Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus [Paperback]

Alain Dani?lou (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1992

Shiva and Dionysus are the Hindu and Greek gods of magical power, intoxication, ecstatic sexuality, and transcendence who initiate us into communion with the creative forces of life. Revealing the earliest sources of the traditions of Shiva and Dionysus, Alain Danielou reconstructs the fabric of our ancient relationship with creation, vividly relating practices that were observed from the Indus Valley to the coasts of Portugal at least six thousand years ago. 

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Danielou's books are remarkable for their clarity, scholarship, and uninhibited celebration of erotic and mystical ecstasy."
(

Interview Magazine

)

"Gods of Love and Ecstasy makes compelling reading with so much information on the role played by gods and goddesses, revealing the theological complexity of this ancient cult. This book also includes many references and sources along with a fascinating chronological chart dating back to 15,000 BC. Highly recommended!"
(

Jane Lee, New Dawn, May-June 2002

)

"While written nearly thirty years ago, the message of Gods of Love and Ecstasy is more critical today than ever, as it points the way towards reestablishing our links to the energies these archetypes represent, and their power in the material world." (
The Institute of Hermetic Studies, Dec 2007 )

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: French

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Inner Traditions (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0892813741
• ISBN-13: 978-0892813742
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #658,912 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Challenging, partial, scholarly..., September 28, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus (Paperback)

Danielou meant that book to be an introduction to a religion that lies at the roots of all of us, and possibly lead us back to such primordial religion. The claim is bold. First, it is the author's controversial opinion that such a shaivite/dionysian religion was really so widespread. Second, the book itself doesn't give a "feeling" for what that religion is/was like. It gives extensive, scholarly details on the gods and myths, but little insight into what that would all mean to us nowadays.

However, the discussion of civilisations so remote from ours in time and spirit (Dravidian, Indus, Cretan, etc...) is mind-boggling and challenging. It makes our own culture seem very narrow-minded in some ways and ignorant of so much of human nature. The author was a native Frenchman yet deeply immersed in Hindu/Shaivite culture and religion from a young age. His insights are rare and precious. Thank you Monsieur Danielou.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Very factual, but lacks poetry., October 14, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus (Paperback)

Having made the connection between Siva and Dionysus from other sources, I looked forward with some anticipation to a book that treated both together. I have come a way a little disappointed. While the book is well documented and very factual it lacks poetry. I could not get a feeling for either of the Gods from this book as I have been able from others (Like 'Dionysus: Myth and Cult' by Walter Otto.) However it was reassuring to to have my intuitions about the link between the two Gods substantiated.

The bulk of the material is about Siva, (which is understandable given the background of the author and the relative amounts of material available on each of the subjects) though this leads to a somewhat fragmentary portrait of Dionysus.

In places it has the tone of a polemic for a return to 'natural' or 'ecstatic' religion as a basis for saving the planet. It treats the 'good' features of such an approach at length but fails to adequately address the fact that 'Siva/Dionysus' is at heart a 'mad' and ambivalent God (CF. W Otto above). I am not sure I can stomach a return to ritual or cult prostitution or to human sacrifice. Feminists may be interested in his description of the 'natural' role of women.

At first he appears to be anti-christian though this turns out to be more anti Roman-Catholic and Institutional Church. He believes that Christianity in its original, unadulterated form was very close to 'natural' spirituality and points to the many parallels between Dionysus and Christ.

I would suggest that readers get a good background in both subjects before reading this book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing book on the roots of the Shivaite tradition, September 29, 1996

By A Customer

This review is from: Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus (Paperback)

Alain Danaielou has written a fascinating look at religion before it was bastardized by modern man. The Shivaite tradition, and its Bachannalian equivalent in the West, is the basis of all world religions, and this book does a great job of explicating and delineating concepts in terms of yesyeryear and today.