Jyotirlingam- Shiva and the Twelve Columns of Light

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Amit Kapoor, PhD, is honorary chairman at Institute for Competitiveness, India, and lecturer at Stanford University, US. Amit is the author of bestsellers The Elephant Moves: India's New Place in the World (co-authored with Amitabh Kant), Riding the Tiger: How to Execute Business Strategy in India (co-authored with Wilfried Aulbur) and The Age of Awakening: The Story of the Indian Economy since Independence, all published by Penguin Random House India.

Bibek Debroy is a renowned economist, scholar and translator. He has worked in universities, research institutes, industry and for the government. He has widely published books, papers and articles on economics. As a translator, he is best known for his magnificent rendition of the Mahabharata in ten volumes as well as the three-volume Valmiki Ramayana-both of which have been published to wide acclaim by Penguin Classics. He is also the author of Sarama and Her Children, which splices his interest in Hinduism with his love for dogs.

The T realm of spirituality is a tapestry of beliefs and experiences. If one goes on to explore the meaning of spirituality, one will not come across a definite answer. That is precisely the essence of this realm. One cannot pinpoint the specific nature of spirituality, despite its association with a sense of connection to something greater than oneself, a search for meaning in life, and a quest for inner peace and transcendence. It varies widely, altering from culture to culture, and presenting itself to individuals in different ways. This book explores the intricacies of the spiritual path and the diverse ways in which individuals perceive and connect with the divine. Central to this exploration is Lord Shiva, a deity who is beyond the pale of any categorization. The essence of this book lies in its exploration of Shiva or the varied aspects of Shiva, through the lenses of different perspectives.

Contrary to the common practice of devoting each chapter to a particular theme or sub-theme, the following chapters defy traditional categorization. As we navigate this book, we traverse the landscape of the twelve sacred jyotirlingams viewed through distinct eyes.

The appeal of India's the twelve jyotirlingams extends far beyond national borders, drawing tourists from around the globe. Experiencing the jyotirlingams in person is a transcendental experience for many. Countless online reviews and travel accounts detail pilgrimages to these revered sites. Yet, amid the abundance of information available, there remains a notable scarcity of narratives capturing the deeply personal and unique experiences of these jyotirlingams, as eloquently documented in the pages of this book. The book captures a westerner's perspective as he embarks on a journey to witness the jyotirlingams first-hand. We get an insight into the experience of an individual detached from the cultural milieu of Hinduism through an immensely spiritual and personal journey. Offering a fresh perspective on the spiritual significance of these sacred sites, it presents readers with profound questions about spirituality, drawing from personal experiences at the jyotirlingams. The spiritual journey in India is bound to be different from the way it unfolds in the West. While the fundamental nature of spiritual journeys is universal, the specific physical and cultural context significantly influences the way these experiences unfold. When someone from the Western cultural context recounts a spiritual journey in a setting vastly different from their own, the observations and insights gained become particularly revealing. The unfamiliarity of the cultural landscape adds a layer of complexity to the spiritual narrative, offering unique perspectives and insights that may not have emerged in a more familiar environment. The book brings insights into how physical and cultural surroundings play a crucial role in shaping and enriching the spiritual quest.