This book seeks to trace the origins of Shiva, the most energetic god of Indian civilization, following his footsteps from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from the trans-Himalayan region to Indian Ocean countries. It offers a detailed account of his rise from an obscure pre-historic roots, his role as an ordinary family-man, his dissenting voice in the mounting orthodoxy of Hinduism, plethora of sects and philosophies around his personality of contradictions.
It also describes in detail his most debated linga-form, his pan-Asian fame as the great dance master Nataraja, the worship of his footprints along the Mekong River, and finally his role as the ruler of the vast Southeast Asian empire of Angkor through subtle local transformations.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Sachchidanand Sahai
Professor Sachchidanand Sahai (born 1941) served as Pro-Vice Chancellor, Magadh University, Bodh-Gaya in 2001. Currently he is Member, Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi. Professor Sahai obtained his M.A. degree in Ancient Indian History, culture and Archaeology from Banaras Hindu University, with the award of A.S. Altekar Gold Medal in 1962. His researches on ancient Cambodia under the guidance of eminent French savant George Coedes in the University of Paris (Sorbonne) during 1965-69 lead to a doctoral degree and the publication of a pioneering work Les institutions politiques et I’ organization administrative du Cambodge ancien, EFEO, Paris, 1971. Professor Sahai was offered a Fulbright post-doctoral fellowship at Cornell Fellowships at Australian National University and Maison de Science de I’Homme, Paris. Under the auspices of Indian Council for Cultural Relations Professor Sahai worked as Visiting Professor of Asian Civilization at Sisavangvong University, Vientiane, Laos. He also worked as Research Professor at Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, New Delhi. Professor Sahai is the author of a number of books and research papers on the cultural history of South East Asia. He is the founder of the South East Asian Review and the International Conference on Thai Studies.
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