7 secret of lord Shiva?

Summary of the Book

Symbols like the Shiva Linga look like a phallus, but it represents a mind that has attained a higher level of peace. He goes on to explain the seven secrets of Lord Shiva: Lingesh wara Bhairava, Shankara, Bholenath, Ganesha, Kartikeya and natraj    

Book Review: 7 Secrets of Shiva, by Devdutt Pattanaik

Mythology is a very interesting genre, and when narrated with that interest, makes for wonderful reading. Many authors try to write in this genre; some succeed, others do not. I quite enjoyed a few of Devdutt’s earlier books, so picking this book wasn’t that difficult a choice.

The mythology behind a God or a Goddess varies quite often. The story of the same God could be different in the North region as compared to the South, but there would exist some common denominator. I think what Devdut Pattanaik attempts to do through this book 7 Secrets of Shiva is to unfurl some of the beliefs and mythical stories that exist when it comes to Lord Shiva, and also look at possible logic behind these mythical stories. The book is divided into seven parts viz. Bhairava’s Secret, Lingeshwara’s Secret, Shankara’s Secret, Bholenath’s Secret, Ganesha’s Secret, Murugan’s Secret and Nataraja’s Secret. Though I have read a part of the book earlier, it was interesting to read it completely with the flow of this book.

As I read the book, a quote stood out. I loved how the author describes imagination. It is so beautiful.

“From imagination comes our vision of the world, our vision of our future, and most importantly our vision of ourselves, who we are and what we want to be.”

I couldn’t help but agree with the thought, especially with the last part of it. Going ahead in the book, the author’s explanation of Brahmanda was another thing I quite liked. However, one aspect I couldn’t agree with was the notion of why games and recreational activities are something the human mind is obsessed with. Even the phallic interpretations of some aspects of mythology didn’t feel quite believable.

The author sometimes discusses the other two Gods of the trinity too – Brahma and Vishnu; explaning the differences between Shiva and them. I liked reading that, and also the role of Shakti or Parvati in Shiva’s life.

Are these secrets really “secrets”? Perhaps not, if you look at the mythology aspect. Most are tales many of us would have heard before. The logic behind these tales, as expressed by the author, “might” be secrets. The book also has some photographs that go along with the tale being narrated.

I liked the parts pertaining to Ganesha and Murugan the best, and I’d definitely re-read some parts of the book again. I can see it appealing to many readers though, especially those who have an interest in the genre.

The seven secrets of Shiva

I share with you a nice review of a new book by Devdutt Pattanaik - 7 Secrets of Shiva - a superb writer who makes Indian mythology relevant to modern day:

 

"Shiva, The Fascinating God

With the Kedarnath tragedy, Shiva has once again crash-landed in our psyche. But then, he has always fascinated us, provoking our imagination like no other. Who is this alpha male who doesn't care for political correctness, who lives by his own rules in the remote and icy Himalayas, and who follows his own dress code and has a peculiar taste for friends? How does Shiva exercise his powers as the god of Destruction? How was Parvati unable to resist him despite his crude lifestyle? These and many similar questions always arise in our minds.

 

A peek into the chapters of the book, where the seven secrets of Shiva are unravelled.

 

Chapter 1. Lingeshwara (literally meaning 'The Lord of the Phallus): 

 

This chapter explains why Shiva is always worshipped as Lingeshwara, the form of a linga (phallus). It explains in depth and detail the symbolism behind the portrayal of Shiva and his surroundings. Shiva’s erect penis indicates not physical titillation but mental stimulus and inner happiness. A flaccid penis indicates an unstirred mind.

 

 

Chapter 2. Bhairava (The Destroyer of Fear):

 

 

This incarnation of Shiva assumes a violent form, that banishes fears of scarcity and predation. By extension, he is also Kaal Bhairava, the one who destroys the fear of time and promises immortality. The two fears are linked to linked to territory and survival, the formal being a primal need that Shiva ignores. With fear gone, the mind stays unstirred and continues in its pursuit of realisation and inner happiness.

 

Chapter 3. Shankara:

The most dramatic chapter of the book, it portrays Shiva as a householder. Like Yin and Yang, Shiva has a counterpart in the Goddess Shakti. They cannot exist without each other. Together, they make the androgynous form Ardhanarishvara. The goddess represents Prakriti (the natural world) and Sanskriti (culture). She makes him cast his inward gaze outwards. It is here that Shiva who challenges the laws of nature and breaks free from them, gets involved with nature. The cold, loner, celibate, unseeing Shiva opens his mind to the world. When the goddess gets him involved with worldly affairs, he is at loss following the concepts of culture, taboo and acceptability. The union of the god and the goddess symbolises the propagation of the species.

This book, like others by Pattnaik, contains detailed explanations about the differences between the genders that drive the choice of symbols in Hindu mythology. Men can control the juice of life; women can’t. Male arousal is far more explicit and visible than the female one. The explanations that “count out” women become overbearing beyond a point.

Chapter 4. Bholenath (The Innocent Lord)

 

He is pure of mind, innocent of disposition, and shorn of the conditioning of society and culture. He does not recognise cultural constructs, and the concepts of discrimination and acceptability. As a result, he does not heed his primal needs such as food and housing. He is aashutosh, the one who is quickly satisfied. He does not discriminate between creatures. Here too, the goddess gets him to engage with the world

 

Chapter 5 and 6: Father of Ganesha and Kartikeya:

The former isn't his biological son, the latter is born of Shiva and Parvati but without a sexual union. In keeping with the idea of Bhairava, Ganesha protects devotees from scarcity, Kartikeya from predation. Ganesha is the god of good life, prosperity, success, knowledge. Kartikeya is a warrior god. Ganesha removes obstacles, Kartikeya wards off attackers. They ensure the mind stays still and attains inner peace. Shiva connects with the world through them

 

I share with you a nice review of a new book by Devdutt Pattanaik - 7 Secrets of Shiva - a superb writer who makes Indian mythology relevant to modern day:

 

"Shiva, The Fascinating God

 

With the Kedarnath tragedy, Shiva has once again crash-landed in our psyche. But then, he has always fascinated us, provoking our imagination like no other. Who is this alpha male who doesn't care for political correctness, who lives by his own rules in the remote and icy Himalayas, and who follows his own dress code and has a peculiar taste for friends?  How does Shiva exercise his powers as the god of Destruction? How was Parvati unable to resist him despite his crude lifestyle? These and many similar questions always arise in our minds.

 

 

A peek into the chapters of the book, where the seven secrets of Shiva are unravelled.

 

 

Chapter 1. Lingeshwara (literally meaning 'The Lord of the Phallus): 

 

This chapter explains why Shiva is always worshipped as Lingeshwara, the form of a linga (phallus). It explains in depth and detail the symbolism behind the portrayal of Shiva and his surroundings. Shiva’s erect penis indicates not physical titillation but mental stimulus and inner happiness. A flaccid penis indicates an unstirred mind.

 

 

Chapter 2. Bhairava (The Destroyer of Fear):

 

 

This incarnation of Shiva assumes a violent form, that banishes fears of scarcity and predation. By extension, he is also Kaal Bhairava, the one who destroys the fear of time and promises immortality. The two fears are linked to linked to territory and survival, the formal being a primal need that Shiva ignores. With fear gone, the mind stays unstirred and continues in its pursuit of realisation and inner happiness.

 

Chapter 3. Shankara:

 

The most dramatic chapter of the book, it portrays Shiva as a householder. Like Yin and Yang, Shiva has a counterpart in the Goddess Shakti. They cannot exist without each other. Together, they make the androgynous form Ardhanarishvara. The goddess represents Prakriti (the natural world) and Sanskriti (culture). She makes him cast his inward gaze outwards. It is here that Shiva who challenges the laws of nature and breaks free from them, gets involved with nature. The cold, loner, celibate, unseeing Shiva opens his mind to the world. When the goddess gets him involved with worldly affairs, he is at loss following the concepts of culture, taboo and acceptability. The union of the god and the goddess symbolises the propagation of the species.

 

This book, like others by Pattnaik, contains detailed explanations about the differences between the genders that drive the choice of symbols in Hindu mythology. Men can control the juice of life; women can’t. Male arousal is far more explicit and visible than the female one. The explanations that “count out” women become overbearing beyond a point.

 

Chapter 4. Bholenath (The Innocent Lord):

 

He is pure of mind, innocent of disposition, and shorn of the conditioning of society and culture. He does not recognise cultural constructs, and the concepts of discrimination and acceptability. As a result, he does not heed his primal needs such as food and housing. He is aashutosh, the one who is quickly satisfied. He does not discriminate between creatures. Here too, the goddess gets him to engage with the world.

 

Chapter 5 and 6: Father of Ganesha and Kartikeya:

 

The former isn't his biological son, the latter is born of Shiva and Parvati but without a sexual union. In keeping with the idea of Bhairava, Ganesha protects devotees from scarcity, Kartikeya from predation. Ganesha is the god of good life, prosperity, success, knowledge. Kartikeya is a warrior god. Ganesha removes obstacles, Kartikeya wards off attackers. They ensure the mind stays still and attains inner peace. Shiva connects with the world through them.

Chapter 7. Nataraja (The King of Dance):

Shiva drives the movement of the universe with his dance. When he performs the tandava, the rhythmic waves emanating from his body destroy the universe. In the Hindu trinity, he is the god of destruction. As Nataraja, he is also the creator and expositor of the performing arts. He is enlightened and wise, and he expresses wisdom and learning through the medium of dance. He is also Dakshinamurthi, the south-facing god who teaches yoga, music and science.

 

Shiva drives the movement of the universe with his dance. When he performs the tandava, the rhythmic waves emanating from his body destroy the universe. In the Hindu trinity, he is the god of destruction. As Nataraja, he is also the creator and expositor of the performing arts. He is enlightened and wise, and he expresses wisdom and learning through the medium of dance. He is also Dakshinamurthi, the south-facing god who teaches yoga, music and science.

Content by Shubham gaur