Table of Contents

List of illustrations; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. The Natarāja bronze; 2. The Cidambaram myth; 3. Temple, priests and ritual; 4. The Hall of Consciousness, the Heart of the Universe; 5. Śaiva Siddhānta and Vedānta; 6. The Goddess; 7. Bhiksātana; 8. Bhairava the Terrible and other forms of Śiva; 9. Saints, dancing girls, ganas and Apasmāra; 10. Last words; Notes; Bibliography; Index and glossary.

Promotional Information

Siva's Dance of Bliss in poetry, iconography, ritual and philosophy is examined here.

Reviews

'… a complete and comprehensive account of the hallowed Chidambaram temple … a veritable store-house of information … The amount of solid research that has gone into this volume is amazing.' Journal of the Institute of Asian Studies