Notos which is turned towards the above. This article also tries to show the internal iconographical logic of the bas-relief as well as the orphic influence that existed in the first scenes on the left pillar of the bas-relief.

Two tantric rituals in an untouchable community in Rajasthan Two secret rituals practised by members of an untouchable caste of Rajasthan are described here. Known as "kundā panth", they are closely related to tantrism, in particular to practices observed among some ascetics of the "Nāth" sect and the so called "Shākta", worshippers of the Goddess. One of these rites also shows a number of similarities with the "ghat-pāth" ceremony traditionnally practised by Nizari Isma'ilis in the Indian subcontinent. For the latter, as for the untouchable Hindus, the ritual culminates when all followers partake of consecrated water respectively called "pāval" and "pāyal". The aim is to bring closely together the members of the community regardless of their social status.