Den gudomliga kroppen : en psykologisk tolkning av hinduisk śāktism och tantrism

Sammanfattning: The Hindu Çåktism and Tantrism are based on psychological assumptions and philosophical theories that are closely related to ritual phenomena. The primary purpose of this thesis is to present a psychological understanding of this relation, more specifically from the point of view of object-relations theory, and even to some extent, Sundén's role-theory, speech act theory and Lacan's use of the concepts of "metaphor" and "metonymy". Another aim is to discuss and analyse the most appropriate concept of symbol, in this context, for describing and interpreting the relation between the psychological assumptions, philosophical theories and ritual phenomena. The one proposed here for this purpose is a revised psychoanalytic conception of symbol.The psychological interpretation of Hindu Çåktism and Tantrism is principally based on the Tantric text of Våmakeçvar/matam, but other sources and literature have been employed. The method chosen for the psychological interpretation of the material may be best described as thematic. Some of these themes are concerned with concepts within object-relations theory, "Çakti and the various goddesses as internal object-representations of external partial objects", "Transitional area and transitional objects" and "Çakti as an internal and external whole- object". Other themes are, for example, "Desire and emotions", "The Çakra-system and the body" and "Aggression and sexuality".By means of the previously mentioned theories, especially object-relations theory, it becomes possible to interpret and understand the Çåktic and Tantric system of ritual from a psychological perspective.