Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2(pesnta.1.2) 9/5/84; site scc.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxj!mhuxn!houxm!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!amd!pesnta!scc!steiny From: steiny@scc.UUCP (Don Steiny) Newsgroups: net.religion Subject: Re: Re: Meditation, prayer, & fasting Message-ID: <270@scc.UUCP> Date: Wed, 5-Dec-84 13:56:22 EST Article-I.D.: scc.270 Posted: Wed Dec 5 13:56:22 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 7-Dec-84 01:46:24 EST References: <2564@ucla-cs.ARPA> Organization: Personetics, Inc. - Santa Cruz, Calif. Lines: 38 ** > there are no female divinities or prophets > having leading positions today. the author of this line went on to point out that this rule is not absolute. Of interest: "Buddhism had by now [4th century] spread well beyone the frontiers of India, into central AsZJ China, and south-east Asia. In India, the *Mahayana* branch had practically driven out the *Hinayana* except in a few restricted areas. The fifth century saw the coming of a new and curious cult which began with the worship of female deities, associated with the fertility cult; they became the nuculeus of a number of magical rites which in a later form are called Tantricism. Buddhism was influenced by *Tantric* rites, and in the seventh century A.D. a new branch of Buddhism emerged with its centre in eastern India called *Vajrayana* (Thunderbolt Vehical) Buddhism. The *Vajrayana* Buddhists gave female counterparts to the existing male figures of the Buddhist pantheon, and these counterparts were termed Taras (or Saviouresses). The cult of Taras remains prevalent in Nepal and Tibet. A History of India Romila Thapar Penguin Books, 1966 pps 159-160 -- scc!steiny Don Steiny - Personetics @ (408) 425-0382 109 Torrey Pine Terr. Santa Cruz, Calif. 95060 ihnp4!pesnta -\ fortune!idsvax -> scc!steiny ucbvax!twg -/