About the Book

A WONDERFULLY CREATIVE INSIGHT INTO THE LEGEND AND SYMBOLISM OF SHIVA AS A GOD AND HIS ROLE IN THE HINDU TRINITY ALONGSIDE VISHNU AND BRAHMA

Shiva, ʻthe destroyerʼ among the Hindu Trinity (of gods), is depicted in many contradictory manners. He is an ascetic who wears animal skin, his body smeared with ashes. Contradictory to his wild nature, he is also depicted as having a family, with a beautiful wife and two children. There are many more such varied representations of Shiva, the most prominent of these being the Linga and theNataraja. The author, Devdutt Pattanaik, introduces the readers to these varied aspects and representations and then sets about interpreting them. He explains the different anomalies and conflicts in beliefs, as well as the symbolism, rituals and reasons behind Hindu worship.

About the Author

Devdutt Pattanaik is an Indian physician turned leadership consultant, mythologist and author whose works focus largely on the areas of myth, mythology and also management. He is former chief belief officer of Future Group, one of India’s largest retailers. He writes a column for the newspaper Mid-Day.