Book Summary: Shiva To Shankara
Giving Form To The Formless.
Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
Book Size: 115 pages
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Moral and Introduction:
“Shiva became popular among the masses due to his relationship with low-caste people and his contempt for formal ritual… Shiva’s Ganas are portrayed as a raucous and noisy gang of wild ogres who gain Shiva’s true acknowledgment. He drinks with them, smokes with them, and is unaffected by their antisocial behavior.”
Despite his monastic status, Shiva was forced to father children due to an emergency in the heavenly spheres, and he ended up with a unique family consisting of his wife Parvati, the elephant-headed Lord Ganesh, and Kartikeya. Ayappa, the kid he fathered through his union with Vishnu in his feminine appearance as Mohini, is still worshiped in South India, bridging the sectarian divide between Vaishnav and Shakta religions.
The book is richly illustrated, with some odd and rare images, such as one of the famed ice linga littered with bel leaves. The author employs texts and folklore to elicit subtle and profound insights into the legends and stories. When Shiva, as an icy ascetic, is awakened to the truth of Shakti, he transforms into Shankara, and the interaction of the two reflects peace between the “within” and “outer,” which both are and neither.
What Book Says
Shiva, one of the Hindu trinity (of lords), is represented in a variety of paradoxical ways. He is an ascetic who covers animal skin and has ashes spread all over his body.
He is represented as having a family, with a lovely wife and two children, in contrast to his wild personality.
There are numerous more Shiva representations, the most famous of which are the Linga and the Nataraja. The author presents an introduction to these many features and representations before understanding them. He clarifies the inconsistencies and contradictions in beliefs, and also the symbols, rituals, and motivations behind Hindu worship.
The book is broken down into seven sections. Each of the seven segments tells a distinct Lord Shiva story.
What exactly does Shiva-ling mean? Why is he known as the destroyer and fearless? What happens when Shiva, a recluse, becomes Shankar, a householder? By reading this book, you will be able to immerse yourself in some amazing tales.
‘Ideas come and go,’ says the author. Societies experience ups and downs. However, new life is constantly being created. As a result, nothing lasts forever. There will always be a fresh start.’
Lord Shiva is among Hindu mythology’s most enigmatic Gods. We’ve read numerous accounts of his bravery, boldness, and other qualities in various literature from time to time. Some books are offered to us in a fictional format, while others, like this one, are nonfiction.
Lord Shiva has many names, including Shankar, Bholenath, Pashupati, Kaal Bhairav, and Nataraj. The author has shared several anecdotes in this book using various circumstances of why or how he obtained those names.
Throughout the book, the author uses a variety of illustrations to provide readers with extensive and clear descriptions. The use of graphics was a novel concept that made reading more enjoyable.
‘If the people around us act like deer, we’re acting like lions.’ When others act like lions around us, it means they regard us as deer. If the people around us act like dogs, whether loving or aggressive, it implies they care about us.’
The author elaborates on human behavior and why people act the way they do. Every person is distinct, as is their imagination, which gives rise to various ‘bhrahmands.’
‘You need two eyes, one for selection and the other for rejection.’ When both eyes are closed, it signifies that nothing has been chosen or rejected, approved or disapproved, or included or excluded. ‘Everything is identical.’
