Art as an erotic explosion

According to the UK's National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles, one of the reasons for the recent decline in sexual activity among younger people is the "search for spiritual and mental development". But many have disagreed with the proposition that asceticism and celibacy are the key to higher levels of consciousness. One notable dissenter was the French Indologist and musicologist Alain Daniélou (1907-1994) whose circle in the 1930s included Jean Cocteau, Serge Diaghilev, and Stravinsky. After later moving to India Daniélou stayed with Rabindranath Tagore, before becoming a professor at the Hindu University of Benares and director of the College of Indian Music. He corresponded with René Guénon about the philosophic and religious approaches of Shaivite Hinduism, and shared some of Guénon's less-savoury anti-modernism views. (The toxic undercurrent of the far-right has been around for a long time: Steve Bannon cites Guénon as an influence.)

In 1963 Alain Daniélou returned to Europe and created the International Institute for Comparative Music Studies in Berlin. (A co-founder of the Institute was the decidedly pro-modernist composer Ivan Vandor who worked in avant-garde ensembles with Frederic Rzewski and Alvin Curran). By organizing concerts for celebrated musicians from the Indian subcontinent and by making available recordings of traditional music under the aegis of Unesco, including an Anthologie De La Musique Classique De L'Inde, Daniélou played an major role in the West’s rediscovery of Asian art music His contribution to the recognition of Indian music as an art form in its own right was acknowledged by Yehudi Menuhin, Ravi Shankar and others.  

Alain Daniélou's long-term partner was the Swiss photographer Raymond Burnier whose photographs of the erotic sculptures in Indian temples drew attention to them in the West. Despite this partnership, in the middle of their relationship Burnier married the Theosophist and close associate of Krishnamurti Radha Sri Ram. The subject of Daniélou's books ranged widely from the theory and practise of Indian music, through the first complete unabridged translation of the Kama Sutra to the Phallus Cult, and on to Indian mythology. In his 1992 book Gods of Love and Ecstasy: The Traditions of Shiva and Dionysus he argued his views on art as an erotic explosion. 

Shiva is the principle of erotic pleasure, not of fecundity. Wandering in the forest he spreads his sperm by masturbatory practices and inspires desire and erotic madness... All the beauty and all the joy in the world is manifested by means of an erotic explosion. Flowers cast their pollen to the wind... The creation of the world is an erotic act, an act of love, and everything which exists bears this sign and this message. In living beings, everything is organised in accordance with this expression of pleasure, joy, beauty and happiness, which is the nature of the divine and the secret of all that exists. Eroticism is the bond of attraction uniting two opposite and complimentary poles.

One of Alain Alain Daniélou's projects was an album of Music Of The Dance And Theatre Of South India. Accompanying photos of  Kathakali dance performers were taken by me during my recent travels in that hot bed of Shaivism in the south of India, Kerala. Kathaki Dance was performed at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in 2011. But it is unlikely that these artists will be appearing there again anytime soon.  

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