Shiva THE WILD GOD OF POWER AND ECSTASY Wolf-Dieter Storl Ph.D. Inner Traditions Rochester, Vermont Inner Traditions One Park Street Rochester, Vermont 05767 www.InnerTraditions.com Copyright © 2004 by Wolf-Dieter Storl All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Storl, Wolf-Dieter. Shiva : the wild God of power and ecstasy / Wolf-Dieter Storl. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-59477780-6 1. Siva (Hindu deity) 2. Gods, Hindu. 3. Hinduism. I. Title. BL1218.S8 2004 294.5’2113—dc22 2004010959 “OM Shri Ganeshaya Namah” The sage should study the scriptures in his search for knowledge; but then he should leave them, like the chaff that is left behind, when the grains of rice have been winnowed. AMRTABINDU UPANISHAD C ONTENTS Introduction Chapter 1 Journey to the Source of Time Chapter 2 Fire and Ice The Rock Water Kashi Karttikeya’s Strange Birth Chapter 3 The Shaman and His Black Dog The Old Huntsman Pashupati, Lord of the Animals The Noose The Black Dog The God of the Shades Bhairava Rudra and Odin The Treacherous God Chapter 4 God’s Virile Member Lingam Yoni The Lingam Is Everywhere How Arjuna Won His Magic Arrows How Markandeya Became an Immortal The Phallic Symbol The Pillar of Fire Chapter 5 Shankar, The Yogi on the Mountain Shankara The Tears of Rudra The God Clothed in Air The Third Eye Three Lines of Ash The Blue Neck Shiva and Buddha The Trident and the “Bâton-de-Commandement” Chapter 6 The Goddess Devi Durga Kali Annapurna Ganga Chapter 7 The Dancer in the Flames Shiva’s Dances The Drum Chapter 8 The Ideal Family Karttikeya Ganesha Nandi the Bull Chapter 9 The Destruction of the Sacrifice The Aryan Background Daksha’s Great Sacrifice Shiva the Sinner Chapter 10 Shiva as the Devil Zarathustra The Earth Runs Well The Righteous Battle Chapter 11 Tantra: The Serpent’s Path The Heresy of the Agamas Overcoming the Ego Shakti The Pathway of the Kundalini Serpent Returning to Oneness Chapter 12 The Saint, the Hero, and the Beast The Rituals Tantric Influence Chapter 13 Pollen Dust and Ashes Lingam Puja Shiva’s Flower Garden Bel: Shiva’s Triune Leaf Bangeri Baba Shiva’s Garden of Madness Sacred Ashes The Shadow of the Night Chapter 14 Shiva’s Festivals and Holidays The Descent of the Goddess Festivals of the Hot Season and he Rainy Season Festivals of the Fall Season Festivals of Spring Kumbha Mela Footnotes Notes Bibliography About the Author About Inner Traditions Copyright Shiva