The Book of ShivaShiva: Destroyer and Protector, Supreme Ascetic and Lord of the Universe. He is Ardhanarishwara, half-man and half-woman; he is Neelakantha, who drank poison to save the three worlds-and yet, when crazed with grief at the death of Sati, set about destroying them. Shiva holds within him the answers to some of the greatest dilemmas that have perplexed mankind. Who is Shiva? Why does he roam the world as a naked ascetic covered with ash? What was the tandava? What is the story behind the worship of the linga and what vision of the world does it signify? Namita Gokhale examines these questions and many others that lie within the myriad of stories about Shiva. Even as she unravels his complexities, she finds a philosophy and worldview that is terrifying and yet life affirming-an outlook that is to many the essence of Indian thought. |
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Common terms and phrases
Agni archer arrow ascetic aspects of Shiva asuras austerities belva Bhairava bhasma Bhava Bhima body Brahma Brahminical celestial churning consort constellation cosmic cults cultural cursed Daksha dance Daruvana daughter death deity demons deodar destroyer destruction devatas devotional earth element embodiment erotic esoteric eternal feminine energy fire forces ganas Ganesha Gautama goddess gods Hanuman Hindu incarnate India interpretations Ishana jyotirlinga Kala Kamadeva Kapalika Kashi legend life-force linga Lord Shiva Mahadeva Mahakala manifestation meditations moon Mount Kailash mystic myth mythic Nandi Narada nature ocean paradox Parvati Pashupati penance phallic phallus polarities Prajapati Prakriti propitiated Puranas Ravana reality religion religious representation represents rishis ritual river Ganga Rohini Rudra Rudra-Shiva rudraksha sacred sacrifice sages samudra manthan Sarva Sati Sati's self-born semen serpent sexual Shaivism Shaivite Shakti Shamanistic Shiva worship Shiva-Shakti Shivalinga Siva skull Soma supreme ascetic symbol Tantric temple transcendent understanding universe unmanifest Vedic versions Vishnu wives worship of Shiva yuga