Dancing With Siva

Contents Dedication - Samarpanam v Authors’ Introduction – Granthakara Bhumika xvii The Master Course – Pradhana Pathyakramah xxxiii Siva’s Cosmic Dance – Sivanandu Tandavah xxxix Upanishad One Eternal Truths – Sanatana Dharmah Mandala 1: Self Realization – Paramatma Darsanam 1 Who Am I? Where Did I come From? 5 2 Where Am I going? What is My Path? 7 3 What is Meant by Dancing with Siva? 9 4 How Can we learn to Dance with Siva 11 5 What is the Ultimate Goal of Earthly life 13 Verses from Scripture on Self Realization 14 Mandala 2: Hinduism – Hindu Dharmah 6 What Are Hinduism’s Principal Sects? 19 7 What is the deeply Mystical Saiva Sect? 21 8 What is the Magic and Power of Saktism? 23 9 What is the Devotional Vaishnava Sect? 25 10 What is the Universalist Smarta Sect? 27 Verses from Scripture on Religion 28 Mandala 3: Saivite Hinduism – Saiva Dharmah 7 What is the deeply Mystical Saiva Sect? 21 8 What is the Magic and Power of Saktism? 23 9 What is the Devotional Vaishnava Sect? 25 10 What is the Universalist Smarta Sect? 27 Verses From Scripture on Religion 28 Mandala 3: Saivite Hinduism – Saiva Dharmah 11 What is the Nature of Saivite Theology? 33 12 How Do Saivites Regard Other Faiths 35 13 How Does Saivism Stay Contemporary? 37 14 What is the Nature of Life fro Saivites 39 15 What is the Symbolism of Siva’s Dance 41 Verses From Scripture on Saivism 42 Upanishad Two God and the Gods – Isvarah Devatah Cha Mandala 4: Our Supreme god – Sivah 16 What is the Nature of Our God Siva? 49 17 What is God Siva’s Unnmanifest Reality? 51 18 What is God Siva’s Pure Consciousness? 53 19 What is the Nature of the Primal Soul? 55 20 What are God Siva’s Traditional Forms? 57 Verses From Scripture on Siva 58 Mandala 5: Lords of Dharma – Ganesa Karttikeyau 21 Do Other Gods Exist Apart from Siva? 63 22 What is the Nature of Lord Ganesa? 65 23 What is Lord Ganesa’s Special Duty? 67 24 What is the Nature of Lord Karttikeya? 69 25 What Does Lord Kartikeya’s Vel Signify 71 Verses From Scripture on Lord of Dharma 72 Upanishad Three Our Immortal Soul - Amritatma Mandala 6: The Nature of the soul – Atmasvarupam 26 What is our individual Soul Nature? 79 27 How Is our Soul Different From Siva? 81 28 How is our Soul Identical with Siva? 83 29 Why are We Not Omniscient like Siva? 85 30 How do Hindus Understand Moksha? 87 Verses From Scripture on the Soul 88 Mandala 7: Karma and Rebirth - Samasrah 31 How Do Hindus Understand Karma? 93 32 Is there Good Karma and Bad Karma? 95 33 What is the Process of Reincarnation 97 34 How Should we View Death and Dying 99 35 How Does one Best prepare for death 101 Verses From Scripture on Samsara 102 Mandala 8: The way to Liberation – San Margah 36 What are the Four Stages on the Path 107 37 What is the Nature of the Charya Pada 109 38 What is the Nature of the Kriya Pada? 111 39 What is the Nature of the Yoga Pada? 113 40 What is the Nature of the Jnana Pada? 115 Verses From Scripture on Liberation 116 Upanishad Four The world - Sivamayam Mandala 9: The Three Worlds - Trilokam 41 Where did this universe Come From? 123 42 What is the Nature of the Physical Plane? 125 43 What is the Nature of the Subtle Plane? 127 44 What is the Nature of the Causal Plane? 129 45 Does the Universe Ever End? Is it Real 131 Verses From Scripture on Three Worlds 132 Mandala 10: The Goodness of all - Sarvabhadrah 46 Are souls and worldly Essentially Good? 137 47 Why do Some Souls Act in Evil Ways 139 48 What is the Source of Good and Evil? 141 49 How Can a Benevolent Good Permit Evil? 143 50 Should One Avoid Worldly Involvement 145 Verses From Scripture on Goodness 146 Mandala 11: Sin and Suffering – Papa Duhkhe 51 Why is there Suffering in the world? 151 52 What is Sin? How can we Atone for it? 153 53 Does Hell Really Exist? Is there a Satan? 155 54 What is the Consequence of Sinful Acts? 157 55 Does God Ever Punish Wrongdoers? 159 Verses from Scripture on Sin and Suffering 160 Upanishad Five Right Living - Dharmah Mandala 12: Four Dharmas - Chaturdharmah 56 What is Dharma? What are its forms? 167 57 What is Signified by Universal Dharma? 169 58 What is the Nature of Social Dharma? 171 59 What is the Nature of Human Dharma? 173 60 What is the Nature of Personal Dharma 175 Verses from Scripture on Four Dharmas 176 Mandala 13: Good Conduct - Sadacharah 61 What is the Meaning of Good Conduct? 181 62 What are Good Conduct’s Four Keys? 183 63 From Whom is Good Conduct Learned 185 64 What are the Ten Classical Restraints 187 65 What are the Ten Classical Observances? 189 Verses from Scripture on Four Conduct 190 Mandala 14: Noninjury - Ahimsa 66 What is the Great Virtue Called Ahimsa? 195 67 What is the Inner Source of Noninjury 197 68 What is the Inner Source of Violence 199 69 Is Vegetarianism integral to Noninjury 201 70 How Can Peace on earth Be Achieved 203 Verses from Scripture on Noninjury 204 Upanishad Six Family Life – Grihastha Dharmah Mandala 15: Husband And Wife - Dampati 71 What is the Central Purpose of Marriage? 211 72 What are the Duties of the Husband 213 73 What are Special Duties of the wife 215 74 What is the Hindu view of Sexuality 217 75 What is the Relation of Sex to Marriage 219 Verses from Scripture on Husband and wife 220 Mandala 16: Marriage - Vivahah 76 What is the Basis for a Happy Marriage? 225 77 Must we Marry within our religion? 227 78 How are Hindu Marriages Arranged 229 79 What is the Hindu Family Structure 231 80 How are Marital Problems Reconciled 233 Verses from Scripture on Marriage 234 Mandala 17: Children - Apatyam 81 What is the Fulfillment of a marriage 239 82 What are the Main Duties of Parents 241 83 How Strictly Must Children Be Guided 243 84 Should all Youths be Urged to Marry 245 85 How is family Harmony Maintained 247 Verses from Scripture on Children 248 Upanishad Seven Sacred Cutlrue – Mangala Kriya Mandala 18: Ways of wisdom – Bodhi Tantrah 86 How Do we overcome life’s Obstacles 255 87 What are the Hindu’s Daily Yoga Practices 257 88 How are Ayurveda and Jyotish Used 259 89 How Do Hindus Regard art and Culture 261 90 What is the Hindu outlook on Giving? 263 Verses from Scripture on ways of wisdom 264 Mandala 19: Sacraments - Samskarah 91 What are the Hinduism’s Rites of Passage 269 92 What are the Sacraments of Childhood? 271 93 What are the Sacraments of Adulthood 273 94 What are the Child Bearning Sacraments 275 95 Are there Rites for the wisdom Years 277 Verses from Scripture on Sacraments 278 Mandala 20: Festivals – Utsavah 96 What are the Festival Days of Saivism? 283 97 What are the Primary festivals to Siva 285 98 What are the Major Ganesa Festivals 287 99 What are the Main Kartitkeya festivals 289 100 What are Other Important Festivals 291 Verses from Scripture on Festivals 292 Upanishad Eight Sacred Worship - Upasana Mandala 21: Siva Temples - Sivalayah 101 What is the Nature of the Siva Temple 299 102 How are Temples founded and Built 301 103 When Should one Attend the temple 303 104 How Does one attend a Siva Temple 305 105 What Occurs within the Siva Temple 307 Verses from Scripture on Siva Temples 308 Mandala 22: Temple Rites- Puja 106 What is the Inner Importance of Puja 313 107 What is the Special Rite Called Archana 315 108 What is the Nature of Image Worship 317 109 Who are the Priests of Siva Temples 319 110 What Does the Pujari do During Puja 321 Verses from Scripture on Temples Rites 322 Mandala 23: Love of God- Bhaktith 111 Is Temples Worship only for Beginners 327 112 How Do Devotees Prepare For Worship 329 113 How Do Our Prayers Reach the Gods 331 114 Do Saivites worship only in Temples 333 115 What is the Home Shrine’s Significance 335 Verses from Scripture on Love of God 336 Upanishad Nine Holly Men and Women - Mahatma Mandala 24: Monastic Life – Sannyasa Dharmah 116 What is the Hindu Monastic tradition 343 117 What are the Goals of Renunciate Life? 345 118 What is the Sannyasin’s Kundalini Path? 347 119 What is the Sannyasin’s Initiation Rite 349 120 What are the Holy Order of Sannyasa 351 Verses from Scripture on Monastic Life 352 Mandala 25: Knowers of God - Jnani 121 Whoare Hinduism’s Spiritual Leaders 357 122 What is a Saint a sage and a satguru 359 123 Are there Other Terms for Holy Ones? 361 124 What is the Nature of Guru Protocol 363 125 What is the Satguru’s special function 365 Verses from Scripture on Knower’s of God 366 Upanishad Ten Sacred Scripture - Sastram Mandala 26: Revealed Scripture - Srutih 126 What are Hindu Revealed Scripture 373 127 What is the Nature of the Veda Texts 375 128 How Are the Vedas Significant Today 377 129 What is the Nature of the Holy Agama 379 130 How Are the Agamas Significant Today 381 Verses from Scripture on Sruti 382 Mandala 27: Secondary Scripture - Smritih 131 Do Smritti And sacred Literature Differ 387 132 What Texts Amplify Vedas and Agamas 389 133 Does Hinduism Have Epics and Myths 391 134 Are Three Other Types of Sacred Texts 393 135 What is the Source of this Catechism 395 Verses from Scripture on Smritti 396 Mandala 28: Affirmations of Faith - Mantrah 136 What is the Holy Namah Sivaya Mantra 401 137 How is Namah Sivaya Properlly Chanted 403 138 Is Initiation Necessary to Perform Japa 405 139 What is Saivism’ Affirmation of Faith 407 140 How Is the Affirmation of Faith Used 409 Verses from Scripture on Affirmation 410 Upanishad Eleven Monistic Theism – Advaita Isvaravadah Mandala 29: Monism and Dualism – Advaita - Dvaitau 141 What are the Many Hindu Philosophies 417 142 How Do Monism and Dualism Differ 419 143 Are Monism and Dualism Reconcilable 421 144 What is the View of Monistic Theism 423 145 Is Monistic Theism Found in the Vedas 425 Verse From Scripture on one and Two 426 Mandala 30: Views of Reality – Saiva Siddhantah 146 What are Saiva Siddhanta’s Two Schools 431 147 What are the Two Views on Creation 433 148 What are the Views on God and Soul 435 149 What are the Differing Views on Evil 437 150 What are the views on Mahapralaya? 439 Verses from Scripture on Siddhanta 440 Upanishad Twelve Passing on the Power - Sampradayah Mandala 31: Himalayan Lineage – Kailasa Parampara 151 What is Hinduism’s Natha Sampradaya? 447 152 What is the Lofty Kailasa Parampara 449 153 Who were the early Kailasa Preceptors 451 154 Who were Kadaitswami and Chellappan? 453 155 Who are the most recent Kailasa Gurus 455 Verses from Scripture on Paramapara 456 Resources - Upagranathah I A Saivite Creed 461 II Six Schools of Saivism 489 III The Tradition of Masters 517 IV Monism and Pluralism in Saiva Siddhanta 529 V Truth is one paths are many 571 VI Hindu Timeline 651 VII A Children Primer 695 VIII Charts 737 Conclusion - Samapanam 751 Glossary – Sabda Kosah 753 Sanskrit Pronunciation – Uccharanam Samskrita 853 Index - Anukramanika 855 Index of Scriptural Verses – Sastra Udharanasuchi 905 Supplementary Reading - Granthavidya 911 Colophon - Antyavachanam 917