Book of Kali & Rudra: The Idea of Shiva (Set of 2 Books)

This combo product is bundled in India but the publishing origin of this title may vary.Publication date of this bundle is the creation date of this bundle; the actual publication date of child items may vary.Na punyam na papam Na saukhyam na duhkham Na mantro na tirtham Na vedam na yajna Aham bhojanam naiva bhojyam na bhokta Chidananda rupah Shivoham Shivoham Beyond sin and virtue beyond joy and sorrow beyond scripture ritual and pilgrimage and beyond familiar experience. This is Shiva in essence. Once feared as the capricious and terrifying Rudra Shiva the most un-Brahmanic of gods has traditionally been shunned by orthodox Vedic religion. Although the Shiva we recognize today retains much of his original contrarian nature he is firmly ensconced in popular imagination as the awe-inspiring Mahadeva supreme lord of the universe. In a unique attempt to explore the varied planes of thought and belief that Shiva has represented over millennia Nilima Chitgopekar imaginatively recreates the defining moments of the great gods life through the eyes of his most intimate mythological companions. Vishnu Sati Daksha Parvati and Ganesha take turns to praise criticize explain complain sermonize and rationalizeand through the prism of what they choose to reveal of the Shiva they know there emerges the vision of a god who assimilates in his person the most extreme contradictions. For Shiva is as reclusive as he is accessible as loved as he is feared and as fallible as he is divine. As the author traces the diverse threads of history philosophy anthropology and faith that have coalesced to create this intriguing deity she uncovers the deeper truth about Shivas unmatched appeala credo of simple devotion to a unified godhead one that reflects the eclecticism and humanity that form the very core of Hindu thought.Book of Kali