Shiva Beyond India

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Shiva beyond India searches the origins of the most enigmatic god of Indian civilization, following his footsteps from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, and from the trans-Himalayana region to Indian Ocean countries. In its nine chapters, the monograph offers at seamless account of his rise from an obscure pre-historic roots, his role as an ordinary family-man, his dissenting voice in the mounting orthodoxy of Hinduism, plethora of sects and philosophies around his personality of contradictions, his most debated linga form, his pan-Asian fame as the great dance master Nataraja, worship of his footprints along the Mekong River, and finally his role as the ruler of the vast Southeast Asian empire of Angkor through subtle local transformations. The monograph provides the most rewarding reading equally for specialists and wider public, interested in archaeology, art, philosophy, literature, folklore and religion in a holistic, interdisciplinary mode.

Recipient of Padma Shri Award, Sachchidanand Sahai is currently National Professor in Epigraphy, under the auspices of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, posted at Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi. An alumnae of Banaras Hindu University (1962) and a Ph.D. from University of Paris, Sorbonne (1965-69), he is well-known for his wide range of Publications: Les institutions politiques et l'organisation administrative du Cambodgeancien (Paris: EFEO, 1971); The PhraLakPhra Lam (Indian Embassy: Vitnaie, 1973); The Ramayana in Laos (1976); The Krishna Saga in Laos (1978);The Rama Jataka in Loas (1997); India in 1872 as Seen by the Siamese (2001);The Mekong: Space and Social Theory (2005), New Delhi; The Bayon of Angkor Thom (2007), Ta Prohm A Glorious Era in Angkor Civilization (co authored 2007); Shivapada in Khmer Art. Rediscovering Angkor in the Footprints of Shiva (2011)-White Lotus, Bangkok; Preah Vihear. An Introduction to the World Heritage Site (2009), published by Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO; The Hindu Temples in Southeast Asia. Their Role in Social, Economic and Political Formation of (Shimla/ New Delhi, 20012). As founder of the Southeast Asian Review, Sahai has edited and published thirty four volumes of this journal since 1976. In 1981, he founded the International conference on Thai Studies.Sahai was formerly the Chair of Southeast Asian Studies; the Pro Vice Chancellor of the Magadh University, Bodh Gaya (2001); Fellow, Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla (2003 2006); Research Professor at Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts, New Delhi (1988-90); Visiting Professor of Asian Civilization at Sisavangvong University, Vientiane (1970-73). Sahai is recipient of French Government scholarship: Fulbright post-doctral Fellowship: Visiting Fellowship at Australian National University and Maison de Science de l'Homme (Paris):A.S. Altekar Gold Medal for Standing first in First Class in M.A. Examination 1962, Banaras Hindu University and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Gold Medal, 2012 Professor Sahai has the distinction of working as the Advisor of World Heritage Archaeological Park of Angkor (APSARA Authority) under the auspices of the Royal Government of Cambodia (2004-2008).

I have been reading extensively about Shiva since 2004 when I first visited the famous Cambodian temples of Angkor. I spent most of my time in Cambodia for last eight years. Most of these temples are dedicted to Shiva. My readings and researches about the indianized ancient kingdoms of Cambodia were revealing: Inspite of a vast corpus of writings on Shiva in Indian and foreing languages, this Hindu god remains enigmatic. Many aspects of his lore remain unknown: When I began to search about the footprints of Shiva, this conviction was fully confirmed. No previous author has written anything about Shivapada. The present volume offers my readings about Shiva in as many as nine independent chapters. For the first time Shiva has been introduced to the specialists and genereal public in a holistic, multidisciplinary manner delving deep in archaeology, art, philosophy, literature and folklore. I hope this volume will inspire readers and researchers to continue their quest of Shiva, the Auspicious One.

**Contents and Sample Pages**