Les enfers indiens

Book Description

Marc Tiefenauer presents a groundbreaking exploration of how different Indian spiritual traditions have understood and depicted the realms of suffering in the afterlife. Drawing from an extraordinary range of ancient texts spanning three thousand years, this comprehensive study examines primary sources written in Sanskrit, Pali, Ardhamagadhi, Chinese, Braj, Persian, and Hindi to trace the evolution of hell imagery across India's diverse religious landscape.

This pioneering work in Indian philology reveals how various spiritual movements have shaped and influenced each other's conceptions of posthumous punishment and redemption. Tiefenauer carefully analyzes contributions from Buddhism, Jainism, devotional Bhakti traditions, and Islam, showing how these different paths have enriched and transformed Brahmanical understanding of what awaits souls after death.

For contemporary spiritual seekers, this scholarly investigation offers profound insights into how ancient wisdom traditions grappled with questions of moral consequence, divine justice, and spiritual purification. By examining these eschatological visions, readers gain deeper appreciation for the complexity and interconnectedness of Indian religious thought.

The author demonstrates how studying these afterlife narratives enhances our interpretation of classical Indian literature, revealing layers of meaning that illuminate the spiritual concerns of past generations. This extensive 681-page study serves as an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to understand the rich tapestry of beliefs that have shaped Indian spirituality across millennia.