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Stone Ganesha

Vishayasuchi

Table of Contents

 
Dedication -- Samarpanam v
Author's Introduction -- Granthakara Bhumika xvii
The Master Course-- Pradhana Pathyakrama xxxiii
Siva's Cosmic Dance -- Sivananda Tandava xxxix
UPANISHAD ONE
ETERNAL TRUTHS -- Sanatana Dharma
Mandala 1: Self Realization -- Paramatma Darshanam
Sloka Page in book
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 Dharma
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 Shaktism? 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 Dharma
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 for Saivites? 39
15 What Is the Symbolism of Siva's Dance? 41
Verses from Scripture on Saivism 42
UPANISHAD TWO
GOD AND THE GODS -- Ishvara Devata cha
Mandala 4: Our Supreme God -- Siva
16 What Is the Nature of Our God Siva? 49
17 What Is God Siva's Unmanifest 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 -- Ganesha-Karttikeya
21 Do Other Gods Exist Apart from Siva? 63
22 What Is the Nature of Lord Ganesha? 65
23 What Is Lord Ganesha's Special Duty? 67
24 What Is the Nature of Lord Karttikeya? 69
25 What Does Lord Karttikeya's Vel Signify? 71
Verses from Scripture on Lords 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 -- Samsara
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 Marga
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 -- Sarvabhadra
46 Are Souls and World 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 God 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 -- Dharma
Mandala 12: Four Dharmas -- Chaturdharma
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 -- Sadachara
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 Good 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 Dharma
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 -- Vivaha
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 CULTURE -- Mangala Kriya
Mandala 18: Ways of Wisdom -- Bodhi Tantra
86 How Do We Overcome Life's Obstacles? 255
87 What Are the Hindu's Daily Yoga Practices? 257
88 How Are Ayurveda and Jyotisha 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 -- Samskara
91 What Are 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-bearing Sacraments? 275
95 Are There Rites for the Wisdom Years? 277
Verses from Scripture on Sacraments 278
Mandala 20: Festivals -- Utsava
96 What Are the Festival Days of Saivism? 283
97 What Are the Primary Festivals to Siva? 285
98 What Are the Major Ganesha Festivals? 287
99 What Are the Main Karttikeya Festivals? 289
100 What Are Other Important Festivals? 291
Verses from Scripture on Festivals 292
UPANISHAD EIGHT
SACRED WORSHIP -- Upasana
Mandala 21: Siva Temples -- Sivalaya
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 -- Bhakti
111 Is Temple 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
HOLY MEN AND WOMEN -- Mahatma
Mandala 24: Monastic Life -- Sannyasa Dharma
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 Orders of Sannyasa? 351
Verses from Scripture on Monastic Life 352
Mandala 25: Knowers of God -- Jnani
121 Who Are 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 Knowers of God 366
UPANISHAD TEN
SACRED SCRIPTURE -- Shastram
Mandala 26: Revealed Scripture -- Shruti
126 What Are Hindu Revealed Scriptures? 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 Agamas? 379
130 How Are the Agamas Significant Today? 381
Verses from Scripture on Shruti 382
Mandala 27: Secondary Scripture -- Smriti
131 Do Smriti and Sacred Literature Differ? 387
132 What Texts Amplify Vedas and Agamas? 389
133 Does Hinduism Have Epics and Myths? 391
134 Are there Other Types of Sacred Texts? 393
135 What Is the Source of This Catechism? 395
Verses from Scripture on Smriti 396
Mandala 28: Affirmations of Faith -- Mantra
136 What Is the Holy Namah Sivaya Mantra? 401
137 How Is Namah Sivaya Properly Chanted? 403
138 Is Initiation Necessary to Perform Japa? 405
139 What Is Saivism's Affirmation of Faith? 407
140 How Is the Affirmation of Faith Used? 409
Verses from Scripture on Affirmation 410
UPANISHAD ELEVEN
MONISTIC THEISM -- Advaita Ishvaravada
Mandala 29: Monism and Dualism -- Advaita-Dvaita
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
Verses from Scripture on One and Two 426
Mandala 30: Views of Reality -- Saiva Siddhanta
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 -- Sampradaya
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 Parampara 456
RESOURCES -- Upagrantha
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
Truth Is One, Paths Are Many; Major Religons 574
Truth Is One, Paths Are Many; Faiths 610
Truth Is One, Paths Are Many; Atheism 622
Truth Is One, Paths Are Many; Comparisons 622
VI. Hindu Timeline 651
VII. A Children's Primer 697
Hinduism A to Z 699
Five Precepts 709
Five Practices 711
Five Parenting Guidelines 713
Eight Rites of Passage 717
Sacred Symbols of Saivism 721
VIII. Charts 737
Vedic-Agamic Cosmology; The Inner and Outer Universe 740
Chakras 746
The 36 Tattvas:Categories of Existence 748
Conclusion -- Samapanam 751
Glossary A to F -- Shabda Koshah 753
Glossary G to N -- Shabda Koshah 777
Glossary O to S -- Shabda Koshah 805
Glossary T to Z -- Shabda Koshah 835
Index of Scriptural Verses -- Shastra Udharanasuchi 905
Supplementary Reading -- Granthavidya 911
Colophon -- Antyavachanam 917
About the Author 922
Reviews and Comments i,945

Dancing with Siva

Sixth Edition, First Printing, Spring, 2003

Copyright 2003 by Himalayan Academy

Dancing with Siva, Hinduism's Contemporary Catechism was first published by Himalayan Academy in 1979. Second edition, 1987. Third edition, 1991. Fourth edition, 1993. Fifth edition, 1997. All rights are reserved. This book may be used to share the Hindu Dharma with others on the spiritual path, but reproduced only with the publisher's prior written consent. Designed, typeset and illustrated by the sannyasin swamis of the Saiva Siddhanta Yoga Order and published by Himalayan Academy, 107 Kaholalele Road, Kapaa, Hawaii 96746 -- 9304 USA. www.Gurudeva.org.

Logo_HA_3p_3_shadesPublished by Himalayan Academy

USA * India

Printed in Malaysia by Sampoorna Printers SDN BHD
by arrangement with Uma Publications

Library of Congress Control Number 2002-103633

ISBN 0-945497-96-2 (hardcover)
0-945497-94-6 (paperback)

Cover art: Artist S. Rajam depicts Lord Siva in His Himalayan abode, seated on a tiger skin by a mountain stream in yoga posture. As Nandi the bull looks on, He creates the cosmic rhythm on His drum as two devotees play the mridanga and three others dance exuberantly nearby.

Dancing with Siva Cover Painting

Ganesha Dancing: (Top of this Page) In earthy tones that remind us of sculpted stone images found throughout India, famed Indian artist Indra Sharma paints a surprisingly agile dancing Lord Ganesha, Remover of Obstacles and Lord of Dharma, who blesses the beginning of all worthy enterprises.

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