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Numen 2009 - 56,2-3

Nvmen : international review for the history of religions / ed. on behalf of the International Association for the History of Religions. - Leiden [u.a.] : Brill, 1954-
Erscheinungsverlauf:
1.1954 -
ISSN 0029-5973 (Print-Ausgabe)
ISSN 1568-5276 (Online-Ausgabe)
URL: IngentaConnect
URL: Numen - Brill

Inhalt: 56,2-3 (2009)
Die Teile 2-3 des Bandes 56 bilden einen Themenband zu: The Uses of Hell. Darin sind u.a. folgende Beiträge mit Bezug zu Südasien enthalten:

  • Braarvig, Jens: „ The Buddhist Hell: An Early Instance of the Idea?“. - In: Numen. - 56 (2009), S. 254-281.
    DOI: 10.1163/156852709X405008

    Abstract: In spite of the modern idea that Buddhism is too rational a religion to have a conception of hell, the case is just the opposite. The Buddhists promoted this idea very early. This is not really surprising, since the idea of hell is closely connected with the concept of kamma, action, and its fruit or result. Every living being is what it is by the force of its actions in this or earlier lives: good actions entail rebirth in heaven or as a human, while bad actions have as their result rebirth as an animal, a ghost, or worst of all, in hell. In the Buddhist hell one is thus punished by the evil actions themselves, not by some sort of divine justice. Although life in hell is not eternal in Buddhism, it can still last for an enormous time span until the bad actions have been atoned for and one is reborn to a happier state of existence. Thus hell plays a great part in the Buddhist system of teachings, and it is a favourite topic in the monastic rules as well as in the narrative literature of the Jātakas, the subject of which is the Buddha's earlier lives. Hell is discussed as a topic already in the Kathāvatthu, the first scholarly treatise of Buddhism with a named author, datable between 250 and 100 BC. The discussion in the Kathāvatthu represents what may be seen as a fully developed conception of hell, and thus the Buddhist hell as described by its earliest canonical literature predates the appearance of the idea in most, if not all other religious traditions.

  • Jacobsen, Knut A.: „Three Functions of Hell in the Hindu Traditions“. - In: Numen. - 56 (2009), S. 285-400
    DOI: 10.1163/156852709X405071

    Abstract: In this article are analysed three functions of hell in the Hindu traditions, a narrative, a social and an economic. Because of the strong images the narratives of hell contain, they are excellent means to catch the attention of the audience. The social function of hell is to protect the social order, the security of the people and especially to protect the privileges of those on top of the hierarchy. Since gifts to the priests are matched with specific punishments in hell that they release from, one economic function of hell seems to be as a source of income for the priests. However, it is argued that even though hell is both a textual and ritual reality in the Hindu traditions, its significance should not be exaggerated. Death is not the end of life, but the end of one rebirth, and release, moksa, is not about escaping a destiny in hell, but to gain freedom from the rebirth realms.