Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Rites of Initiation: A Contribution to the Methodology of Comparative Religion

  • Chapter
Book cover Explorations in the anthropology of religion

Part of the book series: Verhandelingen ((VKIV))

Abstract

Prof. J. van Baal belongs to that small minority of ethnologists in our time who have dealt intensively with religion for more than thirty years.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Notes

  1. On varieties and motivations of religion; the work appeared only in Dutch at Noordhollandse Uitg. Mij; Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Represented by a.o. D. & P.D. Chantepie de la Saussaye, J.H. Gunning, Is. van Dijk and later by H.Th. Obbink, M. van Rhijn & G. van der Leeuw.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Van Gorcum & Co.; Assen.

    Google Scholar 

  4. De boodschap der drie illusies (the message of the three illusions); van Gorcum & Co.; Assen.

    Google Scholar 

  5. See o.c. p. 118.

    Google Scholar 

  6. See: Wege derForschung, Band CCLXIII,ed. G. Lanckowski, Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt.

    Google Scholar 

  7. The phenomenological method in the science of religion“, which appeared in the Mededelingen van de Vlaamse Academie van Wetenschappen,Letteren Schone Kunsten van België, Klasse der Letteren, jrg. XXVI; 1964; 6; Brussel; p. 49.

    Google Scholar 

  8. This concept is used in the following sense: way in which a complex whole is built up; see van Dale’s Nieuw Groot Woordenboek der Nederland-se Taal; M. Nijhoff, ‘s-Gravenhage, 1950; p. 1770.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Systematic description of religious phenomena as part of historical research“ in Nederlands Theologisch Tijdschrift,Veenman, Wageningen, 13e jrg.; p. 105.

    Google Scholar 

  10. See Selbstverständnis und Wesen etc., p. 234 and cf. W. Baetke ibidem p. 144.

    Google Scholar 

  11. See for instance in Selbstverständnis und Wesen the contributions of W. Baetke, pp. 144 ff. and of H. Clavier, pp. 284 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  12. As for instance M. Dhavamony did in his Phenomenology of Religion, Gregorian University Press, Rome, 1973; pp. 180–194.

    Google Scholar 

  13. See also Baetke om o.c. p. 147.

    Google Scholar 

  14. See French edition, Payot, Paris, 1948; pp. 10, 12.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Cf. Lambrechts in o.c. p. 41.

    Google Scholar 

  16. See Selbstverständnis und Wesen,p. 266.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Cf. also Dhavamony in o.c. pp. 180 ff. and 185 ff. who simply puts together the upanayana of ancient India and the rites of initiation in Africa observed in the 19th century and the 20th century.

    Google Scholar 

  18. The initiation of girls is not treated here.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Sanctifying ceremonies.

    Google Scholar 

  20. The upanayana always has been restricted to the higher classes.

    Google Scholar 

  21. See W. Müller in Die Religionen des alten Amerika von W. Krickeberg, H. Trimborn, W. Müller, 0. Zerries, Kohlhamer; Stuttgart, 1961; p. 244.

    Google Scholar 

  22. The upanayana is described by Mrs. S. Stevenson in The rites of the twice-born; Oxford, 1920; ch. II, pp. 27–45; the rites of the Kwakiutl by J. Haekel in “ Schutzgeist und Jugendweihe im westlichen Nordamerika” in Ethnos,Stockholm, 1947, 3/4, pp. 106–122; and J. Haekel, “Initiation-en und Geheimbünde Nordwestküste Nordamerikas” in Mitteilungen der Anthropologischen Gesellschaft in Wien,Bd. 83, 3; Wien, 1954; pp. 167190. Those of the Kamilaroi by R.H. Mathews, “The Bora or Initiation Ceremonies of the Kamilaroi Tribe” in Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute,vol. XXIV, 1895, pp. 411–427 and vol. XXV, 1896, pp. 328339.

    Google Scholar 

  23. The labyrinth of the deities (in Dutch only); Salamander G77, Em. Querido’s Uitg. Mij; Amsterdam, 1960; p. 154.

    Google Scholar 

  24. My assistant J.G. Platvoet drew my attention to E.E. Evans-Pritchard, Nuer Religion, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1966, pp. 197 ff. where the author is dealing with the sacrifice in the same way. Cf. also W. Baethke in o.c. p. 147.

    Google Scholar 

  25. The Absolute and permanent Being of the Hindus.

    Google Scholar 

  26. See Stevenson in o.c. pp. 29–30. She calls the goddesses, mother godesses; this must be a mistake.

    Google Scholar 

  27. See Haekel in “Initiationen und Geheimbünde”, p. 169.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Cf. Worms-Petri, “Australische Eingeborenen-Religionen” in Die Religionen der Südsee and Australiens W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgard, 1968. pp. 240 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  29. The same applies to the wedding rites.

    Google Scholar 

  30. This idea already existed in vedic times.

    Google Scholar 

  31. See Haekel in “Initiationen and Geheimbünde”, pp. 168, 169 and ct. W. Müller, “Die Religionendes alten Amerika”, Religionen der Menschheit,Band 7, XX, Kohlhammer, Stuttgart, 1961; p. 244.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Brahmans normally have a preceptor, members of other classes a guru (spiritual master). Often the family already had contact with the preceptor or guru before.

    Google Scholar 

  33. It is quite obvious that the boys get their educational training in the schools nowadays.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Cf. i.a. Hoens in C.J. Bleeker, “Initiation” Studies in the history of religions XBrill, Leiden, 1965; pp. 73, 74.

    Google Scholar 

  35. “Mythical beings of prehistoric times” cf. A.E. Jensen Mythus and Kult bei den NaturvölkernSteiner, Wiesbaden, 1951, pp. 113 ff.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Cf. Mathews in o.c. pp. 332, 336.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Gobhilagrhyasútra, II; 10; pp. 1–4. and Hiranyakesingrhyasutra, I; 1,1, pp. 2–3 in the Grihyasutras, II (translated by H. Oldenberg), Sacred Books of the East,ed. F.M. Müller, vol. XXX, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1892; pp. 63 and 137.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Cf. 4.7 ad. I.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Cf. Mrs. Stevenson in o.c. p. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Om bhúh svah, tatsavitur varenyam om bhargo devasya dhïmahi, dhiyo yo nah pracodayat; Om, earth, atmosphere, sky: May we receive that desirable light of the god Savitar who may impel our thoughts: (modern translation: Om, earth, atmosphere, sky: That excellent glory of Savitar, the god on whom we meditate, may he stimulate our prayers:)

    Google Scholar 

  41. The so-called upavïta (laid on) which probably is the remnant of a vestment worn by former generations.

    Google Scholar 

  42. See Mrs. Stevenson in o.c. pp. 32, 37.

    Google Scholar 

  43. By means of the girdle of munja grass,see Stevenson in o.c. p. 31 and cf. the accompanying mantra which twice mentions the word protection. Gobhilagrhyasictra II,10, 37 in o.c. p. 67.

    Google Scholar 

  44. See 4.4 ad. III.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Sexuality is implied by the obscene gestures of the men representing the grasshoppers or the cicadas; if fertility is implied depends on the fact if the insects really are the cicadas. Of these little animals the young come out simultaneously in great quantities after 17 years; see Mathews in o.c

    Google Scholar 

  46. The whole psychical-physical world consists of three gunas (strands) sattva intelligence) rajas (energy) and tamas (inertness).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Cf. my paper in PratidanamMouton, The Hague, 1968.

    Google Scholar 

  48. In the samâvartana-rite which follows immediately after the upanayana the staff is replaced by an umbrella the insigna of prosperity and dominion representing the state of a householder (grhastha).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Agni: since vedic times the god of the (sacrificial) fire.

    Google Scholar 

  50. The goddess of speech and intellect.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Cf. F. Boas The social organization and the secret societies of the Kwakiutl IndiansGovernment Printing Office, Washington, 1897; pp. 341, 342.

    Google Scholar 

  52. See M. Dhavamony in o.c. pp. 190–193. At the same time one may ask if statements such as “Rites of death and rebirth form the central theme of all initiation rites” (p. 191) and “Initiation equals finally a spiritual maturing” (p. 193) in the light of our investigation can be maintained.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. D. J. Hoens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

W. E. A. Van Beek J. H. Scherer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1975 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hoens, D.J. (1975). Rites of Initiation: A Contribution to the Methodology of Comparative Religion. In: Van Beek, W.E.A., Scherer, J.H. (eds) Explorations in the anthropology of religion. Verhandelingen. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-4902-2_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-4902-2_3

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-247-1787-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-017-4902-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation