RELS 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 20: Phallus, Shinto, Nondualism

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELS 131
• Professor: Aditi Sen- Chowdhury

Document Summary

Folk religion and cult: in case of hinduism often there are fuzzy edges. Also known as brahminization. every tradition tries to bring in other concepts and ideas from other tradtions. The three headed god you have already met. Sends his incarnations to maintain creation, protect order. Folk origins clear in his iconography and his position in the vedas. Yet he is central figure in the hindu canon. No inhibition about the act of sex. In folk religion biological creation is more significant. Association of shame with the act of sex is not eternal and natural. Mainstream religion has ambivalence towards shiva, but he can"t be ignored. He is the greatest yogi, but not a celibate. He takes drugs, keeps bad company, yet he is the epitome of moral order. Symbol of manhood, but gives half his body away to his wife. They have inspired many cults like thugees in india, and aum in japan.