BRUNNER-LACHAUX, Helène (née H. Lachaux). L’Hérault 20.5.1920 — Lausanne 27.3.2005. French Indologist. Studied first mathematics and physics, CAPES 1942, and taught them at school in 1942-62, first in France, then 1951-53 Berchtesgaden, 1953-55 Addis Abeba and 1955-62 at Pondichéry French lycée. Now became interested in Śaivism and joined Filliozat’s Śaivasiddhānta team. Also studied at É.P.H.É. (diplome 1962). From 1963 until 1985 détachée au C.N.R.S., Langues et civilisations orientales. Dr.-ès-lettres 1979. In 1985 retired. In 1983/94 living at Cortaillod near Neuchâtel in Switzerland. She was a specialist of South Indian Śaiva literature. Her translation of the SŚP with its learned commentary is a lasting contribution. Married with the Swiss philosopher —> Fernand Brunner (1920–1991). Died after long illness.
Publications: Translated: Mṛgendrāgama. Section des rites et section du comportement. 47+496 p. P.I.F.I. 69. Pondichéry 1985.
– Somaśambhupaddhati. Le Rituel quotidien dans la Tradition śivaïte de l’Inde du Sud selon Somaśambhu. 1-4. 47+401, 418, 57+774, 65+583 p. P.I.F.I. 25. 1967-68-77-98 (complete).
– “Les catégories sociales védiques dans le śivaisme du sud”, JA 252, 1964, 451-472; “Analyse du Kiraṇāgama”, JA253, 1965, 309-328; “Analyse du Suprabhedāgama”, JA 255, 1967, 31-60; “Toujours le niṣkala-liṅga”, JA 256, 1968, 445-447; “De la consommation du nirmālya de Śiva”, JA 257, 1969, 213-263; “Un tantra du nord: le Netra Tantra”, BEFEO 61, 1974, 125-197; “Le sādhaka, personnage oublié du śivaisme du sud”, JA 263, 1975, 411-443; “Importance de la littérature âgamique pour l’étude des religions vivantes de l’Inde”, IT 3-4, 1975-76, 107-124; “Le Śaiva-siddhānta, ‘essence’ du Veda (étude d’un fragment du Kāmikāgama)”, IT 8-9, 1980-81, 51-66; “The Sexual Aspect of the linga Cult according to the Saiddhāntika Scriptures”, G. Oberhammer (ed.), Studies in Hinduism. 2. SWA 662. Vienna 1998, 87-103.– With G. Oberhammer & A. Padoux: Tāntrikābhidhānakośa. 1-2. Vienna, Ö.A.W. 2000-04.
Sources: Short note in BÉI 6, 1988, 76*; D. Goodall, Pattrika Sept. 2005 & Newsl. IASS 8, 2006, 41f.;
A. Padoux, JA 293, 2005, 383-386 & *BÉI 22-23, 2004-05, 7-11; *D. Goodall & A. Padoux (eds.), Tantric studies in memory of Hélène Brunner = Mélanges tantriques à la mémoire dʼHélène Brunner. Pondicherry 2007.
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