In Universal Śaivism Peter Bisschop provides a critical edition and annotated translation of the sixth chapter of the Śivadharmaśāstra `Treatise on the Religion of Śiva’, the so-called Śāntyadhyāya 'Chapter on Appeasement’. The Sanskrit text is preceded by an extensive introduction on its composition, transmission and edition. The Śivadharmaśāstra has arguably played a crucial role in the formation, development and institutionalisation of Śaivism. Through a detailed study of its extensive śānti mantra, Peter Bisschop shows how the text advocates a system in which all worldly and cosmic power is ultimately dependent upon Śiva. The mantra itself is a mine of information on the evolving pantheon of early Brahmanical Hinduism. Thanks to generous support of the J. Gonda Fund Foundation, the e-book version of this volume is available in Open Access.

Saivism is one of the pervasive expressions of Indian Religious Culture stretching to the dim past of pre-history and surviving as a living force in the thought and life of millions of Hindus especially in Southern India and Northern Ceylon. The present work is scholarly reconstruction of Saivism in its characteristic and classical from as Saiva Siddhanta, focusing mainly on the philosophical doctrine and presenting a conceptual analysis of its formative notions, problems and methods. Anteceding the rise of the great systems of Vedanta including that of Sankara, Saiva Siddhanta in its fully systematised form as Mystical Theology in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries represents a constructive reaction to the theological, ethical and aesthetic aspects of Vedanta as a whole. A patient study of this much neglected phase of religo-philosophical development of India should prove useful for a more balanced understanding of Indian religiosity, providing a corrective to the view entertained not without justification that Indian religious thought does not affirms the values of freedom, love and personality. This methodical study, appended with very exhaustive glossary, bibliography and index and two-hundred pages of references and foot-notes is designed to meet the requirements of seriious students of Eastern religious thought.

This Triple-Volume Encyclopaedia Is A Comprehensive And Thematic Compilation Of All Important Aspects Of Siva And Saivism In Alphabetical Order Which Took Active Part In Origin And Development Of Indian Religio-Philosophical Tradition. Siva Is One Of The Eminent Ancient Hindu Gods. Saivism Creates The Principle Religious Current Of Classical And Modern Hinduism Which Centres On The Worship Of Lord Siva.

In Universal Śaivism Peter Bisschop provides a critical edition and annotated translation of the sixth chapter of the Śivadharmaśāstra `Treatise on the Religion of Śiva', the so-called Śāntyadhyāya `Chapter on Appeasement'. The Sanskrit text is preceded by an extensive introduction on its composition, transmission and edition.

Swami Lakshman Jee is the last living Master of the oral tradition in Kashmir Shaivism. This exposition of the non-dual philosophy with practical applications is his first book in English. The tantric teachings are hidden in a language of allusion and symbol. Swamiji offers the skeleton key of the oral tradition that allows access to the secrets. The intent is to preserve the tradition and to make it available. The emphasis is on practical realization of Truth through the experiences of Kundalini Yoga. The author contrasts this realization with the concepts of liberation taught by other schools of Indian philosophy, especially Advaita Vedanta. Kashmir Shaivism experiences the world as real and true—as real and true as the existence of God. Liberation is the unbroken awareness of this universe as one's own transcendental Consciousness. It is a blissful realization.

The aim of Hindu Philosophy is the exinction of sorrow and suffering by the method of knowledge that alone can free man from the bondage of ignorance. It points to a clear way of thinking which enables one to understand Reality by direct experience. In this perspective, Hindu Philosophy is an art of life and not a theory. In this book the author presents a precise and illuminating study of six systems of Indian Philosophy classified into three divisions (1) Nyaya-Vaisesika, (2) Samkhya-Yoga, (3) Mimamsa-Vedanta. The first division lays down the methodology of science and elaborates the concepts of Physics and Chemistry to show how manifestations of phenomena come into being. The second division sets forth and account of cosmic evolution on purely logical principles. The third division critically analyses the basic principles, developing them in greater detail and furnishing arguments to substantiate, as well as making incidental contribution on points of special interest. Beside presenting an account of philosophical systems of India, the author adds a study of Kashmir Saivism--a system of Ideal Monism founded by Vasugupta and based on Siva Sutras. In this context the author throws sufficient light on the traditional Tantric literature that has sufered wide criticism both from Western and Eastern scholars. The book is documented with Preface, Introduction and Glossarial Index.