Lord Siva (In India & Abroad)

Lord Siva is the most captivating and enigmatic pan-Hindu deity. He is not just a part of the Hindu Trinity, which includes Brahma and Vishnu, but is also revered as 'Mahadev', the Great Lord. He transcends the human understanding of the Divine. He is revered for his several dimensions such as beneficence and tenderness and at the same time, wrath. He is distinguished for his being omniscient Yogi living an ascetic life as well as an unparalleled householder. He is possessor of Trigunas, yet he transcends them. He himself is Trikal and also a Trikaldarshi. He transcends all times, all ages, all states, names, forms and cognition, and is known for being the Cosmic dancer.

He is the of as well as the most compelling subject of research for Indologists, cultural thinkers, historians and archaeo logists. His majesty extends throughout the globe and our imagination.

'Lord Śiva in India and Abroad' is one such compilation of essays divided into four sections containing twenty outstanding chapters. The book is an earnest endeavour to comprehend the varied views, cultures, customs and researches that thinkers, writers, academics and scholars have extended around "Lord Siva" with utmost devotion.

Braj Bihari Kumar, an educationist, eminent scholar and prolific writer was the Chairman, Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi and the Governing Body Member of the Science Council of Asia, Tokyo, Japan.

The present volume is the culmination of the dedicated efforts of the late Dr. B. B. Kumar. As a senior social scientist and Chairman of the Indian Council of Social Science Research, New Delhi he undertook several projects to decolonize social sciences in contemporary India. Dr. Kumar was wholeheartedly committed to the cause of the cultural renaissance of India. He had embarked upon the gigantic task of rediscovering and reconstructing the cultural roots and promoting indigenous social science scholarship. The preparation of Lord Siva in India and Abroad was conceptualized by Dr. Kumar as a part of that intellectual project. Due to his untimely demise, the work could not be published on time. It is gratifying that now it is being published.