Ane Sae nal: GQ@DS PLA) yi : a oh Be ; Sh ty 5 ? f iy Shaiva Oracles and Predictions on the Cycles of History and | the Destiny of Mankind / ~ ALAIN DANIELOUInner Traditions International, Ltd. One Park Street Rochester, Vermont 05767 First U.S. edition 1987 While the Gods Play was first published in French under the title La Fantaisie des Dieux et L'Aventure Humaine by Edi- tions du Rocher, Monaco, 1985 © 1985 Editions du Rocher © 1987 Alain Danielou All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or me- chanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Inquiries should be addressed to Inner Traditions International, Ltd. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Daniélou, Alain. While the gods play. Translation of: La fantaisie des dieux et l'aventure humaine. Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Shaivaism. I. Title. BL1280.54.D3613 1987 294.5'2 87-10831 ISBN 0-89281-115-3 109876543 Printed and bound in the United States of AmericaContents Note on the Transliteration of Sanskrit Terms Introduction to the American Edition PART ONE: THE HUMAN ADVENTURE 1. Origins The Dravidians, 6 | The Aryans, 9 2. The Religions of the Kali Yuga Shaivism, 15 | The Return of Arihat, 16 / Gosdlé, 17 / Mahavira, 22 | Gautamd Buddhé, 23 / The Religion of Nature and the Religion of the City, 24 / The Kali Yuga in the World, 25 ! The Shaiva Revival, 27 | Lakulisha, 27 / Mahayana, 29 3. Rediscovered Tradition The Texts, 31 / Hindu Decadence, 35 | The West, 38 / India Today, 39 PART TWO: SHAIVA PHILOSOPHY 1. The Ways of Knowledge Approaches (Darshana), 43 { vii ] iii xi 31 41 43