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Lakulish &Pashupatas

Dynamics between the philosophy and practice in the Lakulisa Pasupata cult



         

                                                                                          By
Geetika Kaw Kher

1Introduction:

The aim of this study is to look at religion as a construct, a living-breathing phenomenon constantly in the state of flux, either appropriating new concepts or getting appropriated in a stronger system. One often wonders how new aspects and at times totally contrary ones are accepted and even legitimized in a belief system hence raising interesting questions about the dynamics between different religious systems, which come in contact with each other.

One of the most exciting periods in Indian history where one can study this dynamics to the maximum are the few centuries before and after the beginning of the Christian era. This is the time when Jainism and Buddhism had already challenged the supremacy of Vedas and lot of people especially from the Vaisya and Shudra class got converted into the former systems. Meanwhile the highly philosophical and abstract religion of Vedas was becoming more and more difficult to follow for a layman. There was a need to give a more tangible form to the religion, something to which a common man could relate. Hence started an interesting and seemingly competitive struggle between various cults to assert their supremacy. What is really fascinating is the give and take that occurred between between these cults and the Vedic religion. While on the one hand these cults tried to identify their deity with Vedic Rudra or Vedic Visnu, on the other hand the concept of the said Vedic godheads was expanded to appropriate these cult deities.

It is in this period that Lakulisa- Pasupata cult came to the forefront. A lot of debate has ensued regarding the date of Lakulisa .The dating varies from 11thC.AD.. To 2nd C BC
On the basis of two inscriptions mentioning ‘Lakutesvara Pandita' Fleet dated Lakulisa to...