Devdutt Pattanaik Shiva An Introduction Pdf 16
Devdutt Pattanaik Shiva An Introduction Pdf 16
Shiva is one of the most popular and complex deities in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the destroyer, the transformer, the lord of the dance, the ascetic, the lover, and many more. But who is Shiva and what does he represent? How can we understand his myths, symbols, and rituals in our modern times?
Devdutt Pattanaik Shiva An Introduction Pdf 16
If you are looking for answers to these questions, you might want to read Devdutt Pattanaik's Shiva: An Introduction. This book is a comprehensive and accessible guide to the mythology and meaning of Shiva. It explores various aspects of Shiva worship, such as his iconography, his philosophy, his history, his folklore, and his festivals. It also provides a pictorial key to his numerous symbols and a list of his 108 sacred names with their meanings.
Devdutt Pattanaik is a renowned mythologist and author who has written several books on Hindu mythology and culture. He has a medical background and a marketing career, but his passion is to decode the ancient stories and symbols for the contemporary audience. He has a unique style of writing that combines scholarly research with storytelling and illustrations.
Shiva: An Introduction was published in 1997 by Vakils, Feffer and Simons Limited. It has 126 pages and contains over 150 illustrations, many of them in color. You can download the PDF version of the book for free from various online sources.
In this article, we will look at some of the main themes and topics covered in Devdutt Pattanaik's Shiva: An Introduction. We will also see how the book can help us appreciate the diversity and richness of Shiva worship in India and beyond.
Shiva's Iconography
One of the most striking features of Shiva is his iconography, or the way he is depicted in art and sculpture. Shiva has many forms and attributes that reflect his various aspects and roles. For example, he is shown as:
Nataraja, the lord of the dance, who performs the cosmic dance of creation and destruction.
Mahadev, the great god, who wears a crescent moon on his matted hair and has a third eye on his forehead.
Neelkantha, the blue-throated one, who swallowed the poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean.
Ardhanarishvara, the half-female one, who represents the union of Shiva and his consort Shakti.
Linga, the phallic symbol, which signifies his creative power and energy.
The book provides a detailed explanation of each of these forms and their meanings. It also gives a pictorial key to the other symbols associated with Shiva, such as his trident, his drum, his snake, his bull, and his sacred ash.
Shiva's Philosophy
Another important aspect of Shiva is his philosophy, or the way he teaches us about the nature of reality and our place in it. Shiva is associated with Shaivism, one of the major sects of Hinduism that worships him as the supreme reality. Shaivism has many schools and traditions that have different views on Shiva and his relationship with the world and the individual soul.
The book introduces some of the key concepts and terms of Shaivism, such as:
Brahman, the ultimate reality that is beyond name and form.
Maya, the illusion that makes us perceive the world as separate from Brahman.
Samsara, the cycle of birth and death that traps us in suffering.
Moksha, the liberation from samsara that can be attained by realizing our true identity with Brahman.
Shakti, the power or energy that manifests Brahman in various forms.
Tantra, the esoteric practice that uses Shakti to awaken our latent potential and achieve moksha.
The book also compares and contrasts Shaivism with other Hindu sects, such as Vaishnavism and Shaktism, as well as with other religions, such as Buddhism and Jainism.
Shiva's History
Shiva is not only a mythological figure, but also a historical one. He has been worshipped in India and other parts of Asia for thousands of years. His origins can be traced back to the pre-Vedic period, when he was known as Rudra, the wild and fierce god of storms and animals. He was also associated with the Indus Valley Civilization, where he was depicted as a yogi and a proto-linga.
The book traces the evolution of Shiva worship from the Vedic times to the present day. It shows how Shiva absorbed and assimilated various cults and traditions, such as the Pashupatas, the Kapalikas, the Nathas, the Shaiva Siddhantas, the Kashmiri Shaivas, and the Lingayats. It also shows how Shiva influenced and interacted with other religions, such as Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and Islam.
Shiva's Folklore
Shiva is not only a philosophical and historical figure, but also a folkloric one. He is the hero of many stories and legends that are popular among the masses. These stories reveal his human side, his emotions, his adventures, his relationships, and his humor. They also reflect the cultural diversity and regional variations of Shiva worship in India.
The book retells some of the most famous and fascinating stories of Shiva, such as:
How he married Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayas.
How he cut off the head of his son Ganesha and replaced it with an elephant's head.
How he burned Kama, the god of love, with his third eye.
How he drank the poison that threatened to destroy the world.
How he danced on the dwarf demon Apasmara.
How he tested Rama and Sita in the forest.
How he taught music to Narada and grammar to Panini.
The book also explains the symbolism and significance of these stories and how they relate to Shiva's attributes and functions.
Shiva's Festivals
Shiva is not only a mythological, historical, and folkloric figure, but also a festive one. He is celebrated and honored in various festivals and occasions throughout the year. These festivals reflect the diversity and richness of Shiva worship in India and beyond. They also provide an opportunity for the devotees to express their love and gratitude to Shiva and seek his blessings.
The book describes some of the most important and popular festivals of Shiva, such as:
Maha Shivaratri, the great night of Shiva, which falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the month of Phalguna (February-March). It commemorates the night when Shiva performed his cosmic dance and married Parvati. It is observed by fasting, praying, chanting, and offering milk, water, flowers, and leaves to the linga.
Shravan Maas, the month of Shravan (July-August), which is considered auspicious for Shiva worship. It is believed that Shiva drank the poison during this month and saved the world. It is observed by wearing a sacred thread called Rudraksha, which is made from the seeds of a tree that grew from Shiva's tears. It is also observed by offering water to Shiva every Monday and visiting his temples.
Kartik Purnima, the full moon day of the month of Kartik (November-December), which marks the birthday of Kartikeya, the son of Shiva and Parvati. It is also associated with the legend of Tripurasura, the demon who built three cities of gold, silver, and iron, and was destroyed by Shiva with a single arrow. It is observed by lighting lamps, taking holy baths, and worshipping Shiva.
The book also explains the symbolism and significance of these festivals and how they relate to Shiva's attributes and functions.
Shiva's Names
Shiva is not only a mythological, historical, folkloric, and festive figure, but also a linguistic one. He has many names and epithets that describe his various aspects and roles. These names are not just arbitrary labels, but also expressions of devotion and reverence. They also reveal the diversity and richness of Shiva worship in India and beyond.
The book provides a list of 108 sacred names of Shiva with their meanings and origins. These names are derived from various sources, such as the Vedas, the Puranas, the Tantras, the Agamas, and the regional traditions. Some of the names are:
Maheshvara, the great lord, who is the supreme ruler of the universe.
Rudra, the howler, who is the fierce and terrifying aspect of Shiva.
Shankara, the benefactor, who is the compassionate and benevolent aspect of Shiva.
Shambhu, the auspicious one, who is the source of all good fortune and happiness.
Shashishekhara, the moon-crested one, who wears the crescent moon on his head as a symbol of his control over time.
Trilochana, the three-eyed one, who has a third eye on his forehead that represents his omniscience and power.
Gangadhara, the bearer of Ganga, who holds the river Ganga on his head after she descended from heaven.
Nilakantha, the blue-throated one, who has a blue neck due to swallowing the poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean.
Bhuteshvara, the lord of beings, who is the master of all living and non-living entities.
Bholenath, the simple lord, who is innocent and easily pleased by his devotees.
The book also explains the symbolism and significance of these names and how they relate to Shiva's attributes and functions.
Shiva's Temples
Shiva is not only a mythological, historical, folkloric, festive, and linguistic figure, but also a architectural one. He is enshrined and worshipped in various temples and shrines throughout India and other parts of Asia. These temples reflect the diversity and richness of Shiva worship in India and beyond. They also provide an opportunity for the devotees to experience the presence and grace of Shiva and seek his blessings.
The book provides a map of India showing some of the most important and famous temples of Shiva, such as:
The twelve Jyotirlingas, which are the most sacred abodes of Shiva. They are believed to be the manifestations of his light and power. They are located in Somnath (Gujarat), Mallikarjuna (Andhra Pradesh), Mahakaleshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Omkareshwar (Madhya Pradesh), Kedarnath (Uttarakhand), Bhimashankar (Maharashtra), Vishwanath (Uttar Pradesh), Trimbakeshwar (Maharashtra), Vaidyanath (Jharkhand), Nageshvara (Gujarat), Rameshwar (Tamil Nadu), and Grishneshwar (Maharashtra).
The five Pancha Bhoota Stalas, which are the five temples dedicated to Shiva as the embodiment of the five elements. They are located in Ekambareswarar (earth) in Kanchipuram (Tamil Nadu), Jambukeswarar (water) in Thiruvanaikaval (Tamil Nadu), Arunachaleswarar (fire) in Thiruvannamalai (Tamil Nadu), Kalahasteeswarar (air) in Srikalahasti (Andhra Pradesh), and Nataraja (space) in Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu).
The four Char Dham, which are the four pilgrimage sites that are considered sacred by Hindus. They are located in Badrinath (Uttarakhand), Dwarka (Gujarat), Puri (Odisha), and Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu). Among them, Dwarka and Rameswaram have prominent temples of Shiva. Dwarka is believed to be the abode of Shiva as Nageshvara, while Rameswaram is believed to be the place where Rama worshipped Shiva as Rameshwar.
The book also explains the symbolism and significance of these temples and how they relate to Shiva's attributes and functions.
Conclusion
Shiva is a fascinating and complex deity who has many aspects and roles. He is the destroyer and the transformer, the ascetic and the lover, the lord and the friend. He is worshipped in various ways and forms by millions of devotees across India and beyond. He is the source of inspiration and wisdom for many seekers and scholars.
Devdutt Pattanaik's Shiva: An Introduction is a comprehensive and accessible book that introduces us to the mythology and meaning of Shiva. It explores various aspects of Shiva worship, such as his iconography, his philosophy, his history, his folklore, his festivals, his names, and his temples. It also provides a pictorial key to his numerous symbols and a list of his 108 sacred names with their meanings. It is written in a simple narrative style and interspersed with familiar and unfamiliar tales retold. It is a book that reaches out to young and old alike.
If you are interested in learning more about Shiva and his relevance in our modern times, you can download the PDF version of the book for free from various online sources. You can also check out the bibliography for further reading and references.
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