Anand Ramachandran

Worshipping Shiva Anand Ramachandran

The Hindu pantheon of Gods, comprising of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, is canonically considered as the foundation to the study of Sanathana Dharma. Worshipping Shiva demystifies the various practices that are observed in the veneration of Lord Shiva through a compilation of Puranic tales dedicated around these three Gods focussed on themes of Creation, Preservation and Destruction. Among them, Shiva with Parvati stands out as the most enigmatic God, represented by the iconic Shivalingam. The awe-inspiring and enchanting divinities of Kartikeya, Ganesha and Sastha to bring a serene world-order has made them household deities. Shiva has taken various manifestations such as Kirathamoorthy, Kaal Bhairav, Ardhanarishwar, Gangadharan, Sharabeshwaran, Gajasamharamoorthy and Kaalasamharamoorthy to protect his devotees. Jyotirlingam and the Panchabootha Lingam Temples, with their grand austere shrines and ornate edifices, provide the devotee a forum to seek the divine blessings of Lord Shiva. These divine temples, Kailash Manasarovar and Amarnath Cave yatra are extensively detailed in the book. Performing puja is the source of peace and an integral part of faith for a devout Hindu. The book contains the detailed procedure to perform Rudrabhishekam Puja.