Shiva

Lord Shiva is among the most popular figures of the Vedic pantheon, and yet he remains one of the least understood. He is the destroyer and also the most compassionate, the embodiment of anger and the one who is pleased most easily. He lives in complete detachment from the material world, but he also blesses his devotees with material abundance. To many people he remains a puzzle.

Shiva is often pictured in deep meditation, a sign of transcendence and inner peace. His third eye stands for wisdom and insight, able to destroy ignorance and grant enlightenment. As the lord of renunciation, he urges devotees to rise above worldly attachments, yet he is also a kind protector who offers comfort and guidance to those who need it.

Nityanand Charan Das sets out in this book to explore the side of Shiva that is hidden from most of us, and to give readers a deeper look at the personality behind the familiar image.