Customer Reviews

The Book of Shiva

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The book largely assumes basic knowledge of Hinduism; Gokhale briefly defines key Sanskrit terms the first time they are mentioned, and then uses the Sanksrit rather than translating. Each chapter covers an aspect of Shiva (often this means exploring various tensions of opposites). I found the book to be well-written, informative, and an excellent jumping-off point to further research.

As has otherwise been mentioned, with this book, you get a basic view into the very specific and opening aspects onto Lord Shiva and his worship/culture. This is great, if you, the beginner, think about how words in Dravidian/Sanskrit are Shiva's, and *what are/why are* the very basic concepts appearing with Shiva! :Ahem: but after that, if you are an outsider to Hinduism/Lord Shiva's precise worship, then you will be left with many, many questions: questions as to the words and concepts Gokhale alludes to here, as well as an endless mountain related to Hinduism, never even glimpsed truly from her book, so well written from a Hindu point of view. Her book is, nevertheless, a must for *any* Shiva devotee, and it tantalizes the beginner drawn to Shiva with His actual/numinous nature, so much so that you will find yourself writing down the words and looking up the concepts, or, vice versa, as whatever you need to define Lord Shiva, so then to follow Him personally. Next, you will quickly require other books and teachings! If this is your jumping-off point for a spiritual attraction to Shiva's true nature, worship, and being, you will swiftly find yourself in the religious corridor, looking for the rest of the information to be placed where it would belong in His workings and temple life. I should hope to find, but do not precisely see, Ghokale's thought of us, the Shaivate newbs, in her work here. She needs to address us with our appropriate beginner's practices, we the Shaivite beginners, and not just write from devotion, to just anyone, as she mentions she does, in the beginning of the book. Namaste all.