Dancing with Śiva

`Contents`

`Vishayasūchī`

`विषयसूची`

Dedication—Samarpaṇam§

Author’s Introduction—Granthakāra Bhūmikā §

The Master Course—Pradhāna Pāṭhyakramaḥ§

Śiva’s Cosmic Dance—Śivānanda Taṇḍavaḥ §

UPANISHAD ONE ETERNAL TRUTHS—Sanātana Dharmaḥ§

`ŚLOKA`
	`Maṇḍala 1: Self Realization—Paramātma Darśanam`
`1`	`Who Am I? Where Did I Come From?`
`2`	`Where Am I Going? What Is My Path?`
`3`	`What Is Meant by “Dancing with Śiva”?`
`4`	`How Can We Learn to Dance with Śiva?`
`5`	`What is the Ultimate Goal of Earthly Life?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Self Realization`
	`Maṇḍala 2: Hinduism—Hindu Dharmaḥ`§
`6`	`What Are Hinduism’s Principal Sects?`
`7`	`What Is the Deeply Mystical Śaiva Sect?`
`8`	`What Is the Magic and Power of Śāktism?`
`9`	`What Is the Devotional Vaishṇava Sect?`
`10`	`What Is the Universalist Smārta Sect?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Religion`
	`Maṇḍala 3: Śaivite Hinduism—Śaiva Dharmaḥ`§
`11`	`What Is the Nature of Śaivite Theology?`
`12`	`How Do Śaivites Regard Other Faiths?`
`13`	`How Does Śaivism Stay Contemporary?`
`14`	`What Is the Nature of Life for Śaivites?`
`15`	`What Is the Symbolism of Śiva’s Dance?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Śaivism`

UPANISHAD TWO GOD AND THE GODS—Īśvaraḥ Devatāḥ cha§

UPANISHAD THREE OUR IMMORTAL SOUL—Amṛitātmā§

	`Maṇḍala 6: The Nature of the Soul—Ātmasvarūpam`
`26`	`What Is Our Individual Soul Nature?`
`27`	`How Is Our Soul Different from Śiva?`
`28`	`How Is Our Soul Identical with Śiva?`
`29`	`Why Are We Not Omniscient Like Śiva?`
`30`	`How Do Hindus Understand Moksha?`
	`Verses from Scripture on the Soul`
	`Maṇḍala 7: Karma and Rebirth—Saṁsāraḥ`§
`31`	`How Do Hindus Understand Karma?`
`32`	`Is There Good Karma and Bad Karma?`
`33`	`What Is the Process of Reincarnation?`
`34`	`How Should We View Death and Dying?`
`35`	`How Does One Best Prepare for Death?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Saṁsāra`
	`Maṇḍala 8: The Way to Liberation—San Mārgaḥ`§
`36`	`What Are the Four Stages on the Path?`
`37`	`What Is the Nature of the Charyā Pāda?`
`38`	`What Is the Nature of the Kriyā Pāda?`
`39`	`What Is the Nature of the Yoga Pāda?`
`40`	`What Is the Nature of the Jñāna Pāda?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Liberation`

UPANISHAD FOUR THE WORLD—Śivamayam§

	`Maṇḍala 9: The Three Worlds—Trilokam`
`41`	`Where Did This Universe Come from?`
`42`	`What Is the Nature of the Physical Plane?`
`43`	`What Is the Nature of the Subtle Plane?`
`44`	`What Is the Nature of the Causal Plane?`
`45`	`Does the Universe Ever End? Is It Real?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Three Worlds`
	`Maṇḍala 10: The Goodness of All—Sarvabhadraḥ` §
`46`	`Are Souls and World Essentially Good?`
`47`	`Why Do Some Souls Act in Evil Ways?`
`48`	`What Is the Source of Good and Evil?`
`49`	`How Can a Benevolent God Permit Evil?`
`50`	`Should One Avoid Worldly Involvement?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Goodness`
	`Maṇḍala 11: Sin and Suffering—Pāpa-Duḥkhe` §
`51`	`Why Is There Suffering in the World?`
`52`	`What Is Sin? How Can We Atone for It?`
`53`	`Does Hell Really Exist? Is There a Satan?`
`54`	`What Is the Consequence of Sinful Acts?`
`55`	`Does God Ever Punish Wrongdoers?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Sin and Suffering`

UPANISHAD FIVE RIGHT LIVING—Dharmaḥ§

	`Maṇḍala 12: Four Dharmas—Chaturdharmāḥ`
`56`	`What Is Dharma? What Are Its Forms?`
`57`	`What Is Signified by Universal Dharma?`
`58`	`What Is the Nature of Social Dharma?`
`59`	`What Is the Nature of Human Dharma?`
`60`	`What Is the Nature of Personal Dharma?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Four Dharmas`
	`Maṇḍala 13: Good Conduct—Sadāchāraḥ`§
`61`	`What Is the Meaning of Good Conduct?`
`62`	`What Are Good Conduct’s Four Keys?`
`63`	`From Whom Is Good Conduct Learned?`
`64`	`What Are the Ten Classical Restraints?`
`65`	`What Are the Ten Classical Observances?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Good Conduct`
	`Maṇḍala 14: Noninjury—Ahiṁsā`§
`66`	`What Is the Great Virtue Called Ahiṁsā?`
`67`	`What Is the Inner Source of Noninjury?`
`68`	`What Is the Inner Source of Violence?`
`69`	`Is Vegetarianism Integral to Noninjury?`
`70`	`How Can Peace on Earth Be Achieved?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Noninjury`

UPANISHAD SIX FAMILY LIFE—Gṛihastha Dharmaḥ§

	`Maṇḍala 15: Husband and Wife—Dampatī`
`71`	`What Is the Central Purpose of Marriage?`
`72`	`What Are the Duties of the Husband?`
`73`	`What Are Special Duties of the Wife?`
`74`	`What Is the Hindu View of Sexuality?`
`75`	`What Is the Relation of Sex to Marriage?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Husband and Wife`
	`Maṇḍala 16: Marriage—Vivāhaḥ`§
`76`	`What Is the Basis for a Happy Marriage?`
`77`	`Must We Marry Within Our Religion?`
`78`	`How Are Hindu Marriages Arranged?`
`79`	`What Is the Hindu Family Structure?`
`80`	`How Are Marital Problems Reconciled?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Marriage`
	`Maṇḍala 17: Children—Apatyam`§
`81`	`What Is the Fulfillment of a Marriage?`
`82`	`What Are the Main Duties of Parents?`
`83`	`How Strictly Must Children Be Guided?`
`84`	`Should All Youths Be Urged to Marry?`
`85`	`How Is Family Harmony Maintained?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Children`

UPANISHAD SEVEN SACRED CULTURE—Maṅgala Kriyā§

	`Maṇḍala 18: Ways of Wisdom—Bodhi Tantraḥ`
`86`	`How Do We Overcome Life’s Obstacles?`
`87`	`What Are the Hindu’s Daily Yoga Practices?`
`88`	`How Are Āyurveda and Jyotisha Used?`
`89`	`How Do Hindus Regard Art and Culture?`
`90`	`What Is the Hindu Outlook on Giving?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Ways of Wisdom`
	`Maṇḍala 19: Sacraments—Saṁskārāḥ`§
`91`	`What Are Hinduism’s Rites of Passage?`
`92`	`What Are the Sacraments of Childhood?`
`93`	`What Are the Sacraments of Adulthood?`
`94`	`What Are the Child-bearing Sacraments?`
`95`	`Are There Rites for the Wisdom Years?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Sacraments`
	`Maṇḍala 20: Festivals—Utsavāḥ` §
`96`	`What Are the Festival Days of Śaivism?`
`97`	`What Are the Primary Festivals to Śiva?`
`98`	`What Are the Major Gaṇeśa Festivals?`
`99`	`What Are the Main Kārttikeya Festivals?`
`100`	`What Are Other Important Festivals?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Festivals`

UPANISHAD EIGHT SACRED WORSHIP—Upāsanā§

	`Maṇḍala 21: Śiva Temples—Śivālayāḥ`
`101`	`What Is the Nature of the Śiva Temple?`
`102`	`How Are Temples Founded and Built?`
`103`	`When Should One Attend the Temple?`
`104`	`How Does One Attend a Śiva Temple?`
`105`	`What Occurs Within the Śiva Temple?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Śiva Temples`
	`Maṇḍala 22: Temple Rites—Pūjā`§
`106`	`What Is the Inner Importance of Pūjā?`
`107`	`What Is the Special Rite Called Ārchanā?`
`108`	`What Is the Nature of Image Worship?`
`109`	`Who Are the Priests of Śiva Temples?`
`110`	`What Does the Pujārī Do During Pūjā?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Temples Rites`
	`Maṇḍala 23: Love of God—Bhaktiḥ`§
`111`	`Is Temple Worship Only for Beginners?`
`112`	`How Do Devotees Prepare for Worship?`
`113`	`How Do Our Prayers Reach the Gods?`
`114`	`Do Śaivites Worship Only in Temples?`
`115`	`What Is the Home Shrine’s Significance?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Love of God`

UPANISHAD NINE HOLY MEN AND WOMEN—Mahātmā§

UPANISHAD TEN SACRED SCRIPTURE—Śāstram§

	`Maṇḍala 26: Revealed Scripture—Śrutiḥ`
`126`	`What Are Hindu Revealed Scriptures?`
`127`	`What Is the Nature of the Veda Texts?`
`128`	`How Are the Vedas Significant Today?`
`129`	`What Is the Nature of the Holy Āgamas?`
`130`	`How Are the Āgamas Significant Today?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Śruti`
	`Maṇḍala 27: Secondary Scripture—Smṛitiḥ`§
`131`	`Do Smṛiti and Sacred Literature Differ?`
`132`	`What Texts Amplify Vedas and Āgamas?`
`133`	`Does Hinduism Have Epics and Myths?`
`134`	`Are there Other Types of Sacred Texts?`
`135`	`What Is the Source of This Catechism?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Smṛiti`
	`Maṇḍala 28: Affirmations of Faith—Mantraḥ` §
`136`	`What Is the Holy Namaḥ Śivāya Mantra?`
`137`	`How Is Namaḥ Śivāya Properly Chanted?`
`138`	`Is Initiation Necessary to Perform Japa?`
`139`	`What Is Śaivism’s Affirmation of Faith?`
`140`	`How Is the Affirmation of Faith Used?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Affirmation`

UPANISHAD ELEVEN MONISTIC THEISM—Advaita Īśvaravādaḥ§

UPANISHAD TWELVE PASSING ON THE POWER—Sampradāyaḥ§

	`Maṇḍala 31: Himalayan Lineage—Kailāsa Paramparā`
`151`	`What Is Hinduism’s Nātha Sampradāya?`
`152`	`What Is the Lofty Kailāsa Paramparā?`
`153`	`Who Were the Early Kailāsa Preceptors?`
`154`	`Who Were Kadaitswami and Chellappan?`
`155`	`Who Are the Most Recent Kailāsa Gurus?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Paramparā`

RESOURCES—Upagranthāḥ§

`I.`	`A Śaivite Creed`
`II.`	`Six Schools of Śaivism`
`III.`	`The Tradition of Masters`
`IV.`	`Monism and Pluralism in Śaiva Siddhānta`
`V.`	`Truth Is One, Paths Are Many`
`VI.`	`Hindu Timeline`
`VII.`	`A Children’s Primer`
`VIII.`	`Charts`

Conclusion—Samāpaṇam§

Glossary—Śabda Kośaḥ: A-G§

Glossary—Śabda Kośaḥ: H-M§

Glossary—Śabda Kośaḥ: N-S§

Glossary—Śabda Kośaḥ: T-Z§

Sanskrit Pronunciation—Uçchāraṇam Saṁskṛita §

Index of Scriptural Verses—Śāstra Udharaṇasūchī §

Supplementary Reading—Granthavidyā §

Colophon—Antyavachanam §

About the Author§

Reviews and Comments§

	`Maṇḍala 4: Our Supreme God—Śivaḥ`
`16`	`What Is the Nature of Our God Śiva?`
`17`	`What Is God Śiva’s Unmanifest Reality?`
`18`	`What Is God Śiva’s Pure Consciousness?`
`19`	`What Is the Nature of the Primal Soul?`
`20`	`What Are God Śiva’s Traditional Forms?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Śiva`
	`Maṇḍala 5: Lords of Dharma—Gaṇeśa-Kārttikeyau`§
`21`	`Do Other Gods Exist Apart from Śiva?`
`22`	`What Is the Nature of Lord Gaṇeśa?`
`23`	`What Is Lord Gaṇeśa’s Special Duty?`
`24`	`What Is the Nature of Lord Kārttikeya?`
`25`	`What Does Lord Kārttikeya’s Vel Signify?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Lords of Dharma`

	`Maṇḍala 24: Monastic Life—Sannyāsa Dharmaḥ`
`116`	`What Is the Hindu Monastic Tradition?`
`117`	`What Are the Goals of Renunciate Life?`
`118`	`What Is the Sannyāsin’s Kuṇḍalinī Path?`
`119`	`What Is the Sannyāsin’s Initiation Rite?`
`120`	`What Are the Holy Orders of Sannyāsa?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Monastic Life`
	`Maṇḍala 25: Knowers of God—Jñānī`§
`121`	`Who Are Hinduism’s Spiritual Leaders?`
`122`	`What Is a Saint, a Sage and a Satguru?`
`123`	`Are There Other Terms for Holy Ones?`
`124`	`What Is the Nature of Guru Protocol?`
`125`	`What Is the Satguru’s Special Function?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Knowers of God`

	`Maṇḍala 29: Monism and Dualism–Advaita-Dvaitau`
`141`	`What Are the Many Hindu Philosophies?`
`142`	`How Do Monism and Dualism Differ?`
`143`	`Are Monism and Dualism Reconcilable?`
`144`	`What Is the View of Monistic Theism?`
`145`	`Is Monistic Theism Found in the Vedas?`
	`Verses from Scripture on One and Two`
	`Maṇḍala 30: Views of Reality—Śaiva Siddhāntaḥ` §
`146`	`What Are Śaiva Siddhānta’s Two Schools?`
`147`	`What Are the Two Views on Creation?`
`148`	`What Are the Views on God and Soul?`
`149`	`What Are the Differing Views on Evil?`
`150`	`What Are the Views on Mahāpralaya?`
	`Verses from Scripture on Siddhānta`