Abstract:

The article highlights the life path of an outstanding Romanian religious scholar and writer Mircea Eliade. The main milestones of the researcher´s life are described: studying at the Lyceum, studying at the University of Bucharest at the faculty of Philology and philosophy, studying foreign languages in order to read the works of scientists in the original. It tells about a scientific trip for three years (1928—1931) to India, about a method for studying Sanskrit and mastering yoga. It lists the lessons that the philosopher learned from his stay in the Eastern country. These are the types of creative and social activities of Mircea Eliade after returning to Bucharest. It refers to the performance of duties in the civil service during the Second world war. Mircea Eliade´s contribution to the development of the science of religion and world literature is revealed.

Keywords: scientist, religious scholar, writer, yoga, myth, ritual, symbol, Christianity, Orthodoxy, Hinduism, history of religions, tradition, University, lecture, Sanskrit, foreign languages