Melanges a la memoire de Pandit N.R. Bhatt: Studies in memory of Pandit N.R. Bhatt,

Book Details:

• Publisher: ADITYA PRAKASHAN Indological Publishers & Booksellers

• Language: English, Sanskrit

• Edition: Pondicherry, 2022

• ISBN-13: 9788184702446

• ISBN-10: 8184702442

• Subject(s): Philosophy, Tantrism

About the Book:

This collection of essays pays tribute to the late Pandit N.R. Bhatt, a pioneering scholar whose groundbreaking research into the history of Saivism significantly contributed to the academic understanding of the tradition. His work in the French institutions of research in Pondicherry, especially through his editions of Sanskrit texts on Saivasiddhanta and his efforts in gathering the largest collection of Saiva manuscripts in the world, left an indelible mark on the study of Saivism. This extraordinary collection was recognized as a UNESCO Memory of the World in 2005.

The volume includes a preface and sixteen insightful contributions from colleagues and disciples, covering various aspects of the history of Tantrism, Saiva ritual practices, and doctrinal developments. The essays delve into key areas of Saivism, including its iconography, rituals, and philosophical teachings. Additionally, two articles explore the rich tradition of Saiva iconography, while one last contribution presents an eighteenth-century account of the siege of Pondicherry in 1778.